10-Step Plan for Making Your Will

1. Clarify your objectives. Decide on your objectives for yourself, your dependents and your favorite charities.

2. Inventory your estate. What resources do you have? Will your assets accomplish your objectives? You should assign or have approximate value assigned to all of your assets. This material should be kept on file with your will.

3. Select an attorney. The attorney you select to draw your will should be an experienced estate planner. Do not assume that your excellent family lawyer will be able to provide all of your answers in the complicated field of estate planning.

4. Review and update your will periodically. Your will may be out of date because you have moved to a different state, or because of changes in laws, family relationships, personal circumstances or your choices for distributing your estate. You should bring the changes to the attention of your attorney.

5. Take your inventory to your attorney. Your attorney is trained to draw your will in the proper form according to your wishes.

6. File your will in a safe place. You should have more than one copy of your will. Store one copy in a safe, fireproof location that is easily accessible upon your death.

7. Destroy your old will when you execute your new one.

8. Inform your family of your plans for disposition.

9. Contact the Avera Foundation for further information about your will and estate planning needs.

10. Do not delay. This is a vital part of your personal business.

If you would like more information on what material you need to organize before you go to an attorney, please call the Avera Foundation at (605) 322-4750. We have a packet of information that you will find useful.