Who needs a will? Every adult over the age of eighteen should have a will. But why? Listed below are some reasons why you want a will:
1. With a will you can dispose of your property as you see fit.
2 Often, a will can help lessen the amount of estate taxes imposed at your death.
3. A will lets you decide the individual, bank, etc. who will serve as executor of your estate. Without a will, your beneficiaries will have to petition the probate court for an administrator to serve in such a role, which can be expensive.
These are just a few of the reasons you want to make sure you have a will. The alternative is dying without a will (referred to as “dying intestate”), which can be costly, plus you do not get to decide who shares in your estate. That decision will be left up to the probate court.
I was just wondering whether adults under the age of 18 need wills, too? Someone told me I needed a “Last Will and Testament.” What’s the difference? Does it cost more to petition the court for an administrator than it costs to petition the court for appointment of an executor? Do I need a will if I want to give half of my $725,000 in cash to my husband and divide the rest equally among my kids? How much estate tax will it save me to get a will?
Just wonderin’
Valerie