If you pass away without a valid will, the laws of your state will determine what happens to your property. That may be ok with people who have few assets and no dependents, but it may not be ok for people with assets and who have dependents. In this assignment, you'll consider what your current will should contain and what changes you should make to your will based on your future circumstances.

Instructions:

Look back through this chapter and review the common features of a will, example of a living will, based on the sample clauses and examples of a representative will given in the text. Next, list the property that you currently have, or expect to have in the near future, and name a beneficiary for each. Be sure to name your personal representative, and charge him or her with disposing of your estate according to your wishes. If you have children or expect to have children, or if you have other dependents such as an elderly parent or a disabled sibling, be sure to name a guardian and a backup guardian for them. Also a letter of last instructions to convey any personal thoughts or instructions that you feel cannot be properly included in your will. Remember, this exercise is in no way a legal document, but rather an exercise to get you thinking by preparing a sample will simply for your own use and benefit. This should help you think about the orderly disposition of your estate, which is the final act in implementing your personal financial plans.