Does Someone Know Where Your Will Is Located?

What if you go to the work of creating an estate plan but it can’t be found?

Creating a will includes how you want your assets distributed.  However, sometimes it can’t be found. That creates some problems, according to the Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog in “The Biggest Estate-Plan Mistake: Losing It.”

While sometimes estate plans are not fulfilled for legal reasons, they often fail for a much more basic reason. No one knows where to find the estate plan documents and sometimes no one knows they even exist. That means your instructions cannot be carried out.

It is not difficult to avoid having this problem.

You should always know where your will is located. You should also tell someone who is close to you where to find it. Someone who will know that you have passed away, needs to know where to look for your estate plan when the time comes.

If the original copy of your will is at your attorney’s office, make sure a close friend or family member knows that and knows the name of your attorney.

An estate planning attorney can advise you on creating an estate plan that fits your unique circumstances. Make sure your attorney’s office keeps a copy and you keep someone informed of its existence.

Reference: Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (Feb.12, 2018) “The Biggest Estate-Plan Mistake: Losing It.”