Death is not a pleasant subject, so it is natural to not want to think about it. However, no matter how old you are as an adult, you should consider writing up a last will and testament. This is your chance to dictate who should inherit your estate. Otherwise, the state may step in and disperse your assets in a manner that you do not approve of.
While wills should be for any adult, people of differing age groups and life situations may have specific uses for a will. Here is a look at what you might include in a will given your age and circumstances.
Young parents
If you have gotten married and are expecting children, you may have important reasons to write a will. According to FindLaw, you could designate someone to be the guardian of your children in the event you and your spouse die. You may also specify what exactly your children will inherit from you. If you have a pet, you may name someone to be your pet’s caretaker.
Older adults
As you get older, you will probably have more reasons to make out a will. You could grant an inheritance to grandchildren or other relatives of your grandchildren’s generation. Also, you might have accumulated debt over the years. Your will could dictate how to pay off the debt to make sure creditors do not try to claim your family’s inheritance to pay it off. If you are a business owner, you may use your will to describe how to deal with your business assets.
Single or childless individuals
Even if you do not have a family of your own, you still have reasons to write out a will. You might have nieces, nephews or children of friends that you would like to inherit from you. You could also pass on money to a favorite charity of yours. If you marry but choose to not have children, you can reinforce your spouse’s right to inherit from you with your will.
In addition to describing your estate wishes in a will, you can also name somebody to be the executor of your estate. Consider somebody that you can trust to handle your estate. A trustworthy executor plus your will may add up to an estate plan that will carry out your wishes without problems.