Have You Prepared Your Wills & Living Wills?

WEDNESDAY, March 21, 2018 (HealthDay News)—No one likes to think about end-of-life issues, but it's important for every adult to have a will, no matter their age.

Writing out a will is the first step in what's called estate planning—how you want your property distributed after you die. If you don't have a will, your estate will go into probate, with the court deciding who gets your assets and even personal belongings.

Here are some general rules for writing a will:

• In most U.S. states, you must be 18 or older.
• A will must be written in sound judgment and mental capacity to be valid.
• The document must clearly state that it is your will.
• You must name an executor, the person who will see to it that your estate is distributed according to your wishes.
• To be valid, you must sign the will in the presence of at least two witnesses.
• It's not necessary, but notarizing or recording your will can safeguard against any claims that it's invalid.

You can write a will yourself if you follow key rules, but you may want to get legal advice in case there are state laws that conflict with your wishes. Having a lawyer may give you more peace of mind, especially when you have children and must name guardians who will raise them. A lawyer will also let you know if you and your spouse should have separate wills.

Review your will from time to time and consider making changes if:

• The value of your assets changes.
• You marry, divorce, remarry or have a(nother) child.
• You move to a different state.
• Your executor dies or becomes incapacitated, or your relationship changes.
• One of your heirs dies.
• The laws affecting your estate change.

Other important documents are called advance directives. These include a living will with instructions on what medical care you do or don't want in the event you're unable to speak for yourself.

If you have a social media presence, you might also write out a statement of how you would like your online identity handled after your death and appoint an online executor who will close your email and social media accounts.

Copyright © 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved.