Have you made your Will?

R

Rose65

Well-known Member
Location
United Kingdom
Only a general question of course, such details should always be kept private. However, have you made a proper Will and put affairs in order? I certainly have and felt it best through a solicitor. I would not just have done one without, just to save costs. Solicitors are there for a reason and give all sorts of guidance.

If your circumstances are at all complicated, it is essential to do this task. Yes it means facing up to brevity of our existence but it can save enormous trouble after our exit from this life.
The other thing is tidy your belongings, especially put paperwork in order and ensure your loved ones know where valuable documents are.

This may all sound obvious but it defies belief that so many people do not pay attention to any of this and leave an almighty problem behind.
 

We had help from an attorney with our wills, plus a Community Property Agreement.
 

I just had a new will and all the necessary health and end of life documents drawn up....marked that off my list, I put it off for years, remembering how well my mom was prepared helped me to get up and get it done.
 
We had our will reviewed and updated when we relocated from New Jersey to South Carolina. There are differences
as to how states handle issues such as probate, etc.
 
There are other documents that are needed beside a will. Went to an attorney for a complete estate package. All our accounts are TOD, which bypasses probate.
The plan covers Power of Attorney for health care, Power of Attorney for financials, and a pour over will.
 
No I haven't but I suspect most of my stuff will be thrown out or go to Goodwill, etc. I think there are DIY wills--I may look into that.
 
Yes. Used a lawyer to draw it up with the specific wording we wanted. Had copies made to give to our sons so they know what to expect. All financial info updated about every 6 months, they are aware of where to look for that info but don't know the amount. Burial expenses pre paid all they have to do is show up for placement of our cremated remains. For our sons relieving some of the stress of dealing the legal & emotional factors that death brings is our aim.
 
I had an attorney help create my estate plan and draw up the proper documents. Most of my assets are set up as TOD so things were fairly simple.

A few years ago my older brother wanted me to be his executor and help set up his plan, I downloaded all the same documents that are part of my plan from online sources for free. I put a lot of hours into preparing his ( he makes everything difficult) and wished I had told him to go to an attorney!

If I need to make changes to mine I would do it myself, but I have the original documents for templates so that makes it easier.

As a P.S. my brother got mad at me so as far as I know never signed the documents and had them notarized.
 
No. I need to. Not that I'll have a lot. I'd want all my stuff to go to PAWS thrift if they are still in operation. They make a swinging business, so I'd assume so. Any monies donated to animal charities. I've got too much on my mind right now. I'm going to wait. Yes, I know I could drop at any minute but oh well.
 
J.M.O., but Living Trusts seem to be a better way to go to avoid taxes and probate, and possibility of them being contested. A revocable Living Trust automatically transfers to the successor trustee when you pass. You can still have a will for misc things not transferred into the trust, but usually they are insignificant.
 
Yes, we worked with a lawyer to get it completed. We both feel better that it is done, just in case. We have three kids and it is especially important that they know and follow our wishes...
 
Lara said:
I had a lawyer do mine but it's been awhile and things have changed.
Thank you, Rose, for the reminder to update.
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Several years ago, we had our Estate Papers done by an attorney.
His work was good.
Things have changed.
My legal needs are bit different.

First I would like to obtain some education/information.
My internet research has not provided me with answers.
I have not been able to find a good attorney that specializes in nothing but this area of law.
The first attorney that did our current papers does real estate law -and he also does estate planning papers.
That is different from my specializing in the entire legal area.
 
Good post Rose. I made my will a couple of decades ago and have revised it as necessary. The last revision was a couple of years ago. As a Legal Shield (formerly Pre Paid Legal) member, I'm entitled to will and living will revisions once a year by the attorney firm assigned to we N.J. and Delaware members at no additional cost.
 
Wills complete, DNR's on file, Pre paid cremation& burial sites done. Ongoing updates of finances with the location of the print outs known to our sons.
Copies of our wills given to each son so they know what to expect.

At the time not a happy topic to discuss with our sons, soooooo worth the peace of mind now for them & us.
 
Knight said:
Wills complete, DNR's on file, Pre paid cremation& burial sites done. Ongoing updates of finances with the location of the print outs known to our sons.
Copies of our wills given to each son so they know what to expect.

At the time not a happy topic to discuss with our sons, soooooo worth the peace of mind now for them & us.
Click to expand...
Excellent Knight. No, death is not a topic most want to discuss but it's necessary for our heirs to know our estate plans. My son had a friend who's mother died of cancer. First of all, her daughter didn't even know she had cancer. And to add to her grief, she had no idea about where anything was, whether there was a will, etc. That's a terrible thing to do to a loved one.

Like you, my burial expenses have been paid. After paying for the grave, I also pre-paid the opening and closing fees. I figured they would only go up, as did prices for the gravesites have. I also have a DNR as part of my living will
 

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