How to Make Wills Easily
- 1). Buy or download a will-making software such as Quicken WillMaker Plus, www.nolo.com. This software can be found relatively inexpensively, ($39-$60), and will provide you with step-by-step assistance when writing your will.
You can also use online tools to help you write your will. Websites such as doyourownwill.com will provide you with everything you need to create a will for free. - 2). Select the option that best describes your living situation. In both the will-making software and online, you will be asked to select your status from options such as single male with minor children, married female with minor children, single or married with no children, and others. Everyone will fall under one of the nine categories presented.
- 3). Enter your complete information as it is currently. This will include your name, current address, and state of residence.
- 4). Fill in the executor of your estate. The executor will be the person who will carry out your final wishes after you have passed away.
You need to provide an alternate executor in case the former is deceased before you, or cannot be easily reached. - 5). Specify which assets belong to which people. You are allowed to give as many gifts to as many people as you wish. These gifts will include sums of money, properties, and personal belongings.
- 6). Provide the names of who gets everything else that is left over after the specific gifts are given to their recipients. This will include essentially every personal belonging that you have that hasn't been reserved for a specific person. You may also choose to leave everything else to people whom you already have reserved specific gifts.
- 7). Provide backup people to receive the specific gifts if the original recipient is either deceased or does not wish to receive the gift.
- 8). Sign your completed will after you are certain that every area and person you wish under your will is accounted for. You will also be required to have two witnesses (three in Vermont), sign the will as well. These witnesses must be an outside party and not anyone included in the will itself.
- 9). Notarize the will with your witnesses present. This step is optional, but it provides an extra level of assurance to family members and officials that it has not been altered or tampered with.
- 10
Place your will in a safe location and inform your two executors of its location. This location can be anywhere you feel it can be kept safely, such as a bank safe deposit box or in a locked file cabinet.
Notify both of your executors each time you move your will to another location.
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