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Contemplating your own death is never easy, but if you have a family and want to protect your assets for their benefit once you are gone, then making a will can be an effective way to accomplish this. A will outlines your final wishes, divides property and finances per your direction and announces beneficiaries. If you are ready to make your will, there are a few tips you can keep in mind to ensure its validity.
- Consult a Lawyer
While some websites offer do-it-yourself will kits, these may not be useful if your estate is complicated or you have multiple beneficiaries. Consulting a lawyer about how to create your will, what kind of language to use and how to outline the disbursement of property and money may help you feel more confident about the process. The assistance of an attorney may also be useful if any questions arise during the drafting of the will.
- Make a Checklist
Before you write your will, you may want to make a checklist of who you want to include, what assets you have and what property you want to gift. You can include vehicles, antiques, real estate and 401K or savings accounts. This kind of preparedness may help you write your will with more efficiency and prevent omissions that can cause problems for your beneficiaries once you are gone.
- Choose an Executor
Your executor or executrix will be responsible for ensuring your final wishes are carried out as they are stated in your will and handle the arrangements for any expenses you might have accrued before your death. For example, if you required hospice or nursing home care at the end of your life, your executor will pay those bills from any existing accounts under your name before monetary gifts are made to any beneficiaries. Remember to outline these tasks carefully so the executor or executrix has the power to carry out your wishes.
- Have Your Lawyer Review the Will
Once you complete your will, have your lawyer review your wording and to ensure all beneficiaries and assets have been included. If family connections change in the future, you can ask your lawyer to help you revise the will to reflect those changes. You may want to make corrections as soon as possible for protection against unexpected illness or injury.
Writing a will can seem like a complicated task, but there is help available. Contact an attorney, like an estate attorney from Klenk Law, today for further information or to make an appointment for an initial consultation.