According to a new Caring.com survey, “A staggering 78 percent of millennials (ages 18-36) do not have a will. Even more surprising is that 64 percent of Generation X (ages 37 to 52) doesn’t have a will…”
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“Just 4 out of 10 adults have a will.”
Hi! Samantha here, Jack Helgesen’s Injury Paralegal. Are you wondering why I am writing about wills and trusts? It’s simple really. I felt compelled to share my story on the day that shook my world.
If you are anything like me, you are enjoying life day by day. You might be talking about starting a family, already raising a child or children, or out enjoying the wonders of the world. But have you ever thought about what would happen if you died? No, really. Not in a morbid sense, but a factual one. I never really did – not in a meaningful sense anyway. Until… The day my mother-in-law asked me about writing a will for her parents. Again, I’m no attorney and that is not my area of expertise. So, I did what anyone should do and talked with Erik Helgesen. Erik helped me put together some simple wills. As I was looking them over, I wondered, why do my husband and I not have one? Then, I began filling in a blank will with our own information. All was well until it came time to decide who would take custody of our six-year-old daughter. |
MIND BLOWN!
Who would care for our baby? My thoughts were spinning. It felt like the single most important question of my life. How did it ever escape me? Truth be told, I did not care about our material things. Whoever wants them can have them (although it’s not really that easy. More on that in another issue). But our baby! And would whoever we trusted her with have enough money to provide for her?
Looking back now it seems so easy. A question with a generally known answer. But do we really know?
Now I wonder if my peers are considering these out of sight, out of mind questions?
Whether or not you have children or are young and in good health, it is important to have a plan. Do you have pets? Who makes medical decisions for you if you can’t? Money, home, cars? Funny but true: your social media accounts?
If you do not have a Will or want to know more about Trusts, I strongly urge you to ask the tough questions.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to be used as legal advice and is not a blanket for every situation. You should always consult with your attorney.
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