By Madeleine Maltese
Making a will has never caused anyone to die. At nearly 92 years old, my dad recently redid his for the umpteenth time – and he’s restful knowing that my sisters and I will follow his directions to the letter after he passes away.
When a friend of mine died suddenly at age 45, she left behind a condo, a cabin, two dogs, a turtle, furniture, works of art, … and a lot of administrative (and emotional) problems. ) for those who had to liquidate his estate. You see, she died ab intestate, that is to say, without a will.
If you don’t have a will, the law dictates who your heirs will be and how your assets will be distributed. Knowing the problematic relationship that my friend had with her family, I would put my hand in the fire that it did not correspond at all to what she would have liked.
Nobody is obliged to write a will, but it is the only document that allows you to make your last wishes known to your loved ones and ensure that they will be respected.
For your belongings
Whether you have a big house or a small apartment, well-stocked investments, or modest savings, it’s wise to have a will as long as you have assets – or responsibilities. The choice will name your liquidator (formerly called an executor), set out their powers and duties, and give them your instructions on distributing your assets to the heirs.
To limit the risk of dispute, I would add that a notarized will is the best. However, if you do not want to go before a notary, you can draw up a holographic will (entirely written by hand) or in front of witnesses, but be aware that it will still have to be verified, which takes some time.
