How to Prepare to Write a Will

Writing the important parts of your will

Preparing to write a will can be depressing, challenging and disturbing. A will essentially says what happens to you and your possessions after you die, so creating one while living is never easy. But it's something that will make life for your family and friends much easier after your passing. Your loved ones will be grieved enough after you're gone, so composing a will that make your wishes very clear is one of the most important things you can do for them.

Instructions

1. Write down everyone who pertains to your life in some way, both good and bad. Separate the list into two sections: beneficiaries of your will and those who you want to receive absolutely nothing.

2. Write down your possessions. Be sure to include everything that is either valuable to you or may be to someone else.

3. Connect possessions to people. Decide upon who gets what.

4. Decide on your funeral situation. To save your immediate family more grief after your passing, make your wishes clear on whether you want to be buried or not.

5. Decide on what should happen if you fall into a vegetative state. Without clear direction, the decision whether to keep you alive artificially or not can tear your family members apart.

6. Contact a lawyer. Getting legal advice can be extremely helpful in many situations, especially when it comes to real estate and money issues.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider very carefully what happens to your money when you pass away. One of the most common fights family members get into is about who gets how much of their loved one's money.

References

• Survivorship A To Z: How To Prepare To Write A Will
• Avvo: How to Prepare to Write a Will