Laura Kalish Wills and Probate Law Blog on Lawyers.com

If you do not decide how you would like your property to be distributed and put this into writing it will be decided for you! So it is very important to be sure that you have a will that specifies your wishes.

Other issues that can be dealt with in your will include the following: whether you would like burial or cremation, where you would like to be buried, who should get specific items and who gets the family pets.

Your state law will specify the formalities and language that should be followed in order to make it easier to transfer property upon your demise with minimal expense and court involvement.

Although some states allow handwritten wills, certain specifications must be followed and these types of wills can easily create a need for court interpretation.

Since probate law varies by state, if you move to another state you should check with an attorney there about executing a new will.

If you add a child to your family and your will does not provide for that event, you should update your will. Deciding who should raise children in the event of the death of both parents is often one of the toughest decisions that parents have to make.

If you have a significant change in your financial status, you should re-evaluate and update your will and consider whether you need further estate planning.

Although no one enjoys thinking about these things, having an advance plan can give peace of mind to you and your family.