Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-12
MAKING YOUR WILL
ny FREDERIC =. HAsKIN

WASHINGTON. -. c.. May ll-Have
YOU made your will? This Is the latest
phase OF the thrift propaganda sweep
Ing the country. Having learned how
TO save money and accumulate proper-
ty, we are now being taught how to
dispose Of them. Bank. are Issuing
booklets 10 their depositors advising
them 10 make wills papers on the sub
ject are read before business mems
meetings. and everywhere the Import
ahce OF making an adequate legal will
Ia being emphasized. And. according
to legal authorities. there Is great
need for such instruction
\ mans will. in sense. Is sum
mary OF his success or failure In life.
not only IN the conquest OF material
thin2s, but In the development OF him
self 1t represents his gf, to poster
iiy. ana by the manner In which the
gift is made is Judged the character Of
tho man. All the small qualities or a
persons nature, such as malice, envy,
jealousy, revenge and spite. are at once
apparent in his Will. As william ua1.
lit said. "All that We seem TO think
Ting accounts with those who are so
unmannerly az TO survive us) as To do
as little good and 10 plague and dis
appoint As many people possible"
But aside from any vasaries Of the
disposition. the economic question OF
wills is highly important. 1t is cs,i-
mated that nearly % per cent Of the
American population leaves no wills
at all, ana that 50 per cent OF those
made are for some legal reason inn
potent. \ man will carefully divide
81 0no, 600 estate into ten parts and thcn
forget TO mention one OF tho parts
Another viii make a will In the state
Of Mich iGan. disposing OF property in
Michigan. Missouri and South Carolina,
and have it Witnessed by two persons.
He has failed to look into the laws OF
South Carolina. which requites three
witnesses, thereby making the will void
so far as the property is concerned in
that state.
OhscrvInE TcchnIcaiities.
\ will does not necessarily have to
be technically wordcd. SO long as the
intention OF the iestator is clear but
certain technicalities should be observ-
cd in order 10 prevent any friction In
the courts For much precious time
such problems as what Mr.. Jones meant
in hequeathing TO his daughter his
property lying south OF certain road
when the road itself runs north and
south.
In tho frst place. all FORMER Wills
should bc revoked in special clause
in the document. otherwise, they will
still he valid before the court. Sug-
gcstions az to funeral arrangements
should he made, such as the desired
place OF ihtcrmcnt the kind Of MONT
ment. and so OH: and there should also
he specific provision for the payment
OF debts, giving tile executor authority
TO sell a portion Of the estate for the
rurpose, il necessary Requests to
wives. children and relatives should
he stated In clear language and 80
described that the court Will nave no
ditnculty in locating the property.
II a man is unmarried lie should state
il solcmnly and cmphatically in his
will; there are often numerous i'm
pecunious females willing to insist
that they were married to him in or
der to claim n share OF the estate. II
Is useless for a married man 10 try
to cut off his wife completely: under
the law she is sutitled TO her share
OF the property T! is curious fact
that i'm spite OF this well-known statute
many men seek to make the entire In
come OF their widows conditional on
their remaining single.
will should not be made in this
last rally OF fatal sickness when