A will is one of the most important things you can have created for yourself and your family. It protects your assets and outlines how you wish things to be handled after you pass away. For those who have a will, it’s important to revisit it after certain life events occur for optimum protection.

Common Reasons to Revise Your Will

Your will should be updated after various life events and situations occur. There are many common reasons why you should consider revising your will including:

Marriage: You’ll need to update your will to include your spouse, stepchildren, etc.
Birth of a child: Have you welcomed a new baby into your home? You’ll need to revise your will to include your new child.
Health: If you experience health complications that could cause necessary changes to your will, you should revise as soon as possible.
Divorce: You’ll need to update your will accordingly to remove or replace individuals as applicable.
Inheritance: Have you inherited money or assets from someone outside of your will? You’ll need to add these assets to your will for protection.

Other events such as moving to another state or changes to the law affecting your will can also occur. If you have questions about when to revise your will, it’s best to contact your attorney.

No Will? Why You Should Have One

Are you still without a will? You shouldn’t be. A will is a legally-binding document that can do many things for you and your family including:

Proper estate distribution: You can decide how your estate will be distributed to your family in the event of your death.
Deciding custody of minor children: You can also decide who will receive custody of your minor children in the event of your death. Without a will, the court will decide on parental custody for your children.
Helping your family avoid a long probate process: Even if you have a will, your estate will need to go through a probate process. A will makes this process quicker, giving the court a snapshot of your wishes.

Remember, a will is not concrete until the event of your passing. Until then, you’re still able to update, change and revise your will as needed to fit your wishes. To get started on your will, it’s best to reach out to your attorney.

Need Help Revising Your Will?

Knowing when or how to revise your will can be complicated. However, your attorney can help you better understand how a life event can change your will. To learn more about your will, get started on a new will or for answers to your questions, send us a message!

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