(“Will”) is a legal document which provides who is to receive your property after your death, who will administer your estate, who will serve as guardian of your children, if applicable, and other provisions. It is important that your wishes are communicated to your loved ones and gives them guidance in making difficult decisions. Questions of guardianship of children and even pets may be left to the courts if you die without a Will.

Living Wills dictate the type of medical treatment you wish to receive should you be incapacitated and unable to make decisions on your own. Without a Living Will in place, you leave gut wrenching decisions to your loved ones

Having a Will does not avoid Probate. But, a well-drafted Will can make it go faster. If you die without a Will, most, if not all, of your assets will have to go through the Probate process before it can be distributed to your family. Even if you have a Will, if it’s not been drafted properly and paired with other Estate Planning essentials like a Trust, you may cause your family to spend a significant amount of time and money they otherwise could have avoided.