Let’s face it your will might be the single hardest thing to talk about. Maybe even harder than sex.
But if you have ever had to deal with the stress of sorting through all the stuff left behind by someone you love, with a will, imagine how much harder everything would be if a judge had to sign off on every decision.
Your kids are going to be devastated when you go, and have really enough other things to do.
Let’s make the rest of this easy on them.
Three ways you can write your will.
Handwritten will – this needs to be written as one complete document in your own handwriting, signed by you. It does not need to be witnessed, at least in Alberta, and most other parts of Canada except BC. but it does need to contain the following (this is also the least recommended, but in certain cases it can be an effective immediate solution.):
It must be handwritten – the entire thing in your handwriting, you can’t get any help with this, it’s not legal if any part of it is in someone else’s writing, or if it is partially or completely type written.
You must sign and date it and include your address.
You must be of sound mind.
Collect all your documents and call a lawyer to write your will. This can usually be done in one meeting, and an experienced estate lawyer will be able to handle all your questions and write the will so that everything is taken care of.
Use online software like Legalwills.ca There are a few of these software programs and you can also find free links online if you dig hard enough.
The bonus with Legal Wills is that they have a team of lawyers that can review any complications with you and they have so many ways to collect and give out information. So when the time comes, either your power of attorney and/or your executor has easy access to all the information that they might need. The software prompts you through all the questions, so you don’t forget anything. And is very intuitive with the questions it asks, particularly in regard to blended families.
So go to LegalWills.ca and try this out, you might be done in just 20 min, and then done your job for today. You don’t even need to leave your house. And if you need to change anything or add bequests it will be super easy to just log back in and do that, (though you do need to get your will signed every time you update it.)
You might like to try this option first even if you plan to see a lawyer, as it will help you straighten out any questions that you may have, and after trying it this way, you may decide that a lawyer is not necessary after all.
As we get closer and closer to the book coming out on Sept 24, we will also be opening a community were you can come online and ask questions and get answers to some of the more complicated problems that life throws your way.
Whether you need professional help or just a friendly ear, we hope you will join us, so that your wisdom can be added to others, and together we can navigate this and other questions and tricks of getting older. So we can lean into where we are and embrace all the joy of life as an experienced woman.
