A death brings with it many responsibilities for the family of the deceased. The family needs to make funeral arrangements, call family members and deal with the funeral and burial among other things. One thing that a family shouldn’t have to deal with is the distribution of the possessions of the diseased. Everyone should have a will in their name, regardless of their assets or age.

Many adults postpone writing a will when they are younger; however, the simple fact is that death doesn’t wait for anyone. Others postpone creating a will because they are unsure how to start the process while still others avoid creating a will because it may a few hundred dollars – but this is a worthwhile investment.

Wills are important because they allow you to not only dictate who receives your material objects, but they also decide more important issues after your death. One of the most important issues typically addressed in wills is the future of any of your children who are still minor. You can specify in your will, for example, to have your best friend take care of your children in the event of a tragic accident that leaves your children without parents. Otherwise, if a will is not on file, the courts may be left to decide who takes guardianship.

Even in the event you die leaving your spouse behind, the distribution of your assets may not be according to your wishes if you lack a will. Think that your spouse will simply get all your property? Wrong: depending on the state you live in, your spouse may have to share the estate with any adult children, parents or even siblings in the absence of a will.

By using a will you can avoid the state defining where your assets are distributed. The government has very specific guidelines as to how assets are divided and any deviations must be made in a will. For example, in some states if you have a wife and two kids, the government will allocate half of what your assets to your wife and half for your children to split. If you want to leave more money to your wife or money to someone or something else, this must be specified within your will. With a will, you are free to distribute your assets to anyone and any organization you want.

Equally important is being able to assert who gets what particular assets. Assets may be split by the government but it is often difficult for them to decide who receives what assets. For example, will your wife receive your automobile or will the children? This could result in your family engaging in a legal battle with each other over particular assets – a beloved watch for instance - a problem that can be avoided through the creation of a will.

Ultimately, it is always smart to have a will on file to protect your wishes as well as your family from unnecessary turmoil. While it certainly will take a little bit of extra time, effort, and money right now, the peace of mind of having a will far outweighs the cost.

Don’t let the government and people you don’t know decide who gets your assets and even children and don’t leave your family in limbo regarding your assets after they have finished mourning your death. Stop making excuses and create a will because unfortunately you never know when you might need it.