Everyone needs to have a will, but did you know that there are some things that you should not put into your will? You may think that a will is the perfect place for anything you want to distribute or talk about, but the truth is that there are some things that should be left to other legal documents.
The following are three things that you should not include in your will. These include your funeral plans, illegal requests or gifts and life insurance designations.
Funeral plans
Most people believe that their funeral plans should be in their wills. This isn’t accurate because your body isn’t part of your property (technically speaking). As a result, it’s not a part of the estate.
If you want to include burial preferences, you may want to take care of the payments and arrangements in advance. Let your executor know, and talk to your attorney about methods of making sure your requests are met.
Illegal requests or gifts
Even if you have good intentions, illegal requests or gifts can’t be made or given in your will. Anything that isn’t legal will likely be ignored or voided by the judge.
Life insurance benefits designations
While you may mention that you have life insurance in your will, you should remember that the official distribution information is on the policy. The company will immediately transfer the funds to your intended beneficiary, and your will has nothing to do with that.
Your will is important, but it’s not the only vital document you’ll have. Your attorney can talk to you more about how to set up your will for the most protection.