Are you thinking of writing wills online, but you are not sure of where to start? Here is a simple guide that contains most of the information you may need in a list form. Discussing the essential elements of a will before you begin to write is important. Otherwise, you may make costly mistakes by leaving some crucial elements out or not following the state laws vital for the execution. You will learn what to expect from each stakeholder and what the state laws require from you as a testator or author.
Millions of Australians think that creating wills is difficult, but that is because they have not tried the online route. Creating will online has demystified the problem starting from what to include in the will and the right company to work with. Some people are even discouraged by the bulk of paperwork involved with the conventional way of creating wills. However, this problem is removed when you make an online and follow the stated protocols.
Some people even think it takes searching through a mountain of bank statements and pension information to accomplish writing wills. But while they may be discouraged by this complex process or expensive legal fees, others create wills online without stress and validate them in no time. You can contact chamberlains to take this stress-free route. They are breaking down this will creation process that summarizes the entire process to be completed in under 15 minutes.
What should you include in Wills Online?
- About You
When you decide to take on creating wills online through an online will writing service, then you should take the first step. The first step is to include detailed information about you and your family. Ideally, a will should contain personal and family details, such as
- Your full name
- Your home and contact address
- Your date of birth and not your age
- Your marital status
- Your children’s details (names and dates of birth)
- The details of your pets
- Choosing guardians in your will
Any child included in your will below the age of 18 should be assigned to a guardian after your passing. You must clearly state who the guardian is and their roles. This guardian will assume the responsibility of taking care of your children. You can appoint a guardian for your pets to ensure they are well-taken care of after your passing. It is essential not to leave that role out of your will, particularly for your children.
Otherwise, the courts take over that responsibility if you die without appointing a guardian for your children and your pets. And when you leave it to the courts, there may be some complications in the process. For instance, the court may not be able to identify the best person who can take that responsibility rightly. After all, the court may not know this individual as much as you may know them.
Appointing a guardian includes naming the person and supplying the necessary details. The details may include the full name, home address, phone number and email address. Meanwhile, you must inform the guardian of your intention and ensure the person agrees with you. In addition, you may want to appoint a second guardian who will assume the place of a guardian if something goes wrong with the primary guardian.
- List out all your financial accounts and properties
You can imagine the cost a family incurs if a person dies without preparing a will, up to thousands of Australian dollars. Part of the cost is required in the court’s process to execute an intestacy in place of a will. Before the rest can be transferred to the best beneficiary that the court appoints, every cost will first be deducted from the properties. On the other hand, part of the estate may also go unclaimed because there is no will.
In addition, some of the financial accounts, including savings, investments, or pension accounts, may not be accessible because there is no will. Not all persons whose properties end up this way don’t have a will, some of their wills could not be found, or nobody even knew they existed. But those who create wills online have enjoyed the benefit of preventing their family from unnecessary heartaches and losing loved ones.
The section of your will that contains accounts and properties allows you to list all your properties and assets. When you list them this way, it is easy for the executor to see all your assets efficiently. Add the name of the bank, the type of asset and other vital details for accessibility by the person you appoint.
- Share your real estate
After listing all your assets, including real estate, you should describe how you want them to be shared. Which family members get what asset, including your spouse, children, and other family members? In addition, you may also decide to include some NGOs or charities as beneficiaries in your final wish or testament. The first or primary beneficiary is the spouse, and after choosing your primary beneficiary, you may proceed to create room for secondary beneficiaries. In this case, you may also have to determine what will happen to the beneficiaries if they die before you.
- Decide your will executors
Another vital part of your will when writing online is choosing the person to execute the will. An executor is a person with the primary responsibility of implementing every wish in your will. You may have to provide more than one executor where the secondary executor takes over if something makes the primary executor unavailable. Meanwhile, executors should be people you are comfortable with and can secure the information in your will. As for the online will writing service, it takes only a few minutes to appoint your executor. An executor could be a trusted family member, a bosom friend, a professional or a combination of all three.
Conclusion
Finally, creating wills online is a simple process where you have to tick a few things, and it’s done. In addition, you may decide to include some gifts to specific family and friends or even charity organizations. It’s a complete option that endears people that deserve to benefit from your will to enjoy. Some common gifts you can include in your will are donations of money and items.