Most estate, wills and trusts attorneys will tell you:  I get asked by a lot of people  “Why should I have a will, I’m single?”   Well, just because you are single does not mean you do not have property or assets that should be protected.  In addition, estate planning includes more than just having a will.  It includes planning for health care decisions ( remember the Terri Schiavo case in Florida!? ) or designating someone as power of attorney to make financial decisions for you if you are incapacitated or become incompetent.

From the website, NoLo.com:  ” A will is an essential back-up device for property that you don’t transfer to yourself as trustee. For example, if you acquire property shortly before you die, you may not think to transfer ownership of it to your trust — which means that it won’t pass under the terms of the trust document. But in your will, you can include a clause that names someone to get all of the property that you haven’t left to a specific beneficiary.

If you don’t have a will, any property that isn’t transferred by your living trust or other probate-avoidance device ( such as joint tenancy ) will go to your closest relatives in an order determined by state law.  These laws may not distribute property in the way you would have chosen.

For more on wills, see Nolo’s Wills FAQ.  And to see everything Nolo has to offer when it comes to planning your estate, visit Nolo’s Wills, Trusts & Estates Center. “

Anyone that owns a home, paid for or not, especially needs a will.  You don’t want the state to dispose of your possessions without your input.

No one likes to think about their eventual demise, but it is important to plan for the future.   You’ll sleep better at night knowing your assets are protected and that you have a plan in place in case of an accident.   Call me for the names of some very-qualified attorneys to help you draft a very solid will.