Do You Have A Will...

[Disneyrsh]

If you don't have a will and you both die, the state decides who gets your kids. If you have a will, YOU decide who gets your kids if you die. We have a will for that specific purpose.

The funny part is that we don't think anybody we know (related or not ) would do a particulary good job of raising our kids so we rarely, if ever, travel together if we're without our kids, and I won't ride on my husband's motorcycle with him until the kids are in college. He's bummed about it, but then I remind him of all the wonderful choices we have for our legal guardians and he simmers down.

The idea of the state of Georgia deciding who gets my kids if we don't have a will gives me the screaming meemies!

 

[missypie]

If you don't have a will PLEASE get one. Here's what happened to my friend's sister. Her husband owned a fairly successful business. He died suddenly, leaving a wife and infant son....no will. His wife had to sell the business so her infant son could get "his share" of the value of the business.

 

[tar heel]

An hour or two with a lawyer and a few hundred dollars will get you a will that you won't have to worry about. Just do it.

This reminds me that we should probably have ours updated since it's been 11 years.

 

[halestrm]

Yep, have had a will since I was 20. I have it reviewed every other year. I highly suggest an Atty if only for the peace of mind. My Atty went over PofA, living will, all sorts of things. He keeps a copy on file, and my family knows it. I also keep a copy of all the docs in a safety deposit box.

I can't recommend this enough. I am amazed at the number of parents who do not have a will. It is scary!

 

[deelam]

I have to agree with everyone saying that should should get a will drawn up. For me, I never was able to find the time. That's why I bought the do it yourself kit. If the time isn't right to see a lawyer, write something up on your own and get it notarized. This should be fine until you decide to get something done by a lawyer.
A legal notarized document will at least cover the basics if something should happen.

 

[Lynn CC]

Do you all think it is necessary to go to an attorney when you can do it yourself with a kit? It certainly looks legal and it would save a lot of money.
It would involve a lot of work on my part, but if it would save I'm all for it. What do you think?

 

[Stitchfans]

All I have so far is a living will. have plans of making up a will but haven't done it. should though

 

[sweet angel]

If it involves more than:
I, Jane Doe, leave EVERYTHING to John Doe...then yes it's worth it. Anything more complicated than that should have an attorney's expertise.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

This is on our "to-do" list as well. DH has a lawyer who worked with his former business, but he only works during school hours, so it's a real effort since I teach. We actually sat down once and did preliminaries with him, and it was a mess. We can't agree on who would get the kids, and he started to say if he died he wanted some $$$ to go to his parents--with me and 3 kids to worry about. Now that the business failed last year and we don't have very much, I'm glad we didn't sign that one. It will take every penny to get me and the kids through, since there is only minimal life insurance.
I'm going to talk to him about this tonight. He is going out of town tomorrow until Friday, and all this talk has made me nervous. When my grandpa died he only had a handwritten will, the court didn't accept it, and my mom had to have every blessed relative he had sign off so everything could go to my Grandma. One of his sisters actually thought about not signing, and my mom never spoke to her (her aunt) again.
Robin M.

 

[bengalbelle]

If you don't have a will and you both die, the state decides who gets your kids. If you have a will, YOU decide who gets your kids if you die. We have a will for that specific purpose.

The funny part is that we don't think anybody we know (related or not ) would do a particulary good job of raising our kids so we rarely, if ever, travel together if we're without our kids, and I won't ride on my husband's motorcycle with him until the kids are in college. He's bummed about it, but then I remind him of all the wonderful choices we have for our legal guardians and he simmers down.

The idea of the state of Georgia deciding who gets my kids if we don't have a will gives me the screaming meemies!

That's the main reason we got our will - so we could decide who got our child. We've named out to the fourth person (in case 1-3 are unable) who would get guardianship of him and exactly what we wish for our life insurance and other assets to go for (education and so forth). It only took a few minutes and several hundred dollars, but it was so worth it. I'm just mad at us for not doing it sooner.

 

[DVCLiz]

I am only 22 and my partner is 21. Once we BOTH finish medical school, we will get wills, because that's about the time we will beginning aquiring a home, thinking about a family and what not.

So nope, no wills for us, not yet...

You may not have a house yet, but if you have ANY assets that you would like your partner to have, you need a will. This includes your car, your personal effects (clothing, jewelry, etc.) any work-related benefits (retirement accounts, life insurance, etc.) and anything else you own at the time of your death. If you don't specify this in a will, your estate will pass to your legal next of kin, which won't be your partner!!! So do look into it....

 

[EthansMom]

DH and I got wills when I was pregnant with our first child. We got wills, healthcare power of attorneys, durable power of attorneys, and living wills -- used an attorney via recommendation from the state bar association. We had all documents written with wording to include any possible future children and haven't had to update them in 5 years. The total cost was $250 -- including a discount because we were well organized and knew exactly what we wanted.

 

[Dan Murphy]

......but if it would save I'm all for it...

How much ?

And icebrat001, what Liz said above is so true. Additionally, the likelihood of a young person dying is small, and if so, a greater chance that would be from an accident of some sort. Any accident today will frequently result in a large settlement, thereby making you in fact wealthy, albeit post-mortem. A thought to think about.

 

[huey duey & luey]

We just did our wills, and the only reason we finally did is because we went away without our kids. Since the kids were born we kept saying we needed to do them, so it took us 3 1/2 years

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

Oh, I also wanted to add a couple of things. We are 30 and 32 yo.

Funny will story. DH's parents last did their will during the first gulf war. DH was 17 and his younger sis was about 14 when FIL was activated to Germany.

In their will they stated that if anything happened to both parents the kids would go live with their aunt and uncle. They have never updated that will.

So, I always ask that if they die and DH has to go live with Uncle Mike and Aunt Donna if they'll let me and the dog come too. They'll have a full house once my SIL, her husband, two kids and cat come as well!!

Too funny! We're in the same boat - my parents never updated theirs. If they die, I have to go live with my older brother, Todd! At least he is rich now and lives in a castle (literally). At the time of the will he lived in the dirtiest bachelor college student apartments you'd seen...

 

[Serena]

Hmm, thanks for reminding me. I need to have mine redone.

 

[newholidayx2]

We have a will, power of attorney and trust for DS. Finally had them drawn up by a lawyer right before DH had his kidney removed.

 

[deelam]

Do you all think it is necessary to go to an attorney when you can do it yourself with a kit? It certainly looks legal and it would save a lot of money.
It would involve a lot of work on my part, but if it would save I'm all for it. What do you think?

I think it depends on what you have. Me and my husband do have a house and savings. We do not own a bussiness. It is relatively simple for us. Our two children will split everything. The will kits out there tell you what you need to do in your state to make it legal. Somes states require a notary, others just one or two signatures. What you don't receive is personalized service. One day when I find the time, I would love to talk to a lawyer. But until that day comes, I have my will made through a will kit.