Like many New Yorkers, you go to work every day to support yourself and your family members. With hard work and some luck, you have been able to buy a house, save for retirement or invest in a meaningful collection. While you enjoy your quality of life currently, you may not have given much thought to what happens to your assets after you die.
You are not alone. In fact, according to a Gallup poll, roughly 56% of Americans have not written a will. Why do so many Americans procrastinate when it comes to estate planning? Here are four excuses that you should not let prevent you from writing a will:
- You do not have the time
In any given week, you likely juggle work, family, social gatherings and other obligations. As such, you may not believe you have any time to devote to anything else. Still, because the consequences of not having one are dire, you should try to find a few hours to write a will.
- You do not have enough assets
You do not need to be independently wealthy to benefit from a will. On the contrary, if you have any stake in the things you own, writing a will is apt to be advantageous.
- Your family can figure it out
A person’s death can take a tremendous emotional toll on his or her loved ones. If you do not want to burden your family with your financial affairs, writing a will is a good way to let your relatives know you care about them.
- The government knows what it is doing
If you die without a will, the government may decide what happens to your assets. Unfortunately, intestacy laws may not match up with your personal values.
If you want to have a say over what happens to your personal wealth after you die, estate planning is essential. As the old saying goes, there is no time like the present to get your affairs in order. By rejecting the common excuses for not writing wills, you regain control over the future of your assets.