Generally, a
will includes the following:
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Your
name and place of residence |
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Description
of your assets
|
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Names
of spouse, children and other beneficiaries |
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Alternate
beneficiaries, in the event a beneficiary dies before you do |
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Specific
gifts |
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Name
of an executor |
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Name
of a guardian for minor children |
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Name
of an alternative guardian, in the event your first choice is
unable or unwilling to act
|
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Your
signature |
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Witnesses'
signatures |
In
order to ensure the will accurately states your wishes (and you
are the one who made it), there are added technical requirements:
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The
will must be typewritten or computer generated (unless formal
requirements are followed for a handwritten (or holographic)
will. |
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The
document must expressly state that it is your will.
|
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You
must date and sign the will. |
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The
will must be signed by at least two, or in some states, three,
witnesses. They must watch you sign the will, though they don't
need to read it. Your witnesses must be people who cannot inherit
anything under the will.
|
The
will does not have to be notarized in order to be valid. However,
if you and your witnesses sign an affidavit (sworn statement) before
a notary public, you can help simplify the court procedures required
to prove the validity of the will after you die. This procedure
makes the will “self-proving,” or, able to prove itself.
This
site is designed to provide a simple and inexpensive way to compose
your own simple will on-line.
See how this site works. |
