Planning for the future is a necessity. No one knows what will happen in the next few months, so it is essential to have a plan of action should something terrible happen. One of those things that everyone needs to think about is their will. When you die, your assets are divided according to your wishes and to whom you want them given. If you don’t have a will written down, then these decisions fall into the hands of others. This blog post will discuss six things that everyone should have in mind before writing their will.
Your Will Should Be Specific
One of the most important things to consider when drafting your will is how specific it is written. It would be best to list everything out so there aren’t any surprises after your death. If you leave something open-ended, then state laws may rule it in a certain manner.
You must be very specific about who your children are if you have them. If they do not exist or their relationship to you is unclear, state laws may rule this out when dividing up assets after your death. For example, if you have adopted children, then state laws may rule that they do not have any rights to your will.
Seek the Services of An Attorney
Even though you may have a rough draft of what your will looks like, it is never a bad idea to seek the services of an attorney. A lawyer can look over your will and suggest changes that they think would be better for your wishes. You can learn more here about the services they offer and why it is necessary to consult them before writing your will. They may even inform you of your eligibility for certain benefits that you did not know about.
Most attorneys are also responsible for filing your will with the state, which is another thing that you should look for in a lawyer. If they do not file it, then it becomes null and void to everyone else except yourself. This means that if someone tries to go against what is stated within it after your death, there isn’t anything stopping them from doing so.
Guardianship Of Children
If you have children, then they will need someone to look after them in your absence. If you don’t specify who should care for them, then state laws may rule the decision out for you and put them into foster homes.
Ensure that you name a guardian for your children when you write out your will. You can also add who it is that should take care of them if the person named cannot do so or does not want to be responsible for them anymore after your death.
Your Will Should Include A Contingency Plan
What happens if something goes wrong and someone contests the will after your death? Contests are very rare, but they do happen. It is essential to have a contingency plan for this type of situation so that it doesn’t cause too much trouble.
You should always include the name and information of an executor within your will and who needs to be contacted in case there is any contest over the will. This way, if there is a problem, then you have someone to turn to who can help get this figured out quickly before it causes too much trouble for your loved ones.
Include An Updating Clause In Your Will
One of the best things that you can do when writing up your will is add in an updating clause to change it at any time. This gives your loved ones the ability to update what is stated within their will if they need to after some major life changes occur, such as marriage or divorce.
It should also be included in everyone’s will regardless of age because things tend to change throughout our lives, and we may want to update it. For example, if you become a parent, you may want to change the individual named as your guardian for kids within the will.
Appoint an Executor
You should always have an executor appointed to your will so that it can be filed after your death. If you do not appoint one, then state laws may rule this out for you and determine who is responsible for doing so instead.
The person named as executor needs to know all about what is included in your will because they need to have the ability to interpret it for themselves. It is also essential that they are trustworthy, so you should only name someone who has your best interests at heart and can be trusted with this responsibility after you die.
In conclusion, writing a will can be challenging to do, but it is something that you should take the time and effort into doing because of everything that it entails. Not only does this type of document provide your family with one less thing that they have to worry about after your death, but it also ensures that all things are done according to what you want instead of defaulting to state laws. Remember that you need to consult with an attorney before writing your will.