Where there’s a will…

…there’s a proper way to write one. 

Story: Chris Hogan

We all want to do nice things for our loved ones. We go on family trips and celebrate life’s victories together. It’s sometimes difficult for us to consider the bad things that can happen in life, but we still have to be prepared. That’s why having a will is so important.

Not having a will in place leaves room for arguments among your loved ones and anyone else who might pop up wanting a piece of your stuff. That’s not OK. The last thing you want to do is add more stress to their lives after you’re gone. This is your legacy we’re talking about here. Do you want to leave that to chance?

Protecting your wealth—and your family—with a will is one of the best gifts you can leave to those you love.

What exactly is a will, and why is it important to have one? 

Your grieving family members won’t automatically know what you wanted them to do with your money or your stuff—you need to tell them. That’s where your will comes in. A will basically establishes a plan for how your stuff is distributed after you die. It’s your way of saying exactly who gets what and what goes where—and getting it down in writing.

Almost three out of four parents with kids don’t have a will in place, according to a recent survey conducted by Ramsey Research. That’s a big problem.

How do you make a will? 

Yanking out a sheet of paper and scribbling “My family gets all my stuff” isn’t going to cut it. But making a will really isn’t that hard. And, in most cases, you don’t even need to go to an expensive lawyer to get one done.

Don’t wait another day to get your will.

Once you’ve really thought through what you want to include in your will, you can prepare it in 20 minutes or less. There are plenty of places online that make it easy for you to create a will that’s specific to the state where you live.

No matter how much or how little you own, you need a will. Your loved ones already will be going through a lot when you die, and you don’t want to add stress to an already stressful situation.

Here are seven quick steps that will help you create a will that sticks:

1. Decide what to include in your will. This includes a list of your savings and investment accounts, plus the paperwork for your home and any other real estate you own. You also might want to include valuable possessions, like jewelry or cars.
2. Select your beneficiaries. Now you’ll get to decide how your stuff is split up and who gets what. Maybe you want half of your assets to go to your surviving spouse while the other half is split evenly between your kids. Whatever it is, get it in writing.
3. Choose an executor for your will. The executor is the person who will read the will and make sure that your wishes explained in the will are carried out.
4. Name guardians for your children. If you have young children, you need to decide who will take care of them after you’re gone.
5. Sign your will in front of witnesses. Don’t forget this step. A written will is not valid unless it’s signed and dated by the one writing the will, notarized by a notary public and signed by two witnesses. 
6. Let everyone know beforehand. Your will shouldn’t be a mystery novel. Do yourself a favor and read your will to your beneficiaries before you’re gone. Taking away the element of surprise could save a lot of headaches for them later on.
7. Store your will someplace safe. Make sure you put your will, along with other important documents, someplace that is waterproof, fireproof and accessible for loved ones to find. I personally have a wooden box of folders that contains my will and all related documents, filed nicely in a safe place where my family can easily reach it.

About the writer → Chris Hogan is a national best-selling author, speaker and financial expert at Ramsey Solutions. His second book is “Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth—And How You Can Too.”