It's strongly recommended that anyone over the age of 18 should have a will. Unfortunately, it's pretty uncommon for young or even middle-aged adults to have one. According to AARP, 78% of millennials and 64% of Generation Xers don't currently have a will. Wills and trusts are extremely important, and there are many reasons why you will want to arrange one. Keep reading to discover the top three reasons why you should consider having one drafted.

1. You Want to Have a Say in What Happens to You if You Are in a Coma

No one wants to think of something bad happening to themselves, but accidents happen each and every day. One of the lesser-known reasons why you should arrange a will as a young adult is to lay out, in writing, what happens to you if you are in a coma or are considered to be in a vegetative state. This is especially important if you do not have a spouse, as your spouse would be legally entitled to make this decision. Families fight over last wishes all the time, and having a will that details this helps to prevent that.

2. You Want to Have a Say in Who Your Assets Go To

Another important reason why young adults should have a will is so they can have a say in where their assets go. You can leave anything you have to family, friends, or even a charity. This gives you the power to say what happens to your belongings once you pass away.

3. You Wish to Spare Your Family From the Probate Process

If you have assets and you don't have a will, your family could wind up having to jump through hoops as they go through the probate process. The probate process can be time-consuming and can eat away at your assets. Having a will in place protects your family from having to deal with this.

One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that you only need wills and trusts if you have large assets, are wealthy, are older, or if you think someone may try to go after assets after you pass away. This isn't true at all. Once an individual becomes an adult, they should have a will. Estate lawyers can help people such as yourself create wills and trusts. Reach out to Hamilton Law Office, PC today to schedule an appointment to start the process of drafting up one for you.