Tips for Storing Your Will
A common problem encountered by estate executors is actually finding the estate planning documents they need to carry out a deceased person’s last wishes. Fortunately, with a little bit of planning on your end, this is an easy problem to avoid for your loved ones.
The following are some tips for storing your will to avoid giving your executor avoidable headaches in the future:
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Choose a sensible place. Wills can be stored in your personal safe at home, in a locked filing cabinet, in a locked desk drawer or any other safe location in your home. If you have stored your will in a location that requires a key or combination, make sure you leave the combination number or key with someone you trust, such as your executor, your spouse, your children or your lawyer.
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Give a copy to your attorney. It helps to provide your attorney with a copy of the will, just in case your executor is unable to find it later on. Make sure you tell your family your attorney also has a copy.
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Avoid using safe deposit boxes. Banks require court orders for box access unless your security box is jointly managed. Getting that court permission could take a long time.
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Make sure you’ve told people where your will be stored. Wherever you ultimately decide to store your will, make sure you’ve informed your executor and one or two other people you trust about its location. And, of course, don’t move your document to another location without telling these people you plan on doing so.
For further tips and guidance related to estate planning, contact the experienced Orlando lawyers at Gierach & Gierach, P.A.
