If you have decided finally to write a will, you are doing better than most. In fact, according to a recent Gallup survey, fewer than half of Americans have written one. Thinking about what you want to happen to your assets is the first step. Then, you may need to make some difficult decisions.
Because the contents of any will can be contentious, you might want to keep your will as private as possible. Still, it generally makes sense to share the document with some individuals. Who should have a copy of your will, though?
Who does the will affect?
There is no hard-and-fast rule that dictates who should receive a copy of your will. Indeed, your decision to distribute copies of the document may depend on your personal beliefs and family dynamics. Nevertheless, it often makes sense to give a copy of your will to anyone it affects.
Affected individuals might be your close relatives, such as your spouse or children. Your trustee and those who have powers of attorney also might deserve a copy. Naturally, the attorney who drafted the document is also likely to keep a copy in his or her office.
Can you trust potential recipients?
Even if your will directly affects someone, you should gauge whether you can trust the individual before giving him or her a copy. After all, you probably do not want your estate plan to become a source of gossip or something more nefarious.
Ultimately, picking who receives a copy of your will is something over which you have complete control.