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Do you have a will?

Jerry Atrick

Jerry Atrick

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I got bored a couple of weekends ago and made out a will. As a single childless guy in my mid-thirties, I don't have a lot of options when it comes to who I will leave my stuff to should I croak unexpectedly. I was talking to a younger friend about it and he started acting all condescending like I should party and live life so's not to worry about what happens when I die.

What do you think? Do you think it is wise to plan ahead or would you rather forget about it and leave the work to your family/friends?

I am particularly interested in the opinions of those who are against making out a will. Why do you feel this way? Is there a specific experience you can point to that would explain why you would not want to plan ahead?

The UTFSE was broken so I hope this topic hasn't been outdone.
 
AFAIK, in the UK at least, you have to get a proper one acting as a legal document for it to mean anything..

And you have to pay for it.

Retarded, I know.
 
His Name Is Frank said:
All I have to my name is about 300 dvds and about 12 pairs of socks. I'm leaving them to Maya.
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Find a public notary and you're halfway there.

rickolasnice said:
AFAIK, in the UK at least, you have to get a proper one acting as a legal document for it to mean anything..

And you have to pay for it.

Retarded, I know.
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Yes, I had to get two uninterested witnesses and a public notary but I just took care of all that with co-workers.

And yes, I had to pay for it. I went online and did it without an attorney. $49 out of pocket and I am now legal.

If you get an attorney it will cost you hundreds if not thousands. ymmv.
 
I'm 23 so I figure I don't need a will yet... I do plan to get one at some point. At this point, anything I have would just go to my parents. Not that it's a ton of stuff anyway. I might get one sometime in the next few years. I think it's a smart idea to get a will.
 
i do feel its wise to have a will and death plan, regardless of age. if anything were to happen to me my funeral, cremation and affairs are taken care of and planned for as to not cause extra stress to my family during their time of mourning.

...kytnism...:|
 
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llama112 said:
I'm 23 so I figure I don't need a will yet... I do plan to get one at some point. At this point, anything I have would just go to my parents. Not that it's a ton of stuff anyway. I might get one sometime in the next few years. I think it's a smart idea to get a will.
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You raise a very good point. A will is not just about stuff. Like kytnism said, it's also about how you would like your corpse prepared eg. Do you wish to be buried in a life-size box or be cremated?

I forgot to mention that I also prepared an advance directive (whether or not to pull the plug should a coma occur) and a medical power of attorney (who I want to be responsible for making sure the doctors follow the advance directive). That way, if I get hit by a bus and am in a coma, I can have a relative be in charge of asking the doctors to take me off life support. I'd rather be worm dirt than have a bunch of tubes and wires keep my heart beating.
 
Wow, that is a lot to think about! Clearly I haven't looked into it much. I know my boyfriend put his sister and me in charge of asking the doctors to take him off life support, I suppose that's something I should get done too. That's all scary stuff to think about though :S
 
When I have children I will absolutely get a will done. I probably won't before that since I am single now (though anytime in the last 12 years before a few months ago I would have responded to this question with thinking that I should do that, since I was in a long-term committed relationship/marriage).

I'm 30 now, almost 31... what would happen if I died? Would my family get my stuff? I don't have a lot but I do have a house.
 
Xorkoth said:
what would happen if I died? Would my family get my stuff? I don't have a lot but I do have a house.
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I'm not completely sure but IIRC if you don't have a will then it's up to a judge to decide who gets your stuff. I'm pretty sure the default would be your parents or next of kin.

This is all the more reason not to wait on making a will. If you want to guarantee that the proper family members receive the proper items, make out a will. Took me like an hour to do it online. I don't have a lot of things but I do have several guitars. I know if I died without a will that my family members would possibly argue over who got what instrument. This way my family and the judge are left out of the decision-making process thus giving me the last word. Like I said earlier, it's not about making it easy for you because you'll be dead. It's about making things easier for them.
 
I don't think the cost of getting a proper one is worth it for what I have and my situation. Kids would change that. I've set up things for tax-sheltered accounts. I should probably get a personal directive in place, I'll probably get around to that eventually.
 
Jerry Atrick said:
I'm not completely sure but IIRC if you don't have a will then it's up to a judge to decide who gets your stuff. I'm pretty sure the default would be your parents or next of kin.
.
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I think it also depends on what state you're in (in the US). They have different laws. If you're going to write something simple like "Everything goes to my mom," then forget getting a lawyer or paying anything. Just write it down, sign it and have a friend sign as a witness, and as long as no one challenges it (that's the key point) it will do just fine.
 
abracadabra girl said:
I think it also depends on what state you're in (in the US). They have different laws. If you're going to write something simple like "Everything goes to my mom," then forget getting a lawyer or paying anything. Just write it down, sign it and have a friend sign as a witness, and as long as no one challenges it (that's the key point) it will do just fine.
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You are correct that there is variation between states' laws.

Have you ever heard about the "poor man's patent"? If someone creates an invention but can't afford a patent, supposedly they can write it down and mail it to themselves. The postmark is dated so as long as they never open the envelope, the rumor is that the patent is legal. Seems believable but I've heard a legal expert say that it doesn't really work.

My point in telling that story is that your idea sounds believable but I don't think it would hold up in court, like you said, if someone challenges it. The whole point in making out a will is to remove doubt as to how you want your estate handled. Having a friend sign something written on a piece of paper leaves a lot of doubt. With only one witness, there is nobody to say whether you coerced the witness into signing it or that the witness coerced you. Not that someone can't make out a will for free, because they can. I'm saying if you aren't going to do it right then don't do it at all. Read: Don't half-ass do it.

Instead of downloading a $50 professional will like I did, someone can absolutely find a template online somewhere and do it for free. The important part is the signatures. Once again there is variation between states but most states require at least two witnesses, some of them require three. One of the witnesses should be a public notary. Most public notaries will not charge more than five or ten dollars, if they charge you at all. My bank will notarize documents for free as a customer service policy. And remember, the public notary has to witness all parties signing the document. So you will need to bring your friends to the notary to sign it.

Hope that clears things up.

soul mate said:
No.
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Why?
 
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Am in the process of changing my will, as life changes so does your will,, but this process has been going on a long time.
 
i usually think about this regularly, but until i actually have a family and own stuff that matters i see little point.
i cant imagine my loved ones squabbling about who gets my pc and who gets my clothes. and i usually have enough cash to allow them to do whatever they feel is right for them with my remains. so thats that.
 
Yes we have one setup. Many people think wills are just for allocating assets and funds but that's not the case.

If you own a pets you can ensure your pets goes to someone you trust rather than just getting placed in a shelter where they will most likely ultimately just get euthanized, especially if they are older.

If you wind up in the hospital on life support without a will clearly stating what you want done, guess what, you could wind up being put on and off life support for months as your family fights over what "you" wanted. It's important to have a legal record of what you want done in these situations and what you ultimately want to happen when you do die.
 
kytnism said:
i do feel its wise to have a will and death plan, regardless of age. if anything were to happen to me my funeral, cremation and affairs are taken care of and planned for as to not cause extra stress to my family during their time of mourning.
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Totally agree with this.
It isn't all about material possessions or wealth being passed on.

Not that I have a will, as yet. It's on my middle-to long term 'to do' list, I suppose you could say.
 
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