Most people don’t want to think about their mortality. After all, thinking about death can put a damper on your day. However, it is important to consider what will happen if you fall ill or suddenly pass away. You do need a document that describes how you want to distribute your assets once you pass. You should take steps to help your family avoid probate.
If you’ve procrastinated in the past, now is a good time to get started on your will. Some of the steps to take include:
- Setting up an appointment with an attorney
- Selecting who you’d like to have as your beneficiaries
- Choosing an executor
- Selecting a guardian for any minors you care for
- Deciding how to divide your assets
- Adding extra information that you’d like to include in your will in an additional letter
- Getting witnesses to watch you sign the will
Of course, many of these steps will be taken with your attorney, because they will be able to guide you more easily. Once you have a basic will in place, you will meet with your attorney after major events or every few years to go over the will and any changes you would like to make. Your will and estate plan are flexible, and they are designed to change as your life changes, too.
Your attorney will help you get started on your basic will, and they will let you know about any information they need to help protect you through this legal document. They can also assist you with building up other parts of your estate plan as needed.