The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-11-29
Make Your Wills.

Last week we called attention to need
ed improvement for simpler and cheap.
er settlement of decedents's estates.
One of the strongest arguments used by
life insurance agent is the strong proba-
bility that courts and lawyers will use
mp mans estate at his death. leaving
his wife and children beggars. If he has
ample insurance in favor of his wife, she
can save it from the clutches of LAWYERS.
There are many other ways by which
estates can be put in a surer condition
than is usually the case. To think of
death is q serious matter with many per-
sons, and some are reluctant to do any,
thing in q temporal way to prepare for
death. One important matter is
to have all accounts settled and al! debts
paid. And as death comes as thief in
the night, or like the pestilence that
wasteth at monday, the only way to be
further prepared is to be on no mans
bond or note. This is one way to aid in
saving the earnings ola lifetime. The
spiritual preparation for death we leave
to your own direction and that of your
spiritual adviser.
But another thing is important, in
many cases. It is probable the laws are
framed, as far as human wisdom can aid,
to distribute ones estate impartially.
And yet it fails frequently in reaching
all equitable casee. So we would urge
that class, for whom we write, to make
their Wills. Writing will is plain and
practical matter. It requires no large
amount Of legal lore. Any man who
can write and frame language 80 as to
convex the idea intended, can write a
will which can he easily understood.
Wills are seldom set aside by courts for
want OF legal form or grammatical con-
struction. So that the court can fully
understand what WAS intended by the
testator, it is enough. MANY men and
women intend all their lives to make
their wills, but put it off, as it is Sc
rious matter, to be thus making prep
aration to submit to the king of terrors.
Most minds revolt at lsuch work. And
yet frequently it saves much trouble,
aid does an honest act which was al
ways intended to be done, in giving a
little more than the law provides to one
more deserving, or more dependent; or
in arranging for keeping all of the
estate together until certain matters
are accomplished. S 'metimes a son or
daughter have stayed at home at a
great sacrifice and taken care of the old
folks, for whom the law would fail to
provide. And we might instance q doz.
en- Gases or conditions where Justice
would not be done without will. And
it is right, and an honest duty to D, svide
for these contingencies while strength OF
body and clearness of intellect will di-
rect in render ny justice to those who
have been faithful. So We advise that
this matter be attended to. and have the
will made before it is too late.
Sc Nk 11,v
LAWYER to aid IN making will, yet in
most cases it is hest to have legal advice.
And yet a man of good common sense, :
who understands the use of lanyuage'
and has some practice in drawing up in
struments Of writing can draw up a will.
So the farmer can generally select a
nelghhor, il be cannot do it HIMSELF
who can draw up an ordinary will. It is
merely stateg who shall have your
property and how much, after you are
done with it. It,must be- witnessed by
two disinterested persons, who. receive
nothing by the will. 1t is not necessary
the Witnesses should know the contents
of the will. TIE person MAX Ing the will
can state to the witnesses that the docu-
ment before them is his last will and
testament. and that he wants them to; wit
ness it. The witnesses write their names
across each sheet Of paper containing
the will in way hat they will know at
any time after that it is the will which
he acknowledged. When thus witness
ed, it can be sealed up, and endorsed
on the back that it is. the will oi.--- 1870 -,
and filed with the clerk of the court,
who Will preserve it until. the death OF
the testator, or he demands it earlier. 5ss5
s These are all simple matters, and If
attended to in time will FREQUENTLY save
expensive litigation, and render Justice
to worthy parties.-Des Moines Register.