August is make-a-will month, and no one is less likely to make a will than an American. In recent years, the percentage of Americans with wills has declined. As of 2024, only about 32% of American adults have a will. This represents a notable decrease from previous decades; for example, in 2005, approximately 51% of Americans had a will, and by 2016, this number had dropped to 44%​ (Senior Care Hub)​​ (Haimo Law)​.

The reasons for not having a will vary, but common barriers include procrastination, perceived lack of sufficient assets, and the cost of setting up a will. Specifically, 43% of Americans cite procrastination as the main reason, while 40% feel they do not have enough assets to justify creating a will​ (Senior Care Hub)​.

Despite these barriers, having a will is crucial for ensuring that one's assets are distributed according to their wishes and for avoiding potential legal complications for their heirs. Making a will can provide peace of mind and financial security for loved ones, making National Make-a-Will Month a timely reminder for individuals to consider their estate planning needs.

It's advisable to create a will as soon as you have any significant assets or responsibilities, such as property, investments, children, or dependents. While there's no "right" age to make a will, many experts suggest creating one in your early adulthood, around age 18, when you first acquire assets or have dependents. However, it’s never too late to make a will, and it should be updated regularly to reflect changes in your life circumstances.

Where to Create a Will:

1. Online Will Services: Websites like LegalZoom, Quicken WillMaker, and Trust & Will offer user-friendly platforms to create legally binding wills.
2. Law Firms: Hiring an estate planning attorney ensures your will is thorough and complies with state laws.
3. Do-It-Yourself Will Kits: Available online or at bookstores, these kits guide you through the process of drafting a will.
4. Local Government Resources: Some local governments offer free or low-cost will-making services, especially for seniors or low-income individuals.

10 Reasons to Make a Will in National Make-A-Will Month

1. Ensure Your Wishes Are Honored: Creating a will ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes, rather than being decided by state laws.

2. Protect Your Loved Ones: A will can provide for your family, including appointing guardians for minor children, which can be crucial in securing their future.

3. Avoid Lengthy Probate: A clearly defined will can expedite the probate process, reducing the time and expense for your heirs.

4. Minimize Family Disputes: By clearly outlining your wishes, you can minimize the potential for disputes and conflicts among family members.

5. Support Charities: A will allows you to leave a legacy by donating to charities or causes you care about, ensuring your philanthropic wishes are honored.

6. Tax Benefits: Proper estate planning can help minimize estate and inheritance taxes, preserving more of your wealth for your beneficiaries.

7. Care for Pets: You can designate a caretaker and funds for your pets, ensuring they are well cared for after your passing.

8. Business Continuity: If you own a business, a will can outline what should happen to it, ensuring its continuity and the protection of your employees and customers.

9. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your affairs are in order and your loved ones are protected can provide significant peace of mind for you and your family.

10. Take Advantage of Resources: National Make-A-Will Month often brings awareness, resources, and promotions that can make the process easier and more affordable.

Creating a will is a crucial step in ensuring your legacy and protecting your loved ones. Taking advantage of National Make-A-Will Month is a great opportunity to address this important aspect of life planning. Note that making a will is not a substitute for a trust, and you must have a will even if you do have a trust. I'll cover those issues later.

Photo by Melinda Gimpel on Unsplash

 It's been a hot minute since I last posted on this site. I apologize for the neglect of nine years. In that time, I had a bowel resection (a stroke in one of the three arteries that attach to the sigmoid colon), my father died of heart disease during the middle of the 2020 pandemic year, and I underwent brain surgery in 2022 to try to "heal" my hemifacial spasms. That latter surgery didn't work, but I have a new neurologist who administers Botox to that left eye and it works like a charm.

So life is good right now. I'm selling a lot of "dead people stuff" on eBay, and donating 10% of sales to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. I feel good about that -- last year, just kicking in, I donated almost $300. This year will be far more.

I'm going to keep going with this topic now since Facebook readership numbers are dwindling (I have a page there which I probably will eliminate). I don't have a clue to what my numbers will be here, but I feel a bit freer to post what I want to post on this format. 

Hope you all have been doing well. Talk soon!

Linda

Cancer Caregiver? Participate in this Survey...

Hi folks -- I'm passing on this information for Alexis, who is studying the ways that caregivers might interact with their support groups. I'll let her tell you all about it...

"My name is Alexis Johnson and I am a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. My research centers on health communication processes, and I am conducting research that I hope will improve our understanding of supportive communication between social networks and family caregivers of patients with cancer. As someone who has provided care to a patient with cancer, I am interested in conducting research that is aimed at better understanding the memorable, supportive messages that are shared with family caregivers in cancer.

"To participate: Participants in the states of Nebraska and Alabama must be at least 19 years old or older to participate, participants in the state of Mississippi must be at least 21 years old to participate, and participants in all other states must be at least 18 years old to participate. If you meet these requirements, and are a current family caregiver of a patient with cancer, and have 20-30 minutes to complete an online survey, you are eligible to participate in this important research."

You can learn more about this survey by going to the site and clicking on the link on that page. You can also find Alexis' credentials and contact information at that site.

How My Husband Died

Hugh and I met in 1997, but we didn't marry until September 2010.

I haven't written since I returned home from Dad's house in Virginia in April, because life was pretty hectic around home. It was good to be back with my husband, Hugh, and daughter, Cora, and we all were pretty busy. I was hired by a travel publication to write an itinerary about our town, my husband and I were working the local farmers' market, he was fixing up the house a bit, and he was anxious to get back on that school bus as a driver. I was so tickled about how much he loved driving that bus after holding down jobs that had him traveling the world.

While I was at Dad's house, Hugh finally scheduled a colonoscopy for himself. He couldn't get an appointment until the end of June, and the doctor called to cancel that appointment and to reschedule for July 6th. Hugh and I never discussed the colonoscopy, other than the fact that I planned to have one later in the year. I was happy he scheduled, as he was older than me and he delayed that procedure as long as he could.

The day of the colonoscopy, Hugh said, "I'm afraid they're going to find something." When I looked at him, he told me that he had been bleeding for the past few weeks. My heart sunk, but I had enough experience with mom to know that I didn't need to get morose about this news. Instead, I told him that we could handle anything they found.

What they found was a tumor about the size of New York. When I saw the images that July 6th morning, I felt as though I had been hit upside the head with a 2x4. Fortunately, I was sitting, as all the emotions I had when I first learned about Mom's cancer returned, only twice as large.