Did you know that without a valid will, the following could apply to you or your loved ones?

• State statutes could determine the distribution of your property
• The courts will appoint an executor/administrator for you
• You may not be able to provide for the welfare of your minor children
• Your heirs will benefit equally in your estate and not necessarily in the proportions that you would prefer or intended
• The cost of administering your estate may be greater due to the constant court supervision of your executor or administrator

Here are some of the most common misconceived notions concerning the need for a will:

"I don't have enough property to be concerned about having a will." Just imagine that you had to sell everything that you owned tomorrow at an estate sale (furniture, clothes, musical equipment, home computers, etc.). We all have something worthy of distribution after our passing - an automobile, a savings account, art work, books, etc. Without a will, you are not in control of the distribution of your property, and someone else, usually the government, will probably have to make those decisions for you.

"All of my property is in joint name." Many people take comfort in knowing that all of their property is held in joint name. However, in the worst case scenario, if there was to be a common disaster and you were to both pass on at the same time or your spouse predeceases you, you will still need a valid plan for distributing your estate.

"My spouse will just get everything." Remember that life circumstances change over your lifetime, and your spouse may predecease you or you may divorce. It's possible that you and your spouse may experience a common disaster and then everything will be left for the government to distribute.

"I'm too young to think about things like that and I have plenty of time to write my will." Remember that death is not exclusively reserved for the elderly; young people pass on every day. Planning even at an early age ensures that your wishes will be followed.

"I'm not even married so why should I care about creating a will for myself?" If your not married, this is all the more reason you need a will. If you are unmarried and you do not have a will, do you think that the government will know what your wishes are? Probably not.