If you’re single and don’t have any kids, you may think you don’t need a will. Wrong. You do need a will, for several reasons:
- to take care of loved ones,
- to determine where your possessions go,
- and to potentially cut back on estate taxes (a standard charge made at one’s death).
If you don’t have a will, the state you live in chooses your heirs, and it may not choose who you wish. Any adult earning a living should have a will. Even if you think you don’t have “a lot”, you need to designate the charities, family, and friends you want your assets to go to in the event of your death. You can alter your will if your circumstances change-a new child or a new marriage-but make the will out for how you live today. An attorney should be able to draw one up for about $500.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Riaan Oosthuysen
09.11.08 at 2:58 am
I cant agree more.
Riaan Oosthuysens last blog post..Seeing the Ordinary as Extraordinary
Alexis Martin Neely
09.23.08 at 1:08 am
Sometimes (most of the time) a Will is not enough, especially if you have little kids.
It’s a great first step, but it won’t keep your family out of Court. And, it won’t provide for your kids care in the short term. And, it won’t ensure your family has immediate, protected and private access to your assets if anything happens to you.
It’s a great first step, it’s just not enough, in most cases.
Alexis Martin Neelys last blog post..Get It In Writing … Real Life Reasons for Legal Agreements