Will... Guidelines... Helpful Tips...

Importance of having a WILL brought to the
forefront - with the recent tragic passing
of Dana Reeve...


Everyone should have a will, whether they
have children or not. If one doesn't have a
will the state will step in and determine
where your assets will go.


Estate Planning Attorney - Paul Marchese on
the TODAY show recommended this:

- - - I have put this into my own words
- my take on what I heard him say:


Determine guardianship:

Appoint a Guardian in the event something
should happen to them and they are not around
to raise their child (children).

And - give some thought as to a back up
Guardian - should it happen that the first
choice Guardian is unable, unwilling or
deceased - at the time it becomes necessary
in the future to view - enact the terms of
YOUR will...

Choose someone that has the same judgment
that you do. Someone that would raise the
child the same way you would have.

The guardianship will be in place until the
child is 18. Choose wisely.

Establish a Trust. Assign a Trustee.
Children under the age of 18 can not accept
money. So establish a trust. Then appoint
someone to oversee that Trust - they are
referred to as a Trustee...

there's much more to wills... but those are
the basics and most important...

do yourself a favor... and more importantly
- do your family and loved ones a favor and
go get your will made out this week... it's
primarily software driven in attorneys offices
with your particulars filled in - and you can
be in and out generally within and hour for
a very reasonable fee... you can often have
them done for less than $150.

Make a list of your assets and valuables...
and how you wish things to be handled...
take a list of your children's names and
social security numbers if available...
take the names of anyone else you wish to
have named in your will and their current
contact (address) information...

When you call an attorney to set your
appointment - ask them what you should
gather to bring... make a list...
or have them fax you their list of
"Things to Bring To Your WILL - Appointment"

it actually truly angers me - that people
don't have wills made out... that they don't
make the effort... I have seen some really
tragic after results of people that didn't
make the effort... it's so sad... it
tarnishes memories... it causes hurt
feelings... it very hurtful and wasteful
- for the ones you leave behind... don't
do that... don't you do that... make a call
today - get in there this week and get that
will done... put it in a safe spot - keep it
there - and make sure your loved one's know
WHERE that is...

I wish you a long healthy happy life...
and I wish you the peace of mind that you
did all you could while alive - or healthy
to do the BEST you could for your LOVED
ones - so they wouldn't have to deal with
the hassle of the state coming in - to take
over and eat up the majority of your
estate - because you didn't want to bother
dealing with such a depressing issue while
alive...

Get your WILL made as YOUR Spring treat to
your Loved Ones... get it done and out of
the way ... it's such a stress relief...