Archive for May, 2009
One of the biggest problems with wills is that they can’t actually be honored if there is any problem finding the will itself. Even if a legal will has been drafted, the instructions in that will can’t be put into action if the will itself is missing. For this reason, always make sure that your lawyer has made a copy of the will itself and has it on file. Having multiple copies of the will can help ensure that your wishes are upheld after you pass.
And there are additional options for those who want the original will to be kept in a safe and secure location. Going online and registering your will in a will database is one such option. This way, you can not only register the location of a safety deposit box containing the will, but you can also have a digital copy of the will itself online. These extra security steps can help avoid any potential confusion or problems surrounding your will.
All ten Canadian provinces and three territories and currently three U.S. states offer a Living Will Registry which allows you to store your living will documents in a secure, online database. The three states are Vermont, Washington and Nevada.
A living will gives you the power to record your medical decisions in the event you’re unable to communicate and gives your physician vital information about your treatment wishes. Only authorized health care providers may access and view your documents in the registry.
Everyone who has children or beneficiaries should absolutely look into drafting a will. Even if you’re young and in perfect health, accidents and unexpected illnesses can befall anyone at any time. That’s why having a will already drafted is such a smart decision. Even if you don’t need it until much later, it’s one of those situations where people are absolutely better safe than sorry.
If there is a tragic and untimely death, it can cause all kinds of problems trying to divvy up the property without the express instructions within a will. If you want to avoid some of this undue stress for your family, start drafting your will right away. But do realize that a will is a legally binding contract. It’s not the best course of action to simply write up your own version. Rather, seek the help of a lawyer when writing a legal will. This will ensure that the will is followed per your express instructions.