With the potential of dissatisfied heirs and will contests, it is important to make your will bulletproof. One thing you can draft in your will is a no-contest clause, which discourages people from disputing your will, especially beneficiaries. Also, if you plan on doing something dramatic with your bequests, announce these wishes to your loved ones while you are still alive, giving clarity to those who might feel blindsided otherwise. Along those same lines, you should have a doctor verify your mental health at the time you plan to draft your will. Additionally, if you do not want your will to become public record in the probate process, you should consider a living trust, which can satisfy your asset transfer without inviting unwanted attention and further challenges.
See Alex Glenn, 5 Ways to Make a Bulletproof Will, USA Today, September 24, 2016.
Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.
