A Will is a legal document that states who will receive your property when you pass, who will oversee your estate (distributing assets, paying taxes) and who will raise and care for your minor children. If you don't have a Will, the courts will make these decisions for you.
Helpful Hint: Prepare your Will faster, by giving some thought to these decisions in advance.
Things to consider before you get started...
1. Choose Your Beneficiaries
When I pass, I would like my money and the things I own (my estate) to be given to the following people and organizations in the following amounts (dollar value, specific objects or percentage of my total estate):
Name Amount/Items
1. _____________________________ _____________________________
2. _____________________________ _____________________________
3. _____________________________
_____________________________
4. _____________________________
_____________________________
5. _____________________________
_____________________________
6. _____________________________
_____________________________
2. Choose Your Executor
The person I would like to oversee my estate, including submitting my will to probate, paying any bills, dues or taxes, and distributing my estate to my beneficiaries according to my wishes is _______________________________________.
3. Choose Your Guardian for Minor Children or Dependent Adults
If I should pass, the person I would like to raise my child/children/dependent (serve as guardian of the person) is _____________________________________.
If this person is unable to serve as guardian, I would like my back-up (successor) guardian of the person to be ______________________________________.
4. Choose Your Trustee to Manage Gifts for Minors and Dependents
The person I would like to handle the gifts to my child/children/dependent (serve as trustee of my estate) is _______________________________________.
If this person is unable to serve as trustee, I would like my back-up (successor) trustee of my estate to be _______________________________________.