Last Will

Having a will prepared is not a strait forward process. My experience in the past with going to a lawyer’s office to have the legal document prepared had not been very positive. A form is provided to take home for completion. Return the form at a later date and wait a week for the will to be drawn up. On returning to the office the lawyer sits down and goes over the document to ensure the information is correct and states the desired information. The cost for the document is 400 dollars but at lest the state does not decided the disposition of assets upon my demise.

I prepared a will this week using an online legal company and surprisingly the process was not overly complicated. The information that is asked for begins with my name and the city I am a resident of. Other information was about children and if I wanted to provide for children hereafter. What are the desires for my remains? Is my body to be buried or cremated or donated to science? The idea of donating to science is an interesting concept but it is hard for me to think that someone will be poking and prodding or other uncomfortable procedures to my body after I depart this realm.

I appoint a personal representative to be the Executor of the will. Someone whom I feel confident will carry out my desires. An alternate Executor was chosen incase the original person dies before me. A few items collected over the years should go to friends or relatives like a sports car, jewelry, stamp collection, and the rock collection. Yes, there is a rock collection and it is extensive. May be I will write about the collection in another blog adventure.

I am intrigued by the ability to specify gifts of cash to people and the money comes off the top of my estate value before the estate is divided with other people. I needed to think about whom to give cash to and how much. I have people in my life that have made a difference to the enjoyment I have experienced. What about my brother and sister receiving cash? I contemplate these questions for a time and decide what I would do.

The last part of information needed was the disposition of my estate. I could give the remainder to one person or split it among numerous people and specify the percentage the individual would receive from one percent to one hundred percent. More thought needed to go into whom to provide for and to whom to just make their day. I had to dig for a few names but I think it is well worth the effort. It has been a few days and I have thought about changes already. A will seems like an easy process but it is not.