Sooner or later, the question will begin to arise, of should I write my will? While it’s never really too early to write it down, there comes a time when you really should be giving the issue some real attention. There are many reasons not to leave a will, and it can be considerably time consuming and expensive to have one drawn up, so this article will go through briefly, some of the common advantages and disadvantages of your options. This guide is just a quick overview and if you are considering leaving a will, you should speak to an attorney or specialist.
Do nothing
Your first option is simply to do nothing. This is definitely the simplest option. It costs you nothing, in time or money, and you know that your assets will be distributed on your death.
However, there are some aspects of this option that may be of concern to you. First of all you will have no control over the disposal of your assets. They will be distributed according to your state’s law of intestacy. These rules are generally pretty fair, they will usually give most of your estate to your spouse or children. However, if this is exactly what you do not want, then not writing a will would be a very bad idea. Even if you are happy with your state’s rules, you should know that your state will have to go through Probate. You do not get to choose your guardian so if there was someone specific you wanted to carry out your last wishes, you should leave that in a will, and also make sure they are willing to do it for you.
Wills also give you significant tax planning potential and you will not be taking advantage of any of these. This may result in a much higher percentage of your estate going on tax than if you did some tax planning.
If you do leave a will, you can direct how the assets are shared out by leaving specific bequests to whomever you wish. These are very easy to set up, the only requirement is that they are clear and easily understood. You will have the freedom to choose your personal executor. You can provide specifically for children’s needs and you can give gifts to family members or to charities.
The disadvantages are that probate expenses and delays will mean your beneficiaries will not immediately benefit. You will have little scope for taking advantage of income tax deductions. Your finances will become public record and you will not get to feel the joy of giving during your own lifetime.
Another option you will have is to set up a trust. This can avoid probate expenses and the delays associated with probate. You will have significant tax planning opportunities. You can give now during your lifetime and see the benefits. You can have some control over the process if it begins during your lifetime. You can choose the trustees and change or revoke the trust. There are however significant legal formalities involved.
This information is for informational and educational purposes only, and is not intended to take the place of an attorney or legal counsel. Please consult directly with an attorney for any legal questions you may have.
I don’t plan on dying anytime soon but reading this article has really helped me to know how important it is to have a will. I really like how you said that “If you do leave a will, you can direct how the assets are shared out by leaving specific bequests to whomever you wish.” My grandma passed away about a month ago and the will that she left has saved my family a lot of stress because she wrote who gets what which made distributing all of her things a lot easier.
I need to make a will. I’ve been putting it off because my husband and I don’t have kids, but I really just need to do it. I can always just amend it once I do have children. It was interesting to discover that wills can affect your taxes, so that is another reason to look into it.
According to the article, if you don’t write a will you have no control over the disposal of your assets. I think it would be really important to have a say in how your assets and wealth are distributed after your death. The article mentions that it’s important to speak with an attorney when writing a will. I have heard this is essential since an attorney can help you understand all the rules, laws, and regulations associated with creating a will that can be legally upheld. Is that true?
Making a will that is clear and easily understood is a great idea to ensure your assets go to where you want them to. A good probate attorney could help you create one that will do what you want it to. Finding a probate attorney that will communicate with you and give you the information you need would probably be important so that you take care of everything properly.
I like how you said that a will is easy to set up and that the only requisite is that they are easy enough for those you are leaving it to understand. My husband’s father is starting to get to the point where his health is declining and we are a little worried about his ability to keep going on. We think that it might be time for him to consider writing his will for the family. Hopefully, it isn’t anytime soon but it’s better to be prepared.
I like how you said that leaving a will allows you to figure out who will get what regardless of what happens to you. This would be great if you are like my dad and have lots of kids. His health is starting to decline and we think that it’s time for him to get started on funeral stuff. Hopefully, he’ll have the sense to start a will soon.
Wow, I had no idea that a will makes sure that your wishes upon your passing are legally granted to your beneficiaries. My uncle is planning for his funeral so that he won’t be a burden to his children. I’ll be sure to recommend this to him as soon as we meet again.
I like that you talked about how leaving a will would let you direct how the assets are shared out by leaving specific bequests to whomever you wish. It looks like my grandfather wants to leave a will, however, it seems he is having some trouble with it. I don’t think it is advisable to draft a will on your own, so I think he should consult with a professional about it.