I am sure that most of us try to avoid thoughts of our impending death. However, it is important to do so every now and then in order to make things a little easier for any surviving loved ones. Taking the time needed to write out a will is an important part of pre-planning for our death. Creating a will is not only for the sick or dying. If you want your loved ones to inherit something from you, it is important to meet with a lawyer and plan things out now, while you are healthy. You need to ensure that you have the time and energy needed to ensure that everything is covered. Here are a few things you will need to include in your will.
The Basics
As with any legal documents, you should include all those basic identifying items, such as:
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Your name, your address, and your phone number
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Your immediate family member’s names, addresses, and phone numbers
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Any other beneficiaries or executor’s names, addresses, and phone numbers
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Your attorney’s name and contact information
Monetary Assets
The main purpose of a will is to divide up your assets and distribute them to whomever you choose. Therefore, you will need to list in detail every asset you have. This may include:
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Bank accounts
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safety deposit boxes
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Investments
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Property owned
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Credit cards
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Business investments- such as owning stock in a business, owning a lucrative web domain or having a monetarily lucrative social media account
Some of your assets may already have an established beneficiary, such as life insurance policies and retirement plans. If this type of asset already names a beneficiary, then it is not necessary to include them in your will.
Beneficiaries
You will need to list the beneficiaries of each asset in your will. You will need to go into detail as to who gets what and how much each beneficiary will get. Typically, people will choose their spouse, children or grandchildren to inherit the majority of their assets, but you can always include other members of your family, close friends, churches and charities that are close to your heart. You may also want to play it safe and consider noting a secondary beneficiary in case the primary beneficiary dies prior to your death.
Executor
The executor is tasked with the duty of carrying out all the details outlined in your will. They will ensure that any unfinished business you have left behind is completed and tie up any of those loose ends that always comes up. It is up to you if you want to hire someone to do this or rely on a friend or family member to take on this role. Remember you may not want to task a close friend or an immediate family member with this, as they will be grieving your loss and not in the best state of mind at the time of your passing. It is up to you to choose wisely the executor and remember to put them in your will.
Legal Guardians
If you have any children under the age of 18 that depend solely on you, you will want to name a legal guardian for them in your will. If the other parent is alive and well enough to take care of any children you may have, then you do not have to worry. However, it is always good to have a back up in case they are unable to take care of the children or if you both pass near or at the same time. It is also important to let the person you choose know ahead of time so that they are prepared and are in absolute agreement to take responsibility for your children. It is a big decision for all involved and should never be pushed on anyone.
Miscellaneous
Some people may have other important legal and nonlegal issues to detail in their will. If you have a power of attorney or a living will, you will want to include those in your will. Also, if you have premade funeral plans, you will want to include all the necessary information in your will. This will ensure that you get the funeral that you want and your loved ones know who to contact in order to get your funeral started. It can put their mind at ease and should be put into the will to help them know your final wishes.
Preparing your will can be a long, hard journey, and there may be a lot of time and effort needed to complete the entire process. However, it is extremely important to have your will finalized before you die. A well thought out will can help put you and your loved ones’ minds at ease and ensure that your loved ones will be a little less stressed during a difficult time. All in all a will is definitely worth the time and effort you will have to put into it.