The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-04-15
HOW TO MAKE A WILL
Chicago Authority Says What To Do
And Not To %.

Chicago Authority Says What To Do
And Not To Do.
In the May American Magazine |
Charles S. Cutting, who is one Of Am
erica's foremost authorities ON prooa,e
law and Tor many years was Judge OF |
the probate court in Chicago, gives the
following directions for making safe
win that can't be broken:
Dos
Il. Before you consult anybody de- !
eide how you propose to leave your
property
- If the disposition to be made is
simple, any ordinarily skilled person
can draw your will
80. If your will is complicated, in
Guiding trusts, life estates and so forth,
employ the most skilled craftsman
within your acquaintance.
-. Do as your legal adviser tells
you as to matters concerning which
there may be doubt.
I IS. BE sure to comply with all for
malities required by the statute, es-
pecially the following:
"6. Subscribe your name 10 the will
in the presence of witnesses.
T. Declare it to be your will in
their presence.
IS. Have at least two witnesses
sign in your presence.
80. II you sign by mark, or for any
reason are unable to write your name
have at least three witnesses to the
fact of your signing by mark or that
you requested some other person tC
write your name
10 Ask people who have Ions
4 known you and who have no doubt a.
!. to your sanity to be witnesses to YOU
will
: I'll. Place your will in the custod
of some perfectly responsible persoI
or corporation, o. in some receptacle
as safety deposit vault, which canno
be opened after your death without tn
presence of public officials.
~. Remember that any proyiso
u YOU make for your wife if an offer t
her to purchase from her her statutor
rights, and that if she chooses she ma
= reject your offer and take under tn
. statute.
Don'tI
Il Don't put off making a will unit
you are i'll and your disinherited reli
lives will say that your mind is q
n lected
h 20 Don't believe that making You
y viii will hasten your death,
Il %. In states where the statute
RI give a widow dover only in her hui
a bands real estate don't get the ide
Il that she will be the owner in fee Of on
x third OF his realty
81 -. Don't attempt to tie UP your e.
n tate Tor a long period providing 70
Ri ultimate distribution in the distant fl
3 ture. Courts are very apt to find way
a to construe such will contrary t
q your intention.
Il IS. Don't let your will be the web
y Gle Of conveying to posterity your ha
e red or dislike OF individuals.
q IS. If you are wealthy and hay
a provided well for your family don
u forget the obligation you owe to tn
II community in which you have acquire
b your fortune
a IL Don't attempt to change YOU
y will after it is written and witnessel
Z by drawing lines across certain pc
n lions Of it and writing in other dire
n tons Such attempts will fail
n IS. Don't make a nonresident {
n your state executor of your will. Man
H states will not permit him to act.
h 80. Don't have the man you selec
ed as executor sign as witness.
n may disqualify him
n 10. Don't allow any legatee or d
r yisee in your will to sign as a witness
n If he does he may lose his legacy
y 1eyisc
III III, If you wish to add codicil
n your will, don't fail to have the codC
N refer unmistakably to the will and
n attach the codicil thereto physically
"A 10, Don't hesitate to change yo
n will by codicil or otherwise whenev
v you see fit