Ask Me Anything "EPISODE 31" | Erica Endyke
Question: What are the 5 things you should NEVER put in your Will?
Answer: 👉 First of all, never handwrite your Will. If you've already created and drafted a document, these handwritings can actually nullify your Will and be deemed non-valid by the court.
👉 Next, funeral arrangements. Do not put where you want to be buried or if you want to be cremated in your Will.
👉 Next, anything with beneficiaries. Your IRAs, your 401ks, your annuities, your life insurance beneficiaries, those are already predetermined to go to the individuals you have listed in your beneficiary designations and these beneficiary designations override your Will.
👉 Next, don't write reasons why you're giving a bequest. There are other ways to communicate that in a memorandum. It helps direct what we call preparatory language, your personal beliefs, and what you prefer without putting in a legally operative document.
👉 And the last thing is anything you own jointly, like a house. Joint ownership similar to beneficiary designations overrides your will.
Those are five hot tips you can now use when thinking about your estate plan, whether amending it or creating it for the first time.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
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