Top Three Major Life Changes That Warrant Updating Your Auburn Last Will and Testament

As an Auburn resident, you have likely executed a Last Will and Testament at some point in time. If you are like many people, once you prepared and executed your Will, you put it safely away and haven’t given it much thought since. Updating your Will, however, can be as important as creating the Will in the first place. Many events or changes can prompt a Will update; however, there are three major life changes that always warrant considering a Will update.

A recent divorce is good reason to update your Will. If you are like many people, when you were married you executed Wills that gave the bulk of your estate to each other, known as reciprocal Wills. Now that you are divorced, however, you may not wish your ex-spouse to receive assets from your estate. If you fail to update your Will, however, that is exactly what may happen in the event of your death.

Marriage, is another important life change that prompts a Will update for opposing reasons. When you marry, you may wish to add your spouse to your Will to ensure that he or she receives assets from your estate or specific gifts upon your death.

The birth of a child or grandchild should also prompt a look at your Auburn Will. By naming your children or grandchildren specifically in your Will, you avoid the possibility of confusion or litigation regarding who your heirs are in the event of your death.

Consult with your Auburn Estate Planning attorney regarding updating your Will if you have experienced any of these major life changes.

The Law Offices of James A. Miller is a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.

This post originally appeared on James A. Miller's Law Blog.

Last Updated on Friday, 10 February 2012 13:26