How Do I Keep My Digital Will Safe?

Making an online will has become easier than ever before. This article will walk you through the process for making and safely storing a will online so that you and your loved ones can be prepared.

Why Do I Need a Will?

Making a last will and testament is one of those things we all know we should do, but nobody ever wants to actually get around to it. In fact, 2 out of every 5 Americans over the age of 45 have never made a will. It sounds complicated and overwhelming. We don’t like thinking about what will happen to our loved ones after we die.

But if you don’t think about it and make the right plans, you might end up causing even more stress and turmoil for your loved ones. Losing a loved one is one of the toughest times for most people. You don’t want to make it any harder for the people you love.

Creating an Online Will

The easy solution is to finally sit down and create your will. You don’t need to meet with a lawyer or pay any steep fees to write one. There are even a variety of free online will templates available to you. They’re designed to prompt you to include the most important details and give you the space to include other pertinent information.

Online wills are just as legitimate as traditional wills, but you can always discuss your will with a lawyer or estate planner if you’d prefer. Creating your will online eliminates much of the expense and hassle of traditional will-writing. They are quick and simple, designed to be clear and straightforward.

When you sit down to make your will, it’s best if you’ve already considered your answers to some of the most pressing questions you’ll need to address. Here are some of the most important:

Who do you want to inherit your property and valuable possessions?

One of the most important questions your will should answer is how you want your property and assets handled. Without clear direction from you, your property can end up in a complicated legal situation called intestacy that will be stressful for your loved ones to manage. Writing out your wishes regarding your property and important possessions will relieve your family of any confusion or disagreement.

What are your arrangements for your children if they still need legal guardians?

If you have young children, you’ll need to choose who you trust to become their legal guardian(s) if something were to happen to you. It might be difficult to think about, but without a clear plan to follow, you leave your loved ones in an even worse position.

Who will you designate as the executor of your will?

Trusting someone as the executor of your will is a big decision. This is the person who will be responsible for carrying out the guidelines you’ve set in your will after your death. You’ll want to be sure they are comfortable with the responsibility they are accepting and that they understand your end of life wishes. Common choices are your spouse, child, sibling, or a well trusted friend.

What do you want to happen to your body after you die?

Many families never discuss funeral or end of life wishes, which can lead to unnecessary stress and uncertainty surrounding end of life arrangements. Leaving behind clear directions will let your loved ones know they are making the decisions you would have wanted.

You should decide how you would like your body to be treated: burial, cremation, green burial, donation? Also consider how you would like your funeral and obituary arrangements. Making plans for these critical end of life tasks will ease the burden on your loved ones and give them the peace of mind that you’ll be taken care of the way you want.

Without a will for them to follow, you will involve your family in more complicated legal proceedings that will cost them time and money during an already difficult time for them. You also risk provoking disagreement and uncertainty among your loved ones. It can be hard for them to know what you would have wanted, and they may disagree when it’s time to make the arrangements.

You want your loved ones to be able to grieve in peace. Make writing your will a priority.

How My Family Documents Can Help You Store Your Online Will

Making an online will is an easy way to make sure your loved ones are prepared for when the time comes. But the next important step is figuring out how to store it. That’s where My Family Documents can help.

My Family Documents offers a convenient storage tool that allows you to organize and access your critical end of life documents. This should include your will but also extends to other important documents your loved ones will need to access after your death, including financial statements, insurance policies, account passwords and information, and personal records.

Other storage options are web-based, meaning your information is stored on the internet and vulnerable to cyber-attacks. My Family Documents provides a physical USB flash drive, which means that you have control of your own information. All of your data is encrypted, and you choose where you store the flash drive. With My Family Documents, your information is secure.

Since web-based options store your information on the internet, they also charge steep annual fees to give you continued access to your documents. With My Family Documents, you pay a single, one-time fee and then have unlimited access to your information. 

Storing your will should be an important part of your end of life planning. But your will is only one of the important documents you need to get organized for your loved ones. My Family Documents can help you sort, organize, and store all your information in one secure place so that when the time comes, your loved ones have everything they need and know what to do.

Now’s the time to start getting your important documents in order. Let My Family Documents help.