Top 5 Steps to Take Before Creating a Will
A will is a legal document that records your final wishes and includes instructions on how to handle your assets, debts and children after you pass away.
You are never too young to have a will. If you are an adult in Florida, and you have assets to pass down or if you have children under the age of 18, you need to have a valid, legally enforceable will.
Fortunately, creating a simple will in Florida does not need to be a long, expensive process. Our experienced Sarasota estate planning attorneys can help. At Buckman & Buckman, P.A., our Florida estate planning attorneys charge a flat fee of only $399 to prepare a simple will.
To get you started on the process, we have put together a list of some of the steps that you need to take before creating your will.
What to Consider When Preparing a Will
- Determine what assets will be included.
First and foremost, you should determine what property will be covered by your Florida will. You may be wondering: “Shouldn’t I just include everything I own?” Not necessarily. While almost everyone should have a simple will, if you have a complex estate, you may be better off passing down your assets through another method, such as through a revocable living trust.
- Decide who will inherit your property.
Once you know what you want to pass down through your will, you must decide who you will designate as your beneficiaries. You can select a single person as your sole beneficiary, or you can include as many people as you like. Ultimately, a will lets you retain significant control over your own assets. You get to make your own choices.
- Choose an executor.
To be legally enforceable, a Florida will must have a person named as the executor. This is the individual who will be responsible for carrying out the will after your death. You need to be sure that you select someone who is both willing and capable of fulfilling the position. Additionally, it is best to select someone who lives locally, as this will make the process smoother.
- Select a guardian for your children.
If you have children who are under the age of 18, you need to ensure that you have selected a legal guardian for them who will be able to assume parental responsibilities should you pass away before they reach adulthood. The failure to do so could leave your children at the whims of state law. Once again, you need to select a person who is both capable of and interested in filling the role.
- Contact a Sarasota estate planning attorney.
Do not let the name “simple will” fool you. Any will is a complex, critically important legal document that should be created by a professional. A proper will should be fully customized to fit your individual needs. To ensure that you and your family are properly protected, you should work with a qualified Sarasota estate planning attorney.
At Buckman & Buckman, P.A., our team has extensive experience handling all aspects of Florida wills. We are a family firm that always puts the best interests of our clients first.
For help creating your will, or for assistance with any other estate planning issue, please do not hesitate to contact our team today.