Let’s face it, no one enjoys the idea of writing a will. Most of us really don’t want to think about the reasons why we are writing a will. So it’s perfectly understandable that many people procrastinate when it comes to finalizing their estate planning documents.
What most people don’t think about is that their will should be a living, evolving document. When a young couple gets together to write their will, they are likely thinking about things like “Who will have guardianship of the kids?” That question is a huge deal when the kids are two and four, but not very important when the couple is retired and the kids have children of their own.
One of the reasons that people tend to panic over finalizing a will is because they feel that it is a final document. We understand that circumstances can change all the way up until the months or weeks before a will is actually needed, and expect to make changes to a will as circumstances change. Most attorneys charge very little to open up the document and change a name or figure here and there.
So rather than procrastinating because you can’t decide or agree upon the little details, make an initial decision and make changes later. It’s much safer to have a will, even if you are not 100% happy with it, than to not have one and have the need for it. Estate planning is about peace of mind, and you’ll certainly feel better knowing the important aspects are covered while you give more thought to the smaller details.
