will

When I conduct an insurance review I always ask if the person or couple has a will.  Whether or not you know it everyone has a will.  Here's the deal - when you have an attorney write up a will you get to decide who will care for your minor children, administer your estate and decide who inherits your gold watch.  Without your own will you'll end up with New York State's standard, boiler plate will.  First off the state will tax your estate as much as it legally can.  Next Surrogate's Court will decide who will raise your children - they could end up with the relative you can't stand.  And that gold watch - where it will end up is anybody's guess.  Bottom line - see an attorney and get a will.  Make sure it's your way and not the highway!