{"id":863,"date":"2025-05-02T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qa.simplifimoney.com\/blog\/make-your-will\/"},"modified":"2025-05-06T12:58:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-06T19:58:05","slug":"make-your-will","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quicken.com\/blog\/make-your-will\/","title":{"rendered":"Make Your Will in Just 5 Steps \u2014 It\u2019s Easier Than You Think"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You know that you need a will, but you haven\u2019t gotten around to making one. Sound familiar? If so, you\u2019re in good company. Most American adults<\/a> don\u2019t have a will (or any other estate planning documents) despite believing that it\u2019s important to have them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what\u2019s the holdup? For some, thinking about end-of-life issues is just too depressing or stressful. Others think they don\u2019t have enough property to justify the expense of making a will. And most people just don\u2019t know how to get it done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But making a will is probably easier than you think.\u00a0Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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See how Quicken LifeHub helps you protect your will and other essential info.
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Step 1. Understand why you need a will<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While it\u2019s true that some people can get by without making a will, that\u2019s not most of us. You need a will if you want to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decide who will get your property<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t document your wishes, state law will give your property to the people legally closest to you. In most cases, this means all of your property will go to your spouse, parents, or children. If you have none of those, then your property will go to your siblings, your parents\u2019 siblings, cousins, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While these laws may sound reasonable, they can operate in unexpected ways, leaving property such as houses, cars, or land in the hands of several people at once\u2014people who might not agree on what to do with that property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also don\u2019t reflect the wishes of people who are estranged from their legal relatives, who want specific items of property to go to certain people, or who want their property to go to their \u2018chosen\u2019 family. When you make a will, you decide who gets what.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Name guardians for minor children<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have young kids, a will is the right place to name a trusted person to take care of them. Your choice won\u2019t override the legal rights of your children\u2019s other parent. But if your children don’t have another legal parent, or if the other parent is unfit or unavailable, the court will likely approve any guardian you name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without a named guardian, the court will need to look closely into the details of your life to figure out where to send your kids. The guardian that the court chooses might or might not be the person you would have picked for the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Name an executor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you die, someone has to wrap up the details of your life\u2014pay your final bills, manage your bank accounts, cancel your subscriptions, and work with the court to distribute your property. If you don\u2019t name an executor in your will, the probate court will decide who that person will be. When you name an executor in your will, you get to decide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those are the main reasons to make a will, but there are many others. For example, you can use your will to forgive debts, to decide how your debts will be paid, to explain the reasoning behind your gifts, to be clear about leaving someone nothing, or even to state your wishes for your funeral or memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For most families, the grieving process is made even more difficult when a loved one dies without a will and the state has to apply a general set of laws to that family\u2019s unique situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2. Decide where to get your will<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you decide to create a will, you can hire a lawyer to draft it for you or you can use self-help tools to make one yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hiring a lawyer is a sure way to get personalized advice and a will crafted to meet your specific situation. A good lawyer will take some time to learn about you and ask thoughtful questions to figure out what should go into your will. And, of course, it\u2019s a lawyer\u2019s job to understand your needs and the laws of your state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, using a lawyer is not always possible or practical. For one thing, lawyers are expensive, and although paying a professional can be well worth the cost, not everyone has the money to make that choice. Also, it can be daunting to find an experienced lawyer whom you like and trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, getting a will from a lawyer takes time. There\u2019s the consultation, getting the needed information about you and your life, drawing up the documents, reviewing them with you, and arranging for the signing and witnessing. If you\u2019re going on vacation, are expecting a baby, are suddenly very sick, or just want to get it done quickly, you might not have the luxury of spending weeks or months getting your affairs in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, you can make a will yourself using one of the many estate planning tools available to the public\u2014especially if your situation and your wishes aren\u2019t complicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rest assured, no laws require that a lawyer write your will. That said, not all DIY products are of the same quality. Look for a product made by a company with a good reputation. Make sure the language is written and updated by lawyers\u2014but it should also be easy to understand so you can be sure that your will says what you want it to say. Finally, it should provide more than just a way to enter your information into a program. The will-making product should give you lots of helpful information to help you understand how to make a will that reflects your wishes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most DIY products will try to \u201cupsell\u201d you, encouraging you to buy more documents. Just make sure you understand whether you need them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nolo\u2019s Quicken WillMaker & Trust<\/a> is a do-it-yourself product that may fit the bill, helping you create a customized estate plan from the comfort of your own home. This easy-to-use program prepares your will and living trust, establishes a health care directive, defines your financial power of attorney, and creates other essential documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find out more, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3. Figure out what you need your will to cover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When you sit down to make your will\u2014whether in front of your computer or in a lawyer\u2019s office\u2014you\u2019ll need a good bit of information. It\u2019s best to gather it ahead of time. For example, you\u2019ll want to have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n