Why Write a Will?

The planning and writing of a will is both a family obligation and a personal privilege.

We live in a nation of laws. During all of our lifetime, different laws apply to us. When we are born, our birth is registered as required by law. During life, we comply with legal requirements in purchasing a home, in paying taxes, in securing a passport and in many more of life’s activities.

When we die, our life’s passing is noted in securing a death certificate and in the probate process. In all of life’s activities, the law is there.

One of the most important legal opportunities each of us face pertains to the future ownership of our possessions. Before we die, we can make a will that determines who will receive our estates.

In the event we do not have a will, the court or others will decide for us, often ignoring our important preferences. Deciding not to write suggests a lack of civic responsibility and a lost opportunity to demonstrate our love to those whom we cherish.

Every person has the legal right to make a will. Details of your will include the naming of an executor, deciding who will serve as guardians of minor children, providing guidelines concerning how they will be raised, determining the use of accumulated wealth, and expressing gratitude for all of life’s blessing by giving to the charity or charities of your choice. Life involves a string of choices, and the most important choices we make involves the use and disposition of what we have. This is called stewardship, the management of our resources. Our acts during our lifetime become a statement of our faith. Our last act, our will, serves as a final testimony of our faith journey in life. We exercise a spiritual privilege when we plan and write a will. Your lawyer can help you write a will that distributes your assets to the people and charities that you choose. To help you decide how you want your important gift used, please contact your local charity.