What's the best age for a will?

I’m often asked how old you should be when thinking about putting a will in place.

It’s a common misconception that wills are only for the very rich, very old, or very sick. While there’s not a magic age to draft one, people often come to me when they go through big life events, like marriage, or acquiring assets (like buying a home) or having children.

No one likes to think about their mortality. It’s easy to put off something that creates uncomfortable realities. However, passing away without documentation in place, or intestate, could mean more time, money and paperwork headaches for your loved ones. And you’d have no power to make decisions about who receives your assets. If you have minor children, guardianship is an important consideration, too. Dying without a will means the courts choose the legal guardian for your children and what they inherit.

People routinely call me in dire situations where a loved one is suddenly gravely ill or incapacitated. By that time, it’s often too late.

The sooner you have a thoughtful plan in place, the sooner your loved ones and assets will be legally protected. It’s a starting point. After I sit down with clients, I can guide them to the best legal strategy for protecting their assets. Over the past 20 years, I’ve helped more than 5,000 clients in Northeast Ohio.

Peace of mind is a priceless commodity. Drafting a will is two half-hour meetings with me and the average cost is a couple hundred dollars. After it’s said and done, clients oftentimes tell me they wish they had done it sooner.

Margaret T. Karl, Attorney at Law, is located at 25800 North Depot Street, Suite 102, in Olmsted Falls. Call 440-782-5051 or visit OlmstedOhioLaw.com.