August, 2023 | Boizelle Insurance Partnership
Tips on How to Write Your Will
Have you thought about your final wishes in life?
We know it’s not a particularly fun topic to discuss. But the truth is, writing a will is an important step to help your loved ones in the event of your passing.
Over half of all Americans don't have wills and if you find yourself among that crowd, or if you just haven’t updated yours in a while, now is a good time to take action.
To help get you started, we’re answering some commonly asked questions about wills. (This is not intended to provide legal advice – always consult a lawyer for guidance specific to your situation.)
Why Should I Write a Will?
Writing a will allows you to declare your last wishes with certainty. By clearly stating who should receive your assets after you pass away, your loved ones could avoid the added strain of a complex legal process during an already difficult time.
Preparing your will may seem unpleasant because nobody wants to think about their own mortality. However, having a will can give you peace of mind knowing everything you leave behind will end up in the right hands.
For example, if you don’t have a will, in most cases the state where you live will control the distribution of your assets and determine your beneficiaries. Heirs (spouses and blood relatives) are often favored by state law in those instances, which means your closest friends and favorite charities would be left out.
When Should I Write My Will?
Most states require you to be at least 18 years old to write a will. But outside the legal age limitation, the best time to write your will is right now.
Experts recommend that every adult should have a will regardless of their age or assets. Even if you don’t have children, a house or a large savings account, a will helps your family and friends manage your estate without a state-appointed administrator.
Can I Write My Own Will?
There’s nothing to stop you from writing your own will, but to ensure your final wishes are legally enforceable it’s best to seek counsel from an experienced attorney. By foregoing legal advice, you may inadvertently include vague language or make other mistakes that could be costly to your heirs.
How Much Will I Need to Pay for Legal Help to Write My Will?
When it comes to estate planning, many attorneys charge a flat fee for their services. The price of a basic will can range from $300 to upwards of $1,200. For more complicated estates with significant assets, you can expect to pay more.
How Should I Structure My Will?
Once you begin writing your will, there are some essential elements you’ll need to include. Keep in mind that this is general advice only and is not a substitute for legal advice.
- Start with an introduction. Your will should begin by clearly stating this is your “last will and testament.” You should also provide information clarifying your identity including your name, address, social security number and date of birth.
- Name an executor. Next, name the person who will be responsible for carrying out the legal responsibilities of your estate. His or her duties include offering your will for probate, taking inventory of your assets, paying bills and taxes using your estate funds, notifying the appropriate agencies of your death, distributing assets to beneficiaries, filing final income taxes and paying off any debts. The executor doesn’t have to be a professional but it should be someone who can properly manage the responsibility.
- State your beneficiaries. Your heirs will likely be the first people you choose to receive your assets. But you’re not limited to blood relatives. You can also name friends, stepchildren or charitable organizations. And remember that spouses have a legal right in most states to inherit some portion of your assets even if they’re not included in your will.
- Name who will receive each possession. Make sure you are specific about what each person should receive. Be realistic, too. For instance, there’s no practical way to divide a car between two or three parties.
- Declare guardianship for your kids. If your children are at an age that requires legal guardianship, your will should name someone to care for them until they reach adulthood. It’s always wise to discuss guardianship with the person you select before naming them in your will. And if you don’t assign guardianship, expect a court to assign it for you.
- Sign your will with witnesses. In addition to your own signature,every state requires you to have at least two witnesses sign your document. Each witness should not be named as a beneficiary and must be at least 18 years old.
- Attach a letter. If you have additional wishes or a final statement, you may want to include a personal letter for clarification. This letter can also serve as a final goodbye to your loved ones.
Where Should I Keep My Will?
After your will has been finalized, be sure to store it in a secure place like a safe or locking file cabinet. And don’t forget to tell your family where it’s located.
When Should I Update My Will?
Just because your will is written doesn’t mean it should stay locked away forever. Here are some occasions when you may want to consider making revisions:
- You experience a significant life change. This can include getting married, giving birth to a child, getting divorced or experiencing the death of a family member. In these instances, you may need to add or remove beneficiaries. Significant life events could also trigger a change in how you choose to divide your assets.
- Someone in your will experiences a life change. A person you list may get married, move away or become ill or disabled. Such a change could affect who you list as a beneficiary, guardian or executor.
- Tax laws are revised. Provisions in your will may be set up to lower the effect of estate taxes on your heirs. If certain tax laws change in your state, it may be worth adjusting your document accordingly.
