Don’t just make a will - make sure your loved ones know where it is and have access to it. My dad had a will and trust set up, but we couldn’t find any of the paperwork. It was a mess that cost us a lot of money.
We go over it every Christmas after opening presents. Make sure the will is accessible and isn’t locked up anywhere. Fireproof envelopes are a good choice.
Here in Germany is an organisation trying to establish an emergency box in the fridge with a short message containing all important information. www.notfalldose.de/de/Ueber-uns...
Mit der Notfalldose nehmen Sie schon heute Einfluß auf den positiven Verlauf einer möglichen Notfallrettung in den eigenen vier Wänden.
In my state at least the courts will probate a copy of a will if the original can’t be found! So you can also give copies to the relevant people.
A single woman I knew died suddenly in her home with her young kids. She had a will and guardians set up for the kids. The paperwork was in her desk, but the cops couldn’t let her friends dig through it to find it. Kids had to go to foster care until guardians went to court for them.
give copies of important paperwork to a cleric "to hold"
A situation I've seen is where they put the will in a safe deposit box... and the will is the thing you need to show someone has authority to get into the box
My grandmother too. No one could find it.
My grandfather allegedly had a will done... It was not filed with the courthouse, also, in our state direct heirs can still contest even valid wills and if they win they can also ask for anyone that challenges their suit to pay their legal fees for the trouble... As far as I understand it... 😞
In Québec, all wills are made under supervision of a notary (lawyer specialising in wills and other civil contracts). Wills are stored in both the notary files and the Notary Chamber system. And no need to probate so executor have a far easier job. I'm executing mom's and it's an easy boring job.