Will Maker

Will Maker, a program from the software company Quicken and the publisher Nolo, helps seniors tackle a tough task.

In Sound Mind and Body

No one should be without a will, especially in the later years of life. Having a properly worded will simplifies distribution of your assets. A will can prevent misunderstandings about your wishes and head off arguments among your children and other relatives. It can also provide a final message of caring and support to your loved ones.

The best time to make your will is when you're in good health and your mind is clear. Waiting until you're ill adds unnecessary stress. At that point, you'll want to concentrate on your medical care and, perhaps, on saying goodbye to the people you love. If your illness affects your ability to concentrate or make decisions, making a will may become impossible.

Having a will also protects your family if you should die suddenly. It will help ease decisions about what happens to your assets and make it easier for any inheritance to be passed along.

What Will Maker Does

One way to draw up a will is to visit a lawyer, but lawyers can be expensive. Even if money is no object, some people prefer to make a will on their own. Books with examples and templates are available. Programs like Will Maker offer greater flexibility, more documents, and the ability to make quick changes.

To create your will, Will Maker walks you through an interview on your computer screen. As you answer questions and fill in information, the program places your data in the correct place in your will. An onscreen legal manual helps clarify any confusing language or details.

The software costs less than $50 from most stores, which is far less than the cost of a lawyer. Magazine and newspaper reviews have described the program as easy to use and well worth the money.

Not Just Wills

The software does more than help create a straightforward will. It also includes templates for:

• Living Trusts. These financial arrangements can protect your heirs from heavy taxes.
• Advance Directives and Living Wills. An advance directive lets your family and your doctors know your wishes for end-of-life-care.
• Health Care Powers of Attorney. This Power of Attorney lets you designate a person to make your health care decisions if you are unable to do so.
• Financial Powers of Attorney. This is a different type of Power of Attorney. It names a person who will make decisions about your finances if you are no longer able. The document can be very specific about what rights are granted.
• Executors' documents. The executor of your will needs certain documents to carry out your wishes. These documents are included in the software.

The latest version, called Will Maker Plus, also contains extra finance and personal documents for other situations in your life. The program can help you with the legal documents to loan money to a friend, to create a bill of sale, and more.

Final Arrangements

Another element of Will Maker lets you tell loved ones what type of funeral you would like. Do you want a burial or cremation? If you choose cremation, what should be done with your ashes? You can designate a funeral location and even declare who you'd like to coordinate the ceremony.

Legal Details

Different states have different laws about wills and inheritance. The Will Maker software is programmed to take these laws into account, according to where you live. This can help avoid legal problems later.

An Online Option

You can purchase a downloadable version of the software and find information about creating a will at the Nolo web site. You'll also find a link to a program called Nolo Now, which lets you create your will online for about $30.

Nolo cautions that their legal information should not be treated as legal advice. If your will is complicated, or if you want to be absolutely sure you've got it right, you may want to have a lawyer look over the final document.