- A few years have passed since your initial draft. If it’s been three to five years since you first wrote your will, now is a good time to take another look to check its accuracy. Are your assets still divided as you wish? Are you still in close contact with all of your beneficiaries? You may want to alter the language in your document if you answered “no” to either question.
How Can I Make Changes to My Will?
If you need to make a change to your will, there are two common options. You can choose to draft a new will, or write a codicil which serves as an amendment to your existing document.
Requirements for codicils vary by state but generally they must be completed in the same manner as your will. That means writing down what you wish to change in your will, signing the document and getting signatures from two witnesses.
A codicil is read and interpreted alongside your will after you pass away. So, if you need to make multiple changes to your will, to help your beneficiaries avoid confusion it may make more sense to draft a new document instead.
How to Prep Your Boat For Winter
As the days become shorter and the temperature dips, the inevitable appears on the horizon for every boater: winter.
But don’t let the impending off-season blow you off course. By planning to properly winterize your boat, you’ll confidently end the season knowing you and your beloved ship will be ready to take on the waves as soon as the snow passes and spring arrives.
A winterization plan largely consists of answering three primary questions:
- Who will winterize the boat?
- What steps need to be taken?
- Where will the boat reside during the winter?
Choosing Your Crew: Who Winterizes the Boat?
Answering “Who?” might be as straightforward as looking in the mirror. Or, it might require a bit more calculation to recruit your winterizing crew. Here are some pros and cons to consider:
Self-winterization
As a proud and handy boat owner, you're perfectly capable of taking on this task. Think of it as tucking your boat in before its long winter nap.
- It's more cost-effective.
- It gives a personal touch to the winterization process.
- It requires a good understanding of the boat's engine and systems.
- There's a risk of incorrect winterization without proper knowledge.
Professional Winterization
However, if you're not a fan of engine grease, you might prefer to hire professionals. Using experienced professionals can eliminate a lot of doubt and second-guessing.
- Pros bring specialized knowledge and the right tools to the job.
- Using professionals eliminates the risk of incorrect winterization.
- Professional care is typically more expensive than doing it yourself.
- You won't have the same personal connection to the process, so you may sacrifice some valuable learning opportunities.
You can always acquaint yourself with winterization by watching some instructional videos — like those offered by Boat Buyer's Secret Weapon. You’ll be better prepared to make a decision about who’ll winterize your craft when you understand the effort involved.
Captain’s Log: What Steps are Needed?
Once you've established who will do the winterizing, it's time to delve into the “What?” category. Steps you take here will be a decisive factor in how quickly you get back on the water next spring, so it’s important to get them right.
Here’s a summary of important tasks:
- Changing the engine oil is vital to prevent ice damage. The first step in this process involves the engine oil. It must be replaced since old oil and winter mix as well as cats and water. Drain the old oil, introduce the new and your boat engine will be grateful.
- Flushing and draining the cooling water is crucial for a frost-free voyage. Your next task is to address the water in your engine. If neglected, it can freeze, expand and cause more drama than you’re likely to appreciate. So flush and drain it to avoid any frosty situations.
- Stabilizing your fuel is essential for smooth sailing. Next, there’s the surprisingly delicate realm of fuel. Gasoline can decay quickly, resulting in a sticky, expensive-to-remedy mess. To prevent this, introduce a high-quality marine fuel stabilizer to keep your engine running smoothly. Just make sure to run the engine once the stabilizer has been added.
- Cleaning, waxing and covering is necessary for overall protection. The last part of the “What?” involves cleanliness. Give your boat a thorough clean, wax it and, finally, cover it with a sturdy cover.
Keep in mind: even if you choose to have a professional winterize your watercraft for you, having a good checklist will allow you to “trust but verify” that the job is done correctly.
Waiting Out the Winter: Where Should You Store Your Boat?
Once the “Who?” and “What?” have been decided, it's time to address the important question: “Where?”
Depending on your checkbook, your yard-space and how much of an eyesore your spouse considers your drydocked dinghy, you may have tricky choices to make. Here are the pros and cons of several common options: outdoor storage, indoor storage and dry stack storage.
Outdoor Storage
- It's usually the most cost-effective option.
- It often accommodates larger boats.
- Your boat will be exposed to weather and potential damage.
- Security can be a concern.
Indoor Storage
- It offers the best protection from weather and potential damage.
- It usually has better security measures in place.
- It's the most expensive option.
- Availability of space can be an issue.
