Preparing a will early on in life is a wise decision. It may not be so timely once you are old and senile. Nearly half of all Americans pass away without proper wills.

Every adult must have a will, or the government will step in and appoint a stranger as executor to administer your estate. Besides, you need to designate guardians for your children and bequeath money and gifts to spouse, children, designated heirs and friends. An important task is to appoint an executor of your will, who will see to the efficient administration of your assets after your demise. Making a will is prudent and if done with foresight, will provide for the security and well being of your family after your lifetime.

You may also want to change your will from time to time. This happens when your marital status changes, a child is born or adopted, you move your address, there are great changes in your finances, or you want to change a beneficiary or executor.

So how to go about making a will? First make a list of everything you own: your car, house, jewelry, furniture, bank accounts, stock shares and life insurance. Then make another list of your debts: subscriptions, hire purchase agreements and loans. Next is to find a good solicitor. Ask around at public offices or consult your telephone directory or local citizen’s bureau.

The other alternative is to buy a do-it-yourself will-making kit. To make these procedures easy, there are special last will and testament kits available in the market. These kits can be easily downloaded and ordered from legal websites. The kits consist of hard copy or paper instructions and actual will forms in paper or computer floppy. This enables you to revise and change your will as and when you like.

These kits save a lot of legal costs and time. But they are more prone to legal disputes. In sum, if you can afford one and if you have the time, there is nothing better than hiring the services of a good lawyer to take care of your last will and testament.