The current number of those who do not have a will can be astonishing, especially knowing that they run the risk of letting the state decide what happens to their estate. Those who do have wills also often fail to update them after a change in circumstances. With a lot of important estate decisions, it is necessary to prep for your loved ones—spouses, significant others, children, and grandchildren alike. Issues like body disposition and organ donation are crucial steps to consider because if not, you leave your family members guessing as to what you would have wanted, which often leads to fights. Further, in our technology era, it will be essential to specify actions for your digital accounts. Ultimately, one must plan their estate so that the bureaucracy does not consume those we care about at the worst possible time.
See Lisa Pollack, One Day It Will Be Curtains, so I’m Planning for It, Financial Times, January 17, 2017.
Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.
