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One of the most important steps in being responsible to yourself and others is to make sure that you have a will. Of course, thinking about your death or the death of a family member is no easy assignment, and neither is contemplating a serious illness or incapacity. But planning for the future can, and probably will, give you a sense of control over your life. It's freeing to know that you've protected those you care most about.
Discuss your estate --the sum total of your property and money --with your spouse or life partner, with your children, and with anyone else who will be financially affected by your death. Also, if you are married or hold joint assets with someone else, take the time now to learn everything you can about your joint finances, so that if you are the one left behind you will not have to cope with financial confusion on top of your grief.
What is a Will?
A will is a legal document that states where you want your assets to go after your death. However, the title to your property will not automatically transfer to your designated beneficiary after your death. Your will must be "probated" in court, which can be a lengthy and costly procedure.
What is Probate?
Probate is a court procedure in which the judge first has to authenticate your will and make sure it is valid, then sign a court order to transfer your property over to your beneficiaries. In some states it can take six months to two years to complete the process and can be quite expensive
What is a Probate Affidavit?
If your estate is small, from $5,000 to $100,000 (depending on the state, you might be able to avoid probate with simple will and a process called probate affidavit. This affidavit is included with this will document for your convenience.
Pour Over Will
Even if you have a trust you still need a will. In this case, your will takes the form of a "pour over" will. What this means is that any assets that are not owned by you as a trustee of your trust when you die can be added to the trust or "poured" over by your will into your trust. A pour over will covers anything that you might have left out of your trust by mistake.
Our Last Will and Testament package provides you with all of the necessary documentation to include heirs, burial desires and other specifics, with prompts all along the way through the forms.
TO VIEW A COPY OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT CLICK HERE
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