The Importance of Having a Will

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The Importance of Having a Will Elyse Villarreal Kaplan University The Importance of Having a Will Death is a reality, sadly no one likes to talk about or think about dying. At some point in our lives we all must give this matter our full attention. After the passing of my mother, in late November of 2011, my father began to spend a great deal of his time reflecting on his future and his own death. The importance of a will cannot be ignored. Everyone must be prepared for it when their time comes. It is important that people do have some type of will made for when that time does come. There is a lot to consider when thinking about a writing a will. What is a will? What is the difference between a will and a living trust, also called an Inter Vivos Trust? What is the best option for my father or other people just like him? According to Douglas Goode (2006), a will is a written document that disposes of a person’s property and assets at the death of that person. A will is also a traditional legal document, listing properties, assets etc. It explains how things should be divided after one’s death. A living trust is a conscious and intentional agreement involving the individuals (grantor), a trust administrator (trustee), and the beneficiaries (Lutzenberger). Living trusts remain private from courts, and avoiding probate. With a living trust, you the grantor, can make changes to your living trust while you are still alive. Having a living trust is good for people when their property and assets are not complicated. A living trust can act as a will substitute by holding the title to your assets and property during your life time. When adding your beneficiary to your property, for example, you would have your name and use the words Inter Vivos Trust and add your beneficiaries name to the title. At the time when the grantor passes away, the

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