Fraternity-Testvériség, 1959 (37. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1959-12-01 / 12. szám
FRATERNITY 7 FACTS EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WILLS 1. Who should make a Will? Anyone of legal age and sound mind who has a bank account, owns a home or other real estate, a car or other personal property. 2. Why should I make a Will? If you do not leave a Will, your property at death will be distributed to those relatives whom the law designates. This may or may not be in accord with your wishes. 3. When should I make a Will? The best time to make a Will is when you feel the need of it least — when you are in good health and far from the doddering stage. Then you have the clear mind and the time to plan carefully. 4. If I die without a Will, won't all my property go to my wife anyway? If you have children, your estate will usually be divided between them and your wife, the size of the shares being determined by the law where you reside at death, with one exception -— real property, as a rule, is governed by local law. The same would apply to a wife who dies without a Will, leaving a husband and children. 5. What if we have no children? Will everything go to my wife? Not necessarily — the law may give much of your property to your other relatives. The same is true if a wife leaves no Will. For example, a husband who puts their home in his wife’s name might find her relatives were entitled to a share of it if she died first. A wife who owns any property should make a Will. 6. What is a "common disaster clause"? A “common disaster clause” in a Will tells what should be done with property if a husband and wife, for example, die in the same accident under such circumstances as to render it impossible to determine who died first. Without it, if there were no children, relatives of both husband and wife might battle over who died first. 7. Who should prepare my Will? A lawyer — and a lawyer should attend to any later revisions in it. It is risky to try to make one yourself; it may be worthless or worded so it is not interpreted as you meant it. A lawyer will remind you of points you did not know or might forget, can make certain that your Will is correctly executed and can help you choose a competent executor. 8. What can I do to make making my Will easier? When you make an appointment with your lawyer, he will probably suggest information you will need. But it is a good idea before seeing him to list all your bank accounts, securities and other property, both real and personal, which you may own. Then list your liabilities
