Estate Planning - Wills

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A will is a legal document in which you leave instructions for how you want your property, belongings, and even your body, handled after your death. A will is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your loved ones. It can give you peace of mind and make things easier on those you leave behind by deciding matters in advance and avoiding long and difficult legal proceedings after your death.

Without a will, the Court will decide how to divide your property after your death, and the Court can only give property to your legal heirs in equal shares.

In a will, you can do all of the following:

• Designate who will be in charge of your estate on your behalf.

• Plan for the care and education of your minor children.

• Give money or property to people other than your spouse and children, provided that not all of your heirs receive equal shares, and disinherit someone.

• Give specific items to specific people and make donations to your favorite charity.

• Express a desire to be buried or cremated or to have your organs donated for transplant.

A will is a very important tool for both married and single people with small children. Through a will, you have the power to specify who will serve as the guardian of your children should both parents pass away before the children reach age 18. Your will also specifies who will control assets on behalf of the children until they reach age 18, 21, 25, or whatever age you determine.

The guardian of the children and the person controlling the assets need not be the same person. Your will is a very powerful tool. Every adult should have one. Please contact us if you have more questions about wills.