It is imperative to know the process of will creation and all the parties involved. There are several ways to compose a will. For instance, you can opt to hire a lawyer to assist you in composing a will, or you can generate it online from a trusted site. Whatever option you choose, make sure that you capture the correct details of all the parties.
Follow the steps below to write a last will:
The person composing the will is the testator. Ensure that all of your particulars are apparent in this section. You need to include details such as full names, physical address, and signature have to be in the form. The testator should be 18 years old and above, but it also depends on different states. He or she must be of sane mind without pressure from any person who may influence the will.
Here, you must indicate your marital standing. If you have a spouse, ensure that you indicate the full details. Indicate if you are single, a divorcee, widowed, engaged, or separated. If you would like to include other relatives, it is allowed.
In this section, you need to include all your children and their particulars. You need to state whether the child is dead or alive, the full names and birth date.
Although no one knows the time and place death occurs, it is imperative to plan your funeral to avoid burdening your loved ones with expenses and significant decisions. In this section, you have to make a list of all your funeral wishes and arrangements. If you have already made plans with a funeral home, ensure that you include the details, such as the funeral home’s name, the physical address, city, and phone number.
Capture all your funeral plans in the will, including a repast after the funeral service. Also, indicate whether you want to be buried or cremated and the burial venue. Moreover, you need to state if the funeral expenses will be catered using the estate’s proceeds or if you have money set aside for the arrangement, or if your life insurance policy will pay for the funeral.
Any individual is susceptible to accumulate debts when alive. Whether it is in the form of taxes, hospital bills, or personal debts, you may have unpaid arrears when you die. In this section of the will, you need to include all your debts and how they will be settled. You can state that all the debts should be paid from the estate proceeds or a particular amount set aside for debts.
You do not have to be rich with vast properties to make a will. Any belonging that you feel valuable can count in your will. Here, it would be best if you put down everything that is under your name.
Whether it is a business asset, home, real estate properties, and any other tangible value, ensure that you indicate all the details. It is imperative to note that you can only include personal property that you are the sole owner. Do not include joint ownership property in your will because the court will not recognize it. For instance, if you bought a home with your spouse and the title has both your names, your spouse will automatically get the home after you die. A last will and testament requires you to be the sole owner of your estate. All the people who will inherit your valuables are in this section.
Most people with pets have a strong connection with the animals and consider them as family members. You can choose a caretaker for your pet upon your death. Ensure that you indicate the guardian’s particulars, such as full name, physical address, and city. You can also include the type of pet, name, and the vet, if any.
An executor is a sole trustee who will oversee the estate planning and sharing. In this section, you must name and capture all the particulars of the executor. For instance, the name, relationship to the testator, physical address, city, and state. It is advisable to select two executors in case the primary trustee fails to discharge the task. The executor takes charge of all the estate planning documents.
Today, you can also include digital assets in your last will, and hence, there is an option of appointing a digital executor. These assets may include copyrights, royalties, or social media accounts. Moreover, you can include the name and the relationship of the digital executor on the document.
No matter how big or small your estate, you have to appoint an executor.
Finally, you can now get the witnesses and the signatures of all the parties involved. For the testament form to be valid, two witnesses are of legal age and their signatures. The last will and testament must have the full names and signatures from the testator and the witnesses. Make sure that a lawyer is present to engrave a legal seal on the paper.
