Planning for the future is an important part of every stage of life, and you should work with someone who has experience in estate settlement, living wills and other types of legal documents. A Northfield wills lawyer will help you navigate the most important reasons you should know for making a will.
Custody and Legal Guardianship
If you have children, you will have to specify in a will what will happen to them in the event of your death. While the basic answer might be leaving them in the care of your spouse or their second parent, in the event that you are unmarried or widowed, you might have to choose other family members or close friends to take responsibility for their wellbeing.
Property and Estate
Wills are also used to settle your property or estate. A Northfield wills lawyer examines all aspects of your property and helps you circumvent court involvement so you make sure your family and loved ones get what they need or what you want them to have.
Division of Assets to Additional Parties
You may have other stipulations that involve the division of your assets to other parties, such as charities, stepchildren or certain organizations. Outlining these wishes in a will ensures that they will be honored even after your death or incapacitation.
Healthcare Wishes
In the event that you become incapacitated or incapable of making medical decisions for yourself, wills allow you to specify a person who you trust to make these decisions for you. This person would also be responsible for following the directions you have specified in what’s called a living will.
A Northfield wills lawyer will be able to walk you through the process of planning for your future. Taking this step early on protects your estate, possessions and those you love by making sure they will be taken care of according to your personal specifications and not subjected to standard state succession laws and regulations.
