Only 1/3 of Adult Americans Have a Will — Do You?

August is National Make-a-Will Month. Why a national observance about Wills? A Will is important. It is, essentially, your last chance to have your requests (ie: your ‘will’) be known. Yet, only about a third of adult Americans have a Will in place. The other two-thirds may be leaving their families nothing but troubles.

Question: Do I need a Will?
Great question! Do you have assets? You need a Will. Do you have children? You need a Will. Do you have a spouse or someone that you want to make sure will be provided for? You need a Will.

Question: What if I Really Don’t Have Assets?
Even if you have few or no assets, you may still need a Will. A Will enables you to do things like name a guardian for your minor children, or name an Executor who will handle settling your estate, including initiating a wrongful death action (if you are killed in an accident, for example.)

Question: Can’t I Just Write My Own Will?
While it may seem like a cost-saving way to go, writing your own Will without help can be an invitation for long and expensive probate proceedings. See, for example, our blog about what happened when not one, but TWO self-written Wills were found following the death of Aretha Franklin. (It involved years of probate).

So yes, you could write your own Will, but it will be an expensive mistake that could cost your family thousands of dollars if the Court is not inclined to admit the Will to probate because of your drafting errors or because the Will was not signed using the correct protocols. It is always better and more reliable to have a Will prepared and signed under the supervision of an experienced New York attorney.

Happy National Make-a-Will Month. Join the third of Americans who have protected their assets and their family’s future. We can help. At Makofsky Valente Law Group, P.C. we will ensure that your desires are known and that your final wishes are respected. We are only an email or phone call away!

The information provided in this email does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available here are for general informational purposes only.