6 Personal Legal Documents That Protect You Before You Need Them
Legal documents tend to feel urgent only when something has already gone wrong. The more practical approach — preparing the documents that protect your interests before a crisis arises — is also significantly less expensive and less stressful. Here are six that most adults should have in place.
1. A Last Will and Testament
A will communicates your wishes for the distribution of your assets after death. Without one, those decisions are made by intestacy laws — which follow a fixed statutory order that may have little to do with your actual preferences or family situation.
A will doesn't need to be complex. For most people, naming beneficiaries, designating an executor, and making provision for any dependants covers the essentials. The important thing is that it exists, is properly exec...