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"WHY DO I NEED A WILL!?"
No one of us is going to leave this earth alive.
Accepting that premise, it is now time to think about all those things (and people) you will not be taking with you.
The State of Florida has laws in place which will make your decisions for you as to where your personal property and real property will go, and who it will go to, should you not make that Last Will and Testament before you die.
The State of FIorida will also provide a guardian for your minor children should you abandon them without providing for their care and protection before you leave.
Furthermore, the State has in place a formula of what would be fair for your bereaved spouse to inherit from you.
Maybe you would like to make some of these decisions yourself, now.
I have some questions to ask you.
Are you a single person?
Do you have any children?
Do you own a home? Do you have a mortgage on your residence? Do you own other real estate?
Do you have insurance policies on your life?
Do you have cash or other assets secreted away in a safe deposit box (or in a fireproof safe buried out under the porch?)
Do you own personal property (furniture, furnishings, clothing, jewelry, cash, etc.) worth more than $10,000?
Are you presently the beneficiary of a trust?
Are you contemplating gifting over $10,000 to anyone?
Do you think you can anticipate exactly when you are going to die AND exhaust exactly all of your assets immediately before you pass on?
Do you have a special heirloom that has been in your family for years?
Is there someone special in your life to whom you would like to leave a special remembrance?
Have you ever thought about leaving something to a charity?
Are you planning to travel out of state any time in the near future?
Is there someone in particular you believe would be best able to handle your estate's financial affairs in the event of your death?
Is there someone special whom you would like to continue to raise your children should you suddenly depart this life and be unable to continue to do so?
Do you want to participate in an organ donation program?
Do you think it would be best to set up a trust to distribute your estate monthly or annually to your beneficiaries (as opposed to a huge, lump sum?)
Do you have a clear, specific idea of what you want at your
funeral, and where you want to buried?
Would you prefer to be cremated and have a memorial instead of a wake?
Would you like the satisfaction of preparing your own epitaph?
How about your own obituary?
Have you ever thought about cryogenics?
Think about the above, and whether it would be a good idea to call your attorney to discuss
these issues, and others.
The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask me to send you free written information about my qualifications and expertise.
Are you married?
Are you divorced?
Courtesy of
Gretchen-Elizabeth
Attorney and Counselor at Law
E-mail: yourattorneyge@yahoo.com (813) 221-1174
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