There are many ways to express love. Not all of them are sweet. Having your last will drafted and ready for when that time comes, is a special way to show your loved ones how much you care.
“I never promised you a rose garden”, are the lyrics of a song. But you can surely make it less hard for your spouse, children, and other relatives if you leave them detailed instructions on how you want your estate to be handled after your death.
A will is the legal document that will provide for the disposition and handling of all matters related to your estate when you die. It is in your last will that you will name your heirs and beneficiaries. You will designate who is going to get what from your properties. As importantly, in your will you will also determine how are your financial obligations and liabilities going to be handled, even your funeral. You do not want to give your loved ones the headache of having to figure all these things out by themselves, especially when they are still grieving your loss. No one can make sound decisions while in a grievance process. This is why a will is always best recommended.
In your will you will also name an executor. That is the person that will watch for the observance of your last wishes. The executor should be a person that you trust will follow your instructions, even if you are not around. You should specify how this person is going to be compensated in your will as well. It is advisable that you talk to this person before you make the designation. You need to know if the person is willing to accept the responsibility and if there is going to be a cost for the services.
Your last will, will take your loved ones through the critical process of disposing of all your matters in times when it won’t be easy for them to look at these things. As a matter of fact, the way your property and liabilities will be disposed of after your death is not the kind of matter that should be overlooked or taken lightly.
The best way to draft a will is with your attorney’s advice. In the alternative, if you cannot hire an attorney, you should consult some authoritative literature, now available in CD’s or downloadable electronic files. Make sure you choose a qualified authority, that is, an expert in the matter. You also want to observe the requirements in your state. Therefore you must consult with a source with access to the different states’ laws governing this matter.
You don’t have to say how much you love your spouse or your children, if you can’t. You have already shown them so by having your last will drafted.