If you are writing a will for the first time, there is a lot to remember. This is even more true if you are combining the will with other essential estate planning tools such as powers of attorney and advanced health care directives.
While a will is relatively simple to create, it will not be nearly as simple to execute if you fail to include everything you should in it.
The person executing your will and your family will have a much easier time if you have accounted for every last item, either in your will or elsewhere. One thing people often forget is those items with minimal financial value. Yet they can hold great emotional value.
Physical items
Objects can hold a lot of sentimental value, even if they are financially worth next to nothing. Examples could include the painting of the dog you had when the children were little, the fake pearl necklace your grandmother used to wear with such pride or the battered wooden rolling pin that has been handed down from generation to generation. If you do not determine who gets these in your will, it could lead to problems between family members if two people want the same thing.
Digital items
What would you like to happen to your digital footprint when you die? There are ways to ensure your social media accounts are closed or left open in prosperity, depending on your wish. There are also ways to either ensure people can access your email accounts, in case they need to find something or ensure no one can ever read them again. Things like access to photos stored in the cloud also need consideration.
With so much to remember it is easy to overlook something when estate planning which is why it is wise to have someone who has been through the process multiple times to guide you.