Wills

Everyone knows they should have a will, but the vast majority – about 70% of us – do not.  Writing a will with a lawyer is easy and inexpensive, and once you are done you can rest easy knowing your estate will be settled according to your wishes.  As well, if you have children, you can leave instructions on who will be their caretakers, leaving that decision out of the courts hands.  Making a will is easy, you just need to be at least 18 years of age and must be of sound mind when the will is written.  To make a will legal it must:

• Expressly state that it is your will
• Be signed and dated
• Be signed by 2-3 witnesses, these witnesses must be people who don’t stand to inherit anything in the will

 It is recommended to enlist the help of a lawyer to complete your will, as it will avoid any legal headaches after your death.  Once your will is complete, it’s recommended that it is kept somewhere safe and secure outside of your home.  If you do your will through a lawyer, most law firms will store it for you free of charge.  Many people keep their wills in a safety deposit box at a bank, but this is not recommended as the contents could be sealed at the time of death. The executor of your will should be aware of the location of it.