(ARA) - What's a piece of paper in anybody's life? How much can it really affect anybody? You know you should go to the dentist. You know you should get up a little earlier every morning so you wouldn't have to rush. You know you should have 8 glasses of water every day and you should play classical music so your plants will grow better. >nbsp;
Still, just knowing you should do something isn't going to turn a "to do" into a "done." Some of us need a lot more encouragement and some solid reasons to take action. More than anything, this applies to making a will. >nbsp;After all, you're not dead now, right?
To take care of your family and your family's future, your best tool is a will. More specifically, here are the three reasons to make today the day you establish your will.
Reason # 1: The Kids
Who watches your children? Who takes care of them, loves them, helps them when they need it, and considers their future to be the most important priority? As a parent, this person is probably you. >nbsp;Mothers get the strength to pull trucks off of a trapped child; fathers are any child's first hero. If for some reason you were to pass away, who would take your place and be your child's guardian? If you haven't figured that out and made a record of your decision, the courts will choose who will take your place. >nbsp;
Do you want the determination of your children's care and training entrusted to a faceless legal system? If not, write a will so that you can be the one to decide who will best raise and love your children when you aren't around to do it yourself.
Reason # 2: Your Assets
Without a will, your assets will be divvied up as the probate court sees fit. Do you want to leave the lion's share of your assets to your favorite niece with big city dreams or to your ex-wife or ex-husband? >nbsp;Without a last will and testament on record, your assets just might finance your ex's next vacation instead of putting your niece through college.
Without a will, the probate court employs a pre-existing legal formula to decide which heirs get what and how much each person stands to receive. With a will, you won't leave your possessions' fate to chance or the decisions of a court.
Reason # 3: Taxes and Fees
No matter what, you're going to leave a little for the tax man, as does every American passing into the great beyond. So how would a will benefit you? Very simply, make a will and you'll pay less in legal fees. >nbsp;While the state and federal government will require your estate to pay taxes, people who die without a will, or "intestate," will owe the probate court additional monies in legal fees.
With a will, you can also shrink taxes by adding directions in your will to grant money to individuals or place resources in trust funds. While no one can avoid taxes all together, there are always avenues to pay less.
Get Started!
Take better care of your family, keep what you've earned, and give less to the tax man. This sounds like a recipe for life, all made possible with a will. Somehow, seven out of ten Americans don't have one. >nbsp;
Sure our lives are busier than ever before, between meetings, golf, PTA, swim practice, and voting for the newest American Idol. We all might dream of a future where everything is more convenient, don't wait for jet-pack travel to make your will. The time is now. >nbsp;
Yes, your will is just a piece of paper. It's a simple piece of paper that just might be your most valuable gift to your family.
A lawyer would charge hundreds of dollars to prepare your will, but you can get help at a fraction of the cost from the nation's leading online legal service center. LegalZoom.com charges just $69 to prepare a standard will.
All you have to do to get started is log on to the site and complete the short questionnaire. LegalZoom's team of specialists will carefully review your answers for consistency and completeness, and send your will, printed on high-quality bond paper, within 48 hours. If you need your will immediately, LegalZoom offers same-day processing. Filling out the questionnaire is free and there is no time limit. Later, you may decide whether or not you wish to purchase.
In addition to wills, LegalZoom can also help you with copyrights, trademarks, incorporations, divorces, living trusts, name changes, and several other document services. Log on to www.legalzoom.com or call (800) 773-0888 between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm PST, Monday through Friday for pricing or other information.
Legal Zoom was created by expert attorneys but is not a law firm, provides no legal advice, and can only provide self help services at your specific direction.
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