By Darrell Weiland, Warm Beach Camp Foundation Director

There must be some great reasons to avoid having a will because so many people die without one. In case you happen to be one of the seven out of 10 (70%) who will depart this earth without a will, I have compiled seven reasons to support your position. You can use these to help you “sleep” at night.

1. The court can do a much better job of deciding how to disburse your assets than you can.

2. The government really needs the money more than do your beneficiaries.

3. The court can choose a better personal representative to handle your estate during probate than you can.

4. The government will make better use of your estate tax dollars than your favorite charity (Warm Beach Camp) or your neighborhood church would.

5. The court can choose a more caring guardian (through D.S.H.S.) for your minor children than you can.

6. Your grieving loved ones will be better off looking after your affairs without your will.

7. You don’t like your relatives and would rather the government had your money anyway.

Great reasons? I don’t think so! Nevertheless, people unwittingly affirm these reasons year after year as they continue to put off the minor inconvenience of making a will.

Your friends at Warm Beach Camp would like to urge you to take action now. Your family will appreciate it. The charities you support will appreciate it. And you will appreciate the peace of mind you get from fulfilling one of your most important stewardship responsibilities.

Like many people, you may be uneasy about making estate planning decisions. We understand and we can help. I am happy to meet with you for a no-cost, no obligation, consultation to explain your options and answer any questions you may have. You can reach me by calling (425) 308-6712. Or, you can contact me by e-mail.