When it comes to estate planning, getting started can be the hardest part. Making the decision to create a Will, however, is one of the most important choices you can make for yourself and your loved ones. Why’s that? A Will is an important legal document that can dictate medical and financial decisions in the future, as well as what will happen to your estate after you die.
Taking the time to make a Will can ensure that your wishes are documented and that your family will not have to second-guess important decisions or go through the often long and arduous probate process. But, even though a Will is important, many Americans do not have one in place. A recent Gallup poll shows that less than half of the adults in the U.S. have a Will. That means that millions of people over the age of eighteen may be unprepared for the very real difficulties that can come with a death and settling an estate.
Getting a Will done can seem like a big task to tackle. Life gets busy and it’s not always easy to find the time to get those important legal documents in order. Creating a Will doesn’t have to take up a lot of time though – it’s possible to set up your own customized, state-specific estate planning documents online in less time, and with less stress than you may think. An online Will can be created in just a few simple steps. Keep reading to learn more about:
How to Get a Will Done
Before starting your Will, you may want to get some personal information together, and there are a few terms you might want to become familiar with. These terms will be important when making your Will, and include:
Estate: Your estate is made up of everything that you own. Your assets, heirlooms and other valuables may have titles and deeds or other certificates of ownership or they may not.
Executor: This is the person who will enforce the conditions of your Will after your death. It is up to them to see that your estate is properly settled according to your wishes.
Beneficiary: Someone who will inherit your assets and other belongings. You may have one Beneficiary or you may have many. You may want to leave assets to these Beneficiaries separately or you may want them to equally divide what is left to them in a Will.
Debts: Outstanding debts and liens, as well as end-of-life expenses such as medical bills and funeral costs should be taken into consideration when reviewing how your estate will be divided.
Other personal information: Your marital status, whether or not you have children, the ages of your beneficiaries, family relationships and estrangement, and the state you live in can all have an effect on what will happen to your estate and how you may want to set up your Will.
Having an idea of who you want to name in your Will, who you want to appoint as your Executor and Beneficiaries, and the assets and debts that will be accounted for, can save you time when making your Will. State laws regarding what type of Will is valid can vary. Intestate matters – regarding who will inherit an Estate when there is no Will – can also be a case-by-case concern. The best way to see that your plans are carried out and that your loved ones are looked after is to create an official, legally-binding Will sooner rather than later.
Where to Get a Will Done
After gathering your important information together, you’re one step closer to getting your Will completed. The size of your estate and the complexity of its management are things you’ll want to keep in mind when creating a Will and other estate planning documents. An estate planning attorney may be used, but many Wills can be done online. Creating a Will online can save time and may even save money. Not knowing how much it costs to make a Will can keep some people from even looking into it – but there may be several options available, including some surprisingly easy and affordable ones.
Whether a Will is done online or in the office of an estate planning attorney, it will require the person making the Will to declare that they are mentally sound. Additionally, in many states, the creation of the Will has to be witnessed and notarized. Having a Will that is not notarized, handwritten, or created under questionable circumstances is risky – it may not be legally binding, it may not hold up in court, and it can mean trouble for family and loved ones. That’s why where you choose to get your Will done is just as important as making the decision to create a Will in the first place. When you make your Will, make sure that it is official, meets the requirements for your state, and that your specific requests are included within it.
Create an Online Will
For many people, creating an online Will is the way to go. No trips to an office building are required, there’s no need to miss work, school, or time with the kids, and it can be done in less than half an hour. That’s all of the planning with less of the hassle. Knowing what a Will includes and having your information ready, and then finding the right online estate planning service for you, is all it takes.
Life gets busy but making an online Will lets you plan for the future without disrupting your life today. Creating your Will with us can be completed online in 20 minutes or less. Get started now and have one less thing you need to worry about. If you have questions about making your Will or what kind of plan is right for you, we’re here to answer them – reach out today!
Share this article