Do You Need To Make A Copy Of A Last Will And Testament?

Putting your final wishes down on paper is a sobering thing to do. Who do you need to consider when thinking about who should get what?

Jasper L. Edwards

Putting your final wishes down on paper is a sobering thing to do. You will have lots of things to think about during this process - who do you want your belongings to go to? How do you want your estate to be divided up? Who do you need to consider when you are thinking about who should get what?

With this many questions in your head, it’s even more important that you make sure you go about things in the right way. This includes making a copy of a last will and testament so that all your bases are covered.

Why Isn’t One Enough?

It’s essential that you have more than one copy of a last will and testament because most people fill theirs out and then keep it at their house. If anything should happen to it there is no record of what your final wishes are.

It’s not pleasant to think about, but this does make a lot of sense. If your house should burn down with you inside it, and the only copy of a last will and testament with your name on it went up in flames, no one would know what to do. You would be treated as having died without a will - even though you had one. Even if someone knew it was in the house and knew exactly where it was, the chances of it being recovered are close to zero.

If that same situation occurred and you had lodged a copy of a last will and testament somewhere safe - with your bank perhaps or with a lawyer - then your wishes would still be known. You should always tell someone where your will is kept in the event that anything happens to you however.

Making Changes

It is important to remember that you have more than one copy of a last will and testament however. Some people forget they have two, and when they make a change to the one they have at their home, they don’t make the change they have to the other copy as well.

This can lead to all kinds of problems when the wills are found. You should also ensure you write out a completely fresh one if you do make changes, and get rid of every other copy of a last will and testament that you have. This will make things easier when the time comes.

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