The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-28
Legal Terms Relating to wius-Re- qufrements for Validity of . VIII. Where to Keep Tt--The Single
 Woman's WiIl-The Mar
 ried woman's, Etc.
BY KATHERINE LOUISE SMITH.

BY KATHERINE LOUISE SMITH. Copyright 1906, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
 Most mature people own property. This may be either real estate or per sonal, but in either case the desirabil- ity of making a will is evident. wlli Is nothing formidable. It is simply an instrument or legal paper wherein person makes a disposition of proper ty, to take effect after his death. What will become of my possessions after I die?" is 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.
 A will not only serves to express wish in the disposition of property, but 1t often obviates long and costly legal processes, which are to be avoid ed no matter how large or small the estate. So great an importance does this distribution of property after death assume, that the laws of various States define exactly how the property of those dying without will shall be di- vided. 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 a will relates to real estate and testament deals with personal property. Hence we get the term Last Will and Testament" l which covers both kinds of property. As 1t Is desirable to have a lawyer make out will. and a woman, of course. wishes to talk intelligently with him concerning 1t. the following l l1nr -.6@ AAV .1 The person making the will Is called the testator.
 A gift of real property by will is called a devise.
 A gift of personal property by will is called bequest or legacy.
 A person appointed by law to admin istrate an estate Is called an adminis- trator. 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 who Is appointed to be the guardian of person or of the estate of a minor is called testamentary guar dian.
 Tn some States no particular form of 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 will should be eXe- cuted with certain formalities and that it should be signed and witnessed before being admitted to probate. As 1t Is of the utmost importance that q will should be valid it 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 to leave her property He will couch the document in the proper terms. Before she signs the paper she should read 1t carefully herself and see that the prop erty she wishes to divide Is described correctly and that the names of the people to whom she gives bequests are properly given, with their adresses
 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 legal age. Tn some States this is 21; in oth- CTS it Is IS. There should be no undue influence. There should be the requi- site number of witnesses. Some States require two and others three.
 "I have made my will but do not know where to place it for safekeep- ing. Will you kindly suggest a plaee?" -Perplexed Old Lady
 You can. of course, keep the will yourself in some safe place in your home. better plan is to leave 1t in care of lawyer or in a safety deposit box. Wherever it is, you should tell AanaA relative or intimate friend where