Writing your Will and why you need one
The global COVID-19 pandemic has many people thinking about writing a will. There has been an increase in demand for will writing services. Learn how to protect your most important assets.
 Written by: Trina Hargrove
We all think that we are going to live forever. There are not too many people that think about life after they are gone, however the reality is that we all will have to leave here one day. Estate planning is essentially creating a plan or Will to transfer your most important possessions in the event of your untimely passing. Everyone needs a Will. Without a Will you could leave behind a difficult situation for your family that the courts will have to handle on your behalf.
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One thing the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is regardless of your age, race, or economic status it can affect you and your family. The pandemic has left us all vulnerable and exposed to the reality of death. If you were to die tomorrow do you have a Will in place that would ensure that your assets and material possessions will be passed on? If you have children do you have documents in place that designate who would become the guardian of your children? Did you know without a Will that a judge will decide who should care for your children? Â Did you know without a Will in place your checking and savings accounts will be frozen, and a judge will decide how the proceeds will be distributed. If you have pets have you planned for their care upon your passing. What about your investments in property and stocks? Those too would be decided upon by a judge as well. All your hard work could be entangled in the court system for a long time without having a proper Will in place.
The benefits of creating a WillÂ
There are several benefits of creating a Will. By having a Will, you get to decide who takes possession of your assets, and specify your funeral wishes. This will take stress away from your family who will ultimately handle your arrangements. Having a Will in place allows you to decide who will raise your children upon your death. It also prevents anyone you do not want to take care of your children from having that privilege. A Will also help to minimize your estate tax. The amount you give away to your family and charity will decrease your estateâs value which will lessen the tax burden on your estate. A Will also ensures that someone responsible will handle your final affairs. Imagine if you had gone through a bitter ugly divorce and your ex-spouse ending up being the one to inherit your possessions and handle your estate. Â
Creating a Will can be easy if you prepare yourself. There is no longer the need of having an attorney write out your will. You can write your own Will online with  www.netlawgroup.com. NetLaw is an easy online estate planning software. The software processes the information you input onto to the correct forms and prepares your documents to be notarized. You will need to take your printed documents to a notary to have then notarized for them to be considered legally binding. Afterwards you can store your hard copy in your files at home, and then upload a copy to NetLawâs online vault service. The vault service is a secure document filing system that maintains a copy of your will along with other important documents. Netlawâs software makes creating a will as simple as filling out an application. It allows you to create a Will, Living trusts, Healthcare Living Will, and Medical and Financial durable powers of attorney. However, preparing a will takes forethought and prior planning.
8 key things to consider when writing your WillÂ
Before sitting down and creating your Will online there are several things you would want to consider. Hereâs a list of things to think about before creating your will online:
 1.      Beneficiaries
 You will need to consider the key individuals you would like to inherit your possessions. You can have several Beneficiaries. List them out on paper beforehand and what you would like to gift them.
 2.      Executor of your Will
 Think about who you can trust to execute or carry out your final requests. This person will have the responsibility of handling your estate.
 3.      Your Property that you would like to transfer
 Property is considered any houses, land, furniture, jewelry, bank accounts, art, stocks, bonds, money market accounts, cars, family heirlooms, furniture. Any material possessions that you would like to pass on. List out everything. Â
 4.      If you have minor children who would you appoint Guardianship
 This decision is probably one of the most important. You must think in the event if you and your spouse were to leave who would be loving and responsible enough to take care of your children?
 5.      Healthcare wishes
 You will need to think about a Living Will in the event of an illness or accident. It is also known as a Health Care Directive. It is a medical power of attorney that allows the person that you designate to make decisions on your behalf if you cannot.
 6.      Your beloved pets
 Your pets are an important members of your family and you must consider who is going to take care of them in case of your untimely passing.
 7.      Charitable gifting
 If you have plans on gifting to a charitable organization
 8.      Your Social Media
Social media accounts have become online digital legacies for many families wanting to maintain a digital presence of their loved one. You may want to consider leaving instructions on how you want your social media accounts handled. You can leave your passwords for the person you designate to manage your accounts.
The best benefit about doing you own Will online is that you can change your Will at any time and as often as you like. Circumstances change all the time and it is recommended to review your Will every three to five years. Creating your Will online gives you the freedom to make changes easily. You do not have to schedule an appointment with your attorney to update your Will. You can simply log-in to your NetLaw online account and update your documents. Have your legal documents notarized and place them back into your online vault. You can work on your Will in the comforts of your home, and make changes as your life changes.
Estate planning involves being proactive, and not reactive. Creating a Will is one of the most important pieces to your financial planning. Preparing your own Will empowers you to make informed decisions. It also allows you to consider every detail and situation that may affect your family. The peace of mind you will gain from knowing you have protected your assets and loved ones properly.
