Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-06
MAKING YOUR WILL
Have You Put Off This important
Task, and, if SO, Why?
DRAWING UP THE DOCUMENT.
Rules by q Probate Law Authority That
Tell Just What to Do and What Net
to Do In Making . Last Testament
Secure In its Provisions.

Tell Just What to Do and what Nct
to Do In Making . Last Testament
Secure In its Provisions.
More than 81 per cent Of Americans
die without making a WILL" says Fred
erick Halsey In the American Maya
zine. Have you made yours7 1t Is
conceded by legal authorities that 1t
Is the duty Of every person to leave q
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 valu'
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 deny1t. 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
draw your will
If your will is complicated, including
trusts. life estates and so forth, employ
acquaintance.
Do as your legal adviser tells you as
TO matters concerning which there NAV
be doubt.
Be sure to comply with all formal
ties required by the statute, especially
the following:
Subscribe your name to the will in
the presence Of witnesses.
Declare it to be your will in their
presence.
Have at least two witnesses sign in
your presence
If you sign by mark or for any rea-
son are unable to write your name
hQvn OF %l
fact Of your signing by mark or that
you requested some other person to
write your name
Ask people who have long known
you and who have no doubt es to your
sanity to &c witnesses.
Place your will in the custody Of
some perfectly responsible person or
corporation or in some receptacle as a
safety deposit vault which cannot be
opened after your death without the
presence Of public officials.
Remember that any provision you
make for your wife is an offer to her
to purchase from her her statutory
rights and that if she chooses she may
reject your offer and take under the
statute
Don't put of making a will until you
are Ill and your disinherited relatives
will say that your mind Is affected.
Don't believe that making your will
will hasten your death.
In states where the statutes give q
widow dover only in her husbands
real estate don't get the idea that she
will be the owner in fee of ne-third Of
his realty
Don't attempt to tie up your estate
Tor q long period, providing for ulti-
mate distribution in the distant future.
Courts are very apt to find ways to
construe such a will contrary to your
Intention.
Don't let your will be the vehicle of
conveying to posterity your hatred or
dislike of individuals.
If you are wealthy and have provid-
I'd well for your family don't forget
the obligation you owe to the com
nunity.
Don't attempt to change your will
litter it is written and witnessed by
irawing lines across certain portions of
It and writing In other directions. Such
ittempts will fail
Don't make a nonresident Of your
state executor Of your will. Many
Itates will not permit him to act.
Don't have the man you selected as
executor sign as witness. 1t may dis
qualify him.
Don't allow any legatee or devisee in
four will to sign as a witness. II he
ioes he may lose his legacy or devise.
II you wish to add a codicil to your
will don't fail to have the codicil refer
Enthusiastically to the will and to attach
he codicil thereto physically.
Don't hesitate to change your will by
odicil or otherwise whenever you see
It.