Dry Stack Storage
- It provides better protection than outdoor storage.
- It is usually more available than indoor storage.
- It's pricier than outdoor storage.
- There may be size limitations for your boat.
Tips for Developing An Effective Escape Plan When You Have a House Fire
During a house fire, every second counts. That’s why it’s important for you and your family to be prepared.
Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst
Are you doing everything you can to help protect your family in the event of a house fire? Here are seven tips to make (or improve) your own fire escape plan:
- Map your exits. Draw a map of your home’s floor plan and show it to your family. Then, establish two ways to exit from each room. If you have young children, take a walk around your home to show them exactly where each escape window, door or route is.
- Determine a meeting place. Define one area where everyone should gather after escaping your home in the event of a fire. It should be a specific place, like a tree or mailbox, that’s a safe distance from your home’s structure. And make sure firefighters or emergency personnel can see you there, too.
- Know who’s on point to help. Select a captain who will help young children or assist anyone who is unable to get out on their own, like seniors or those with limited mobility. Selecting one adult for this job will help eliminate further confusion during a chaotic time.
- Teach your kids to get low. In a house fire, smoke can be as dangerous as flames. Explain to your children the importance of staying low to the ground during a fire. Practice crawling around the perimeter of a room to show them the proper way to escape.
- Check your smoke alarms. Ensure that you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home. Then test them regularly to ensure their batteries work. Educate your kids and let them hear the sound of an alarm in advance, so they’ll recognize it during an actual emergency.
- Practice, practice, practice. To make sure everyone understands the plan, conduct your own home fire drill. Send each family member to their room and have one person sound the smoke alarm. Start a timer and follow your designated routes to an outside meeting place. Then, check your escape time to ensure everyone makes it out in under two minutes.
- Incentivize your fire drills. If you have younger kids, turn your drills into a game. See if you can speed walk from your bedrooms to your safe meeting space. If it happens under two minutes, reward everyone with a favorite dessert or a new toy. If you have an Amazon Alexa, you can play Pedro's Fire Safety Challenge which teaches kids age-appropriate skills for handling a home fire.
How to Protect Your Pets From the Dangers of Hot Cars
Do you ever stop and wonder what your dog is thinking about? As humans, we only have a limited understanding of a dog’s emotions and how it communicates. One thing we know to be certain is that dogs love their owners more than life itself and want to do anything and everything to make them happy. One of those things is graciously accepting an invite to go for a ride in the car. Many dogs owners often do this fun activity with their furry friend. However, some dogs owners elect to leave their dog in the car when running errands. Little do they know that the temperature inside their car can increase rapidly, leaving their dog’s life in peril. In fact, car temperatures can climb to over 115 degrees Fahrenheit at times.
It doesn’t take much for your dog to overheat. Although dogs have the natural ability to cool themselves through their skin and by panting, hot weather is a different story and precautions should be taken. As an example, if it’s 70 degrees outside, your car’s temperature can climb to as high as 89 degrees. During the summer, it’s not unlikely that every day is above 70 degrees, which means that you should be paying extra special attention to your dog’s physical condition.
If you happen to see a pet inside a hot car and realize that the pet is in distress, your best action to take is to call local law enforcement. Once you contact law enforcement, stay by the vehicle until help arrives.
It’s important to know the signs of heat stroke: panting, drooling, and lethargy. If the pet is in the advanced stages of heat stroke, you may see that its gums are either grey or blue or that the pet has slumped posture, may be breathing heavily, or it may be in a state of shock.
Here’s what you should do in order to cool the pet down:
- Get them to an air-conditioned environment.
- Wet their ears and pads of their feet with cool water (not frigidly cold water)
- Place cool, wet towels over the shoulder/neck, under the front legs, and in the groin area.
- Refresh the water frequently.
- If the pet will drink, provide cool water or small ice chips.
Here’s what to do if the pet is unresponsive:
- Call an emergency veterinarian immediately and tell them you’re on your way.
- If you see that their gums are gray or blue, this is an indication that they are in immediate need of treatment and should be rushed to the nearest emergency treatment center.
- They will help cool the pet and may also give it subcutaneous fluids.
- It’s important to note that dogs with short noses or long hair are most at risk of heat stroke.
- On hot days, limit exercise to the early morning or late evening hours.
- Use the seven-second rule to prevent burning paws on hot pavement or asphalt. If the ground is too hot for you, it’s too hot for them.
During the hot summer, it may be best to keep your pets indoors and in a cool, controlled environment.
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