It is really easy to put off making a will until next week, next month, or next year. You might feel that it is too expensive or you don’t need one, or even tell yourself that even if you don’t have a will, your kids will get your money anyway.
Actually, no matter how old you are, you need a will. Life is not a guarantee and things happen. When there isn’t a will, the whole estate (including underage children) is handled by a judge who will make the decisions about where the money will go and who will be responsible for your children. There is no way to know what his decision will be, and he could even decide that the kids would be better off in the care of the state.
Anyone can contest the judge’s decision and have their say – and possibly win.
Wills do not have to be over the top expensive. There are forms online that help you to create your own will affordably. Just be sure to let a lawyer look it over to make sure everything is in order. These important legal documents are complicated, but not because they are difficult to fill out. They are complicated because no one wants to discuss a will or consider the possibility of their death. We put it off, sometimes never getting to this important chore.
Your will protects the interests of you and your family if anything happens. It enforces your wishes in such a way that your estate is distributed the way you want it to be and your children are cared for by someone you trust.
photo credit: Ken Mayer
