August is National Make-a-Will Month. To celebrate, Huntsville Hospital Foundation is sharing 10 reasons why a will matters for you and your legacy.
With a will ...
You decide who the guardians for your minor children would be. Without a will, the courts will decide based on local laws. This can be contentious, lengthy, and expensive.
You can allocate funds for a child’s health, education, and support.
You can establish a structure that will allow your estate to avoid probate. Without a will, your estate will have to go through probate court proceedings, which can be lengthy and expensive.
You can protect your assets in the event of a serious illness.
You can protect your assets from those who don’t have your best interest in mind.
You may be able to structure your estate so as to avoid or minimize estate taxes.
You can include your funeral wishes.
You can include instructions about the distribution of your personal property (vehicles, furniture, jewelry, art, etc.) and you can name caretakers for your pets.
You and your loved ones will be assured that your wishes are being followed, giving you peace of mind.
You can inspire others by setting an example, showing who and what you care about by the distribution of your assets.
Writing a will doesn’t have to be a long, complicated, and expensive process. Huntsville Hospital Foundation has an estate planning guide that will help you gather all the information you need to take to your attorney so that your time will be most efficiently spent and your wishes will be executed.
For a free estate planning guide, please contact Lynne Berry Vallely at lynne.vallely@hhsys.org or (256) 265-9271. For more information about estate planning, go to hhfplannedgiving.org.
