Tips to writing a valid will

Writing a will in Ohio may not be on the top of many people’s priority lists, but it is important in order to prevent a legal battle between loved ones. Not only is it important to include all significant and relevant items for distribution, it is also imperative to use correct terms and language to decrease the chances of it being contested down the road.

According to U.S. News, one of the first decisions to make is who will be the executor of the will. It is best to choose a neutral party who is responsible, such as a bank or attorney. If the executor is a professional, he or she will be financially compensated for the work, but one may want to consider paying an hourly or flat fee if a friend or family member is chosen as executor. It is important to be specific when writing a will, from naming beneficiaries to assigning certain items.

As FindLaw states, defining how debts and funeral expenses are to be paid prevents any confusion. Doing this may also help distribute the assets sooner. Parents of minor children should also appoint a guardian for them, or else the court will do so. Signing and dating the will is a crucial step, as this makes it valid and trumps any previous will. Choosing witnesses to sign the document should also take some consideration. It should not be anyone who stands to inherit, and it helps if they are around in the future in the event the document is contested. Composing a detailed will may prevent a time-consuming and expensive probate process.