The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-07-01
MAKING YOUR WILL
Have You Put Off This Important
Task, and, if So, Why?
DRAWING UP THE DOCUMENT.

Rules by Probate Law Authority That
Tell Just What to Do and What Not
TO Do In Making a Last Testament
Secure In Its Provisions.
~More than 81 per cent of Americans
die without making viii" says Fred
erick Haisey in the American Maya
zine. "Have you made yours? 1t is
conceded by legal authorities that il
is the duty of every person to leave
written will in order that the estate
may be closed. the property divided
among the proper benefciaries and
that the family Or friends may have
the benefits of the property. yet more
than 80 per cent of the. holders of vain
able property neglect this duty.
1.-THE old superstition that the man
who makes a will writes his death
warrant is one of the chief causes of
delay in making proper provision for
the distribution of any estate after
death 1t is hard to calculate. what
percentage of men and women believe
this superstition, because the majority
will deny it. Court experts know that
the percentage is large. Yet life In
surance figures, taken in comparison
with dates ON wills, seem TO show that
| instead of being correct the supersti
| ton is without basis and that men
| who have made wills have lived longer
than the average
Charles S. Cutting. who is one Of
/ Americas foremost authorities on pro,
bate law, gives the following directions
/ for making a safe will that can't be
broken:
/ Before you consult anybody decide
/ how you propose TO leave your prop
erty.
If the disposition to- be made is sim
/ pie any ordinarily skilled person can
4 draw your will
I If your will is complicated, including
i trusts, life estates and 50 forth. employ
the most skilled craftsman within your
4 acquaintance.
h Do as your legal adviser tells you as
10 matters concerning which there may
be doubt
Be sure to comply with all formal
the following:
H Subscribe your name to the will IL
4 the presence of witnesses.
1 Declare it to be your will in theil
presence.
Have at least two witnesses sign il
your presence.
| IL you sign by mark or for any rea
| son are unable to write your nam,
have at least three witnesses to til,
fact of your signing by mark or tina
| you requested some other person t.
write your name.
Il Ask people who have long know
you and who have no doubt as to you
sanity to be witnesses.
/ | Place your will in the custody o
some perfectly responsible person o
corporation or in some receptacle, as
safety deposit vault, which cannot
: opened after your death without tn
presence of public officials
!. Remember that any provision 20
make for your wife is an offer to he
to purchase from her her statutor
rights and that if she chooses she ma
reject your offer and take under til
statute
Don't put off making will until yo
are i'll and your disinherited relative
will say that your mind is affected
Don't believe that making your wi
will hasten your death
In states where the statutes give
widow dover only in her husband
real estate don't get the idea that sh
will be the owner in fee of one-third {
his realty.
Don't attempt to tie up your esta1
for a long period, providing for ult
mate distribution in the distant futur
Courts are very apt to find ways
construe such a will contrary to yol
Intention.
Don't let your will be the vehicle
conveying to posterity your hatred
dislike of individuals.
IL you are wealthy and have provi
ed well for your family don't forg
the obligation you owe to the col
munity.
Don't attempt to change your W
after it is written and witnessed
drawing lines across certain portions
1t and writing in other directions. SUI
attempts will fail.
LIZ Don't make a nonresident of yo1
state executor of your will. Maj
states will not permit him to act.
Don't have the man you selected
executor sign as witness. 1t may di
qualify him.
Don't allow any legatee or devisee
your viii to sign as witness. If
does he may lose his legacy or devise
If you wish to add codicil to 20
will don't fail to have the codicil ref
Enthusiastically to the will and to alta
the codicil thereto physically.
Don't hesitate to change your will
codicil or otherwise whenever you S
1T
impossible Ones.