Having a Will is arguably one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your family.
Not only can a Will legally protect your spouse, children, and assets, it can also spell out exactly how you would like things handled after you have passed on. Procrastination and the unwillingness to accept death as part of life are common reasons for not having a will.
There are several reasons but the main reason is a Will is a legally-binding document that lets you determine how you would like your estate to be handled upon your death.
You decide how your estate will be distributed.
• You decide who will take care of your minor children.
• To avoid a lengthy probate process.
• Avoid greater legal challenges.
• Make gifts and donations.
With Wills we sometimes think they are something created later in life but as you can see that’s not the case with decision such as who will take care of minor children.
You should put in place early in life, especially if you have minor children.
One of the things we tend to forget when talking about Wills is who is going to take care of our children and a will is a good vehicle for appointing the guardian who would be responsible for your minor children if something were to happen to both parents.
Absent a Will, the court will take it upon itself to choose among family members or a state-appointed guardian. Having a Will allows you to appoint the person you want to raise your children, or better, make sure it is not someone you do not want to raise your children.