The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-02
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
WHAT THEY SHOULD KNOW
ABOUT BEQUEATHING
PROPERTY.
Legal Terms Relating to Wills-Re-
ouirements for Validity Of a Will
Where to Keep 1.-THE Single
Woman,s Will-The Married Wom-
ans, Etc.
BY KATHERINE LOUISE SMITH.

MS Ao9 Dc CAtuCA AcoA caNotc "a PoA
sonal, but in either case the desirable
ity OF making a will is evident. A will
Is nothing formidable. II is simply an
instrument or legal paper wherein a
person makes a disposition Of proper
ty, to take effect after his death.
What will become Of my possessions
after | die?" is a natural question, and
the simple act OF expressing a choice
in the distribution by no means short
ems life. There have been cases where.
before death. elderly persons have
turned over their property to their
children, but. with few exceptions, this
action has resulted In dissatisfaction
and trouble. Dependency in old age is
far from pleasant in practice, whatever
It may be in theory.
will not only serves to express a
wish in the disposition OF property,
but II often obyiates long and costly
legal processes. which are to be avoid
ed 10 matter how large or small the
estate. So great an Importance does
this distributicu Of property after
death assume. that the laws Of various
states define exactly how the property
OF those dying without will shall be
divided. These laws vary in different
states, and for this reason a woman
should acquaint herself with the law
of the state in which she lives.
Properly speaking. will relates to
real estate aud a testament deals with
personal property. Hence we get the
term Last VIII and Testament"
which covers both kinds OF property.
AS II is desirable TO have q lawyer
make out a Will, and a woman, OF
course, wishes to talk intelligently
with him concerning it. the following
legal terms should be understood:
The person making the win is called
the testator
A gift of real property by will is
called a devise.
A gift of personal property by will is
called a bequest or legacy.
A person appointed by law to admin |
isIrate an estate is called an admins
traitor. but a person appointed in a
will to administrate an estate is called
an executor
A person who is appointed by will to
hold some interest In property for an
other is called trustee.
A person Nho is appointed to be the
guardian OF a person or of the estate /
OF a minor is called a testamentary
guardian.
In some states no particular form
o. execution is required to make a will.
any form of wish expressed in writing
Will DO. But in most Of the states the
law requires that a win should be exc
cuted with certain formallties and
that it should be signed and witnessed
before being admitted to probate AS
It is Of the utmost Importance that
will should be valid. II is best to have
a lawyer draw up the document and to
know the laws of the state in which
you live regarding Wills A woman
can, before going TO a lawyer, write
down for his assistance and to refresh
her memory, just how she wishes 20
leave her property He viii couch the
document in the proper terms. Before
she signs the paper she should read Il
herself and see that the prop
erty she wishes to divide is described
and that the names Of the
people to whom she gives bequests are
given. with their addresses.
What are the requirements for the
validity of a will?"-Anxious Mother
The testator, or person making the
will, should be Of sound mind and le-
gal age. In some states this is 21: In
others It is is. There should be no un-
due influence There should be the
requisite number Of witnesses. Some
states require two and others three.
Il have made my will. but do not
know where to place It for safe keep
ng. VIII you kindly suggest a placer"
-Perplexed Old Lady.
You can, of course. keep the will
yourself in some safe place in your
home. A better plan is to leave It in
are OF a lawyer OF in a safety-deposit
box. Wherever it is you should tel
,ome relative or intimate friend where
you have placed II for safe keeping.
Dr. you can make a record Of the
transaction in writing. leavinE It
where it viii be found after your
ieath.
What is the object Of my making
/ willg Why cannot my property be
distributed after my death according
o the law OF the state in which
ive2'-One Who Has Just Come Of
Age
Possibly there is no object. This de-
Dends on the state you live in and your
wishes. Generally. however.
FOOD reasors fer making wills are the
Drotect on Of those near you. the
hoIce Of an executor to administer
our property. the providing for the
tatus Of your family and provision