Why do I need a Will?

If I have said it once, I have said it a million times.  Every adult needs to have a will.  Why? Its all about control.  Without a will, who controls your assets?  The government!  And that is not something I want.  

But it's not just about your assets. Do you have children?  If you die, and your kids are left without parents, who will take care of them?  The answer is: whoever the government decides!   

You see, when you die with a will, the court orders the executor (sometimes known as the "personal representative") of your estate to carry out your wishes. When you wrote your will, you decided who the executor would be. The executor doesn't get to decide how to distribute assets. The will spells it out! And a properly prepared will takes into account many different potential issues so that the job of the executor is simple!  If you would like to make a gift of some of your assets in your will, the executor has no choice but to carry out that responsibility.  

This is vital if you have children!  If you would like to specify a caretaker of your children in the event that you die, a will is the place to do this.  Rather than having some underpaid government employee decide what they think is best for your child, you get to decide.  

If you don't have a spouse or children, you can specify beneficiaries such as siblings, cousins, friends, or charities. It's up to you! Without a will, the court will usually split your estate equally among all relatives who lay claim, even distant relatives.  If no relatives can be found, your entire estate goes to the state.

If you don't have any assets, AND YOU ARE SURE THAT YOU NEVER WILL, you may not need a will. But if this isn't the case, you need to get one.  Before considering writing it yourself, see Do I need an attorney to draft my will?

If you don't already have a will, get one here, drafted by an attorney without the inconvenience and expense of going to see a lawyer, and without the uncertainty of doing it yourself.  

Not sure if you need a will or a trust?  See Do I need a trust?