| Wills are legal documents that a person uses to | | | | likely that they will overlook something. If |
| declare how he or she wishes his property to be | | | | something is overlooked then it the execution of |
| disposed of when he or she dies. In most cases | | | | the will might be difficult. The will itself may be |
| wills are written out, signed and attested to, or | | | | invalid. |
| more commonly known as witnessed to. In the | | | | When the will is written up there must be |
| past, the law stated that wills could only dispose | | | | someone there to witness or attest to the will. |
| of real property, or land, and a testament | | | | The witness must sign in he presence of the |
| disposed of personal property. Today, wills are | | | | person writing the will and all other witnesses. |
| referred to as the last will and testament and it | | | | Once wills have been signed and witnessed they |
| deals with both real and personal property. | | | | cannot be changed without having the witnesses |
| There are various types of wills that people could | | | | present. |
| have. One such will is a joint will. More than one | | | | Probate |
| person with each testator executes this will, as | | | | When a person dies there are several things that |
| the person who makes a will is called, leaving his | | | | much happen before a will can go into effect. The |
| property to the survivor or to other persons. The | | | | will itself must be probated. What this means is |
| second type of will is a mutual will. Mutual wills the | | | | that it must be proven to be that last will and |
| testators agree that each shall be the beneficiary | | | | testament of the deceased. The executor of the |
| under the other's will. | | | | will carries out the last wishes of the deceased. |
| Execution Of Wills | | | | This may need to be done in court or it may not. |
| It is recommended that people have lawyers | | | | Anyone may contest a will and in order to do this |
| draw up your will. If a person wishes to draw up | | | | they must appear in court. |
| the will him or herself they can do so but it is | | | | |