How
important is it to have a will? Jeremy in Georgia, 67
A will is a crucial document that must be taken care of well in advance of the
end of your elder’s life. Do not allow your elder to die intestate
(without a will). When your elder doesn’t have a will, the state may take
over. It can become very complicated, and you’re sure to lose a hefty
percentage of the true value of the estate. By making a will and assigning
power of attorney, an elder will feel comforted that his/her wishes will be carried
out.
Wills are often changed, so be ready to execute more than one document over
time. And remember, anytime someone signs a will, there must be a witness. The
original should be kept with the lawyer, and a copy should be included with
your elder’s other legal documents.
Complications also arise when a second family or step-family is involved. All
variables should be well thought out, such as who is included and not included
in the will. One way to leave someone out of a will is to give them $1 exactly.
This way, they can’t say they were overlooked or that your elder was
incompetent. A plan was put in place to include them. I’ve seen this
happen far too frequently. Anyone who contests a will can hold up the process
for years, even if they have limited legal grounds to stand on.
It’s very important to appoint the right person as executor or executrix
of the will. Your elder must have confidence that he or she will carry out the
full instructions of the will. Often, the executor of a will has retired or died
or moved or is otherwise unreachable. This is one reason why the executor is
usually a family member, a trusted family friend, or a lawyer. Someone must be
named as the beneficiary to your elder’s estate or it will be left to the
state. Sadly, I’ve seen this happen many times, and family members can do
little except deal with their shock.
Don’t draft your elder’s will yourself or allow him/her to do it
either. If a will is not prepared in accordance with state laws, it could
easily be challenged by other heirs and family members who are unhappy with its
contents. This leaves the estate open to hefty legal fees and prolonged,
maneuvers that could have easily been avoided.
A word about taxes. When a will is executed after someone has passed away, the
executor has the responsibility to pay all of the bills and taxes before the
heirs can be paid. What most don’t understand, even many executors, is
that the law allows only nine months to pay the taxes for the estate that is
being probated. After nine months of non-payment, additional fines and
penalties are imposed on the estate. So make sure this is handled well ahead of
time to lessen any loss to your elder’s estate.
Over the last 40 years, Dr. Marion
(Marion Somers, Ph.D.) has worked with thousands of seniors and their
caregivers as a geriatric care manager and elder care expert. It is now her
goal to help caregivers everywhere through her book (“Elder Care Made
Easier\"), iPhone apps (www.elder911.net) web site, columns,
public service announcements, and more. For more information, visit
www.DrMarion.com