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the distribution of ALL of your assets !
Many people begin the planning of their Will by writing out the information they have gathered to give to their legal advisor to complete their Will. This is called a Testatmentary Letter. It is not a Will.
The Last Will and Testament is a legal document that lays out how you want your assets distributed at death. But we have learned that a Will doesn’t control the distribution of all your assets. ?
Joint Tenancy Property and Life Insurance Proceeds both pass outside your Will.
Wills don’t take effect until you die, so they are no help with family lifetime planning.
Upon your death, your will becomes a public document when it’s filed with the Probate Court and is available to anyone who wants to read it !
Once your Will enters the Probate process, your estate is no longer controlled by your family. It is in the hands of the court and the probate attorneys.
Because a Will guarantees that your estate will go through probate, it may not be the best estate planning document for every family!
The average family is usually not in any position to fully comprehend the pitfalls they might easily encounter as they begin their estate planning process. That is why it is recommended to secure the assistance of a lawyer, notary, financial planner or trust officer to be sure you understand as best as you can, what will be the best for your situation.