By Mary Randolph , J. One of the executor's first jobs is to find the will, if any, left by the deceased person. That may be quite a challenge in itself. But once you've found a document, how do you know whether or not it's valid and will be accepted by the probate court? The final decision on validity will be made by the court. But you can make your own preliminary determination about the document—and then either relax because there don't appear to be any problems, or get ready for a possible challenge to the will.
The following requirements have to do with how the will was executed—that is, how it was signed and witnessed. Wills can also be challenged in court if there are questions about whether or not the will-maker had the mental capacity to make a valid will or whether someone exerted undue influence on the will-maker.
Generally, of course, wills are composed on a computer and printed out. Older ones might have been typed on a typewriter. It's possible, however, to have a valid will that is entirely handwritten. Confusion can come when there is a mixture of handwriting and pre-printed language—as can happen if someone uses a fill-in-the-blanks form or crosses out language on a computer-printed will.
It may be impossible to tell who made the changes or when they were made, and a court is not likely to enforce them. Here are some examples of different outlines. You can also learn more by watching the short video below. The most common type of outline is an alphanumeric outline , or an outline that uses letters and numbers in the following order:.
Roman Numerals. Represent main ideas to be covered in the paper in the order they will be presented. Uppercase Letters. Represent subtopics within each main idea. Arabic Numbers. Represent details or subdivisions within subtopics. Lowercase Letters. Represent details within subdivisions. Outline with main ideas, subtopics, subdivisions and details :.
Thesis: Drugs should be legalized. Before Prohibition, crime rate related to alcohol were low-to-medium. After Prohibition, crime rates related to alcohol were very low. Before Amsterdam had legalized marijuana, drug-related crime rates were high. After Amsterdam had legalized marijuana, drug-related crime rates dropped. F ull-sentence outline :. Example of a full-sentence outline:. Thesis Statement: Today I want to share what I have learned about global warming and its causes.
Global warming is alive and well and thriving in Antarctica. In winter , an iceberg the size of Rhode Island broke off. In October , an iceberg the size of Delaware broke off. All of us have a lot at stake. I love the outdoors.
Today I want to share what I have learned about global warming and its causes. Global warming is a gradual warming of the Earth from human activities citation. It is characterized by a high concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Each year five tons of CO2 are pumped into the atmosphere citation.
The carbon dioxide traps heat. Carbon pollutants also eat a hole in the ozone layer citation. In this hole set a size record. This allows more ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth. If this problem is not corrected; we may see disastrous results citation. There could be dramatic climate changes. There could be drought in the middle of continents. There could be many severe storms. There could be rising sea levels that would destroy coastal areas.
There could be serious health problems. Once you list your assets, you can deduct your liabilities debts from your assets to find out the true value of your estate. Liabilities may include mortgages, personal or student loans, credit cards, overdrafts, and more.
Executor: Your executor is the person that you appoint to execute your estate plans once you pass away. The executor is responsible for dealing with your affairs, and carrying out the wishes in your Will, which is why it is important to choose someone you trust.
Your executor can be a beneficiary in your Will, but must be over You may also choose to include more than one executor to represent you. Beneficiaries: Your beneficiaries are the individuals, organisations, or charities that will benefit from your Will by inheriting property or sentimental gifts.
Guardian for minor children: If you are a parent of any children under 18, you should specify who will look after them in your absence. The guardian you choose for your children should be capable of caring for them, and is required to be an adult over Pet Caretaker: If you own pets, you may name a pet caretaker to look after your pets after you pass away. You and your spouse may create what is referred to as a Joint Will, or Mutual Will, where you create one Will for both of you.
When one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse retains the assets. However, the surviving spouse cannot make changes to the Mutual Will after their partner has passed away. Some spouses write Mirror Wills, in which each spouse has their own separate Will, but they are nearly identical to each other.
This type of Will leaves everything to the other spouse. For a Will to be considered valid, it needs to be executed in front of two witnesses. The witnesses also need to sign it. After you have executed your Will, you should store it in a safe location. This can be with your solicitor, your bank, or a probate service.
Inform your executor where you have stored your Will. While it is advised that you create a new Will if you plan on altering your existing one, you may also use a Codicil to add or modify clauses. If you wish to create a new Will, you would first need to destroy your current one, notify any parties involved, make a new Last Will and Testament, and then sign and date it properly for it to come into effect.
All Rights Reserved. In most U. A legal will should state somewhere on it that it is the testator's will. It should also contain the date it was made. A legal will must also contain at least one phrase that leaves something to somebody, although the will does not have to give away the testator's entire estate in order to be legal. Most legal wills also name an executor or personal representative to manage the estate, as well as a guardian if the testator left behind minor children.
However, these sections are not required for the will to be valid in any state. A legal will should contain the signature of the testator. You will usually find the testator's signature at or near the end of the will.
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