How to Create a Will Yourself

Upon death, a person's belongings and investments get divided among their heirs. People who do not have a will before their death run the risk of having all of their assets possessed by the government. Even if you think you are not going to die anytime soon, it is always best to be prepared for the unexpected. Many people think they have to have an attorney help them draft a will, but, in fact, you can do it yourself. Follow these steps to create your own will:

1) Begin by writing today's date and your whole name along with your street address right at the top. Write in blue pen so that it will be easy to differentiate between the original and photocopies.

2) Write the following: I am of sound mental health and contractual capacity.

3) Give civil status details - whether you are legally wed, single, have a dissolved marriage, or a separation. Please state how long you have been with your spouse, or ex-spouse, after writing this down, or state how long you have been separated or divorced.

4) Make sure you only have one active will and testament at a time. The most recent will should be followed and not the old one from 20 years earlier.

5) The following step is picking an executor. This is someone who makes sure that your will is executed according to your wishes. It's also a great idea to name a back up, in the event that your executor dies before you. If the executor is to be rewarded, include it here. Say specifically that this executor is the person who will pay outstanding debts or taxes and arrange the funeral. You should separate your assets now to avoid future complications.

6) Next you get to deal with the fun stuff, deciding who gets your stuff. You can either do this by listing specific assets to leave to certain individuals, or by simply specifying percentages of total assets to go to individuals. As an illustration, "Bernese Johnson, my wife is the beneficiary of 85% of my resources," or "My whole real estate is bequeathed to Bernese Johnson, my wife. My savings fund, I a leaving behind for my son, George Johnson. You can also arrange for your assets to be left behind for your children when they reach the age of 18 or 21. You should list down all your assets including your savings accounts, stocks, cash, bonds, company shares, real estate, businesses, etc.

7) Be sure to initial each page and write your name on the bottom of the closing page, next to the date. A witness should sign and put the date on it also.