The fall brings so many things we enjoy – cooler weather, football, and the start of something new. For many, it marks the beginning of a new school year.
Fall is also a time when many people decide to take action on goals they’ve been putting off.
If there’s one thing people put off more than anything else, it’s likely creating a will.
As we shared last month, a Caring.com survey found that only one in three adults has a will.
There are three main reasons people put off making a will:
- They don’t know how to make a will
- They just don’t get around to it
- They don’t believe they’re “rich” enough for one
This is precisely the way Kyle Holt and his wife felt about creating a will. They had a fairly straightforward situation and realized once they became pregnant with their first child, they just needed to get it done.
“You don’t want to wait until you need a will to create one.”
The day Kyle and his wife decided to bite the bullet and make their will, they had just attended the funeral of a close family friend.
“It was unexpected and a reminder that anything can happen,” Kyle says. “We had heard about Mama Bear Legal Forms through Dave Ramsey. Our conversation went from, ‘yeah, we know we need to do this someday’ to ‘we need to take care of this now.’”
That night, at 5:45 p.m., Kyle and his wife decided to create a will through Mama Bear Legal Forms. They put their daughter to bed at 7:15 p.m. and by 8:00 p.m., they had a will.
“I don’t know anybody who has a will,” Kyle says. “But I learned about Mama Bear through listening to Dave Ramsey over the years. We had paid off our debts and taken care of life insurance. Getting a will was another one of those things we just knew it was time to do.”
While Kyle felt the process was very simple, straightforward and easy to do, looking back, there are a few things he would change. He would have had the names of the people he and his wife named as executor and guardian of their daughter ahead of time.
“I ended up calling my brother three or four times, but overall it was easy to use and simple. It walks you through step by step and explains the legal terms you see in the forms. Then, it creates the will from your input and it’s clear what everything means.”
As Kyle said, from discovery to completion, the process was completed in about two hours – and that was with no preparation upfront.
To those waiting on making a will, Kyle’s advice is simple:
“Do it. You don’t want to wait until you need a will to create one because at that point it’s too late. You never know what is going to happen in life. Unfortunately, bad things happen all the time. If you’re lucky enough, it won’t happen to you, but it is always better to be prepared.”
Common Questions People Ask About Wills
Kyle’s story may have raised questions about making a will. Here are answers to some of the most common questions people ask us about wills.
What is a will?
A will is a legal document that outlines your wishes regarding the legal care of your minor children and the distribution of your property and assets upon your passing.
Do people who aren’t rich need a will?
Wills aren’t just for people with young children or people with great wealth. Everyone needs one.
If you have kids in college, or young children, or care what happens to your things after you die, you need a will.
How much does it cost to make a will?
If you visit an attorney, you will pay their hourly rate to create a will. The cost could rise to hundreds of dollars or more.
However, if your needs are simple and straightforward, you can spend much less.
Our attorney-built documents are state-specific and legally binding and only cost $129. We also throw in two other important documents free – a health care power of attorney and a finance power of attorney form.
It’s fast, easy and affordable. Whether you’re making a will for the first time, or need to update one you made years ago, there’s no reason for you not to create your will today.
Get Your Will Package Today
Creating or updating your will doesn’t take long or cost much. You can do it quickly from the comfort of your own home at a time that is convenient for you.
Mama Bear Legal Forms provides law firm quality, state-specific documents that are easy to create, simple to download and incredibly affordable.
All three of the forms we offer in our Will Package are legally valid in all states and include guidance on how to complete them.
