8 Estate Planning Pitfalls to Avoid

Writing a will doesn’t have to be complicated. But it does need to be done carefully. Teach your donors to avoid these eight common mistakes.

1. Thinking that you don’t have enough wealth to need a will.
2. Thinking you need a will only if you have dependents.
3. Believing the state will take care of everything for you.
4. Thinking you don’t need a will because your property is held jointly with heirs who have rights of survivorship.
5. Writing your will by hand.
6. Not keeping your beneficiary designations up to date.
7. Believing you’re too young to need a will.
8. Leaving everything to your spouse:
   • a
   • b
   • c