Why You Need a Will

Nobody likes to think about what happens if they die, and making plans for that eventuality can seem overwhelming…

But creating a will can save your family time, money and grief as well as give you peace of mind. If you need any more

reasons, here’s five of them:

1. To Avoid a Lengthy Probate Process

Probate is the legal process that accounts for and distributes an individual’s assets upon their passing.

Having a will speeds up the process and informs the court how you’d like your estate divided. If you die without a will, the court will decide how to divide your estate without your

input, which can cause long, unnecessary delays.

2. For the Sake of Your Loved Ones

Losing someone is hard enough already, and the last thing anyone wants is to spend that hard time haggling with

lawyers and family members.

Another thing to think about is if there is a delay in gaining access to your assets, your loved ones would have to pay for

funeral expenses out of pocket.

3. For Your Children’s Sake

If your kids are under age 18, you are putting them at risk of having their futures decided for them by the state.

If you aren’t married to your partner, even if they are the natural parent, they will not be able to receive custody of your children without a will.

Having a will allows you to make an informed decision about who should take care of your minor children.

4. To Avoid Estate TaxesAn estate tax is a tax that the government takes at the time of death. The percentage differs from state to state, but is always based on the

deceased’s net worth, after all debts are accounted for.

Having a will greatly reduces the amount of tax you pay, and sometimes even eliminates it altogether.

So, unless you have been working your whole life just to give the government all your savings, you need to create a will as

soon as possible!

5. For Your Own

By making a will, you not only ensure that your assets wind up in the right hands, but that they get there much quicker

than if you didn’t make one.

It’s not all about the house, the car, or the money. It’s about the box of Polaroid's, your grandfather’s war medals, and

the torn up stuffed animal that you couldn’t sleep without as a child. All the things that you want to make sure will

always be treasured, and will forever serve as a reminder to your loved ones just how much you really loved them.

If you don’t have a will, now is a great time to get one. If you already have a will but feel it’s outdated, it

might be a good time to review your will.

Feel free to call our office at

(856) 227-7888 for a free consultation

with one of our compassionate and experienced estate planning attorneys.