Last Will and Testament

A Will is a legal document, which states the maker's directions regarding the disposition of his or her estate after death. The Will is essentially a roadmap through the probate process, and it provides for naming the person(s) responsible for overseeing the settlement of the decedent's estate, usually called the"executor."

Requirements

• The maker must be age eighteen (18) or older and of sound mind;
• Typewritten Will: must be witnessed by two individuals;
• Holographic Will: must be entirely in the handwriting of the creator, dated, and signed.

Intestacy: A person who dies without a Will dies "intestate," meaning that his or her property is distributed according the state "succession" statutes. The state statute may distribute your property in a way that you might not have chosen.