"Is it really necessary to have a Will? Please advise."

Answer:  Yes – everyone should have a Will, which is something that many people don’t realize until it’s too late.

If you have children, or if you care who receives your property after your death, then you need a Will.

Why is a Will so important?

• Choose Who Gets Your Property – A Will allows you to choose who receives your property after death. If you own property (such as your home or wedding ring) that you want to leave to a specific person, you cannot do that unless you write a Will.
• Gifts of Cash – A Will allows you to make specific monetary gifts to whoever you wish.
• Guardian for Your Children – A Will allows you to choose the individual who you want to act as Guardian for your minor children.  This is important if you are concerned about who would love and care for your children if you should die unexpectedly.
• Choose Your Executor – A Will allows you to choose the person who will be in charge of settling your estate (called an “Executor”). This is important, because you are trusting this person to carry out your wishes after you are gone.
• Gifts to Charity – If you want to make a special gift to your church, school or other charity, to help others after you are gone, you need a Will to make that happen. 
• Who Takes Care of Your Pets? A Will allows you to say you should receive your dogs, cats and other furry family members, to be sure they are taken care of. You can even set up a Pet Trust, if you want to leave money for their care.

As you can see, a Will is a very important document.  Not only does a Will allow you to state your wishes, but it also provides guidance to your family members after you can no longer speak for yourself.

A. Diane Baker, Esq.
Baker & Stalzer, LLC
Roswell, Georgia  30076
770-992-4325