I often meet with clients who have Wills that were drawn up 20, or more, years ago. Usually, the clients have copies of the Will and the originals are with the attorney who drafted the Will. Have you moved over the last 20 years? If so, did you notify the attorney who drafted your will?
What ifs
What if the attorney is retiring or passed away and the attorney taking over the files needed to notify you? Would they be able to find you? If you do not have your original Will, make sure you check with the attorney who does have it to make sure they have your current contact information so that they can notify you if they move offices or retire.
Even better, have your old Will reviewed to make sure that it is still an accurate reflection of your wishes, that the people you appointed as Executor/Personal Representative are still around, and that your planning needs have not changed in the last 20 years, which they probably have.
If you had small children when you first drafted the Will, chances are they won’t be needing those guardians that you appointed in the Will. You may even want one of your children to act as Executor/Personal Representative now.
More What if’s
What if you are retiring, facing a long term illness or have a child with special needs or addictions? You’re going to need to know what types of protections are available to you and your family. So find your Will (the original), dust it off, and have it looked at by an attorney. You’ll be glad you did.
Any questions you or your family may have, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Please contact me and I’ll get back to you at my earliest convenience.
Thanks for reading.
Jason
