What is a will and why do you need one?
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遗嘱是一份法律文件，确定谁将从你的遗产中获得你的资产，并可以指定未成年人的监护人.
立遗嘱能让你安心，你的愿望会被实现. 这可能意味着为你所爱的人或可能的 charities of your choice. Having a will may make the settlement of your estate easier and faster than if you didn't have one.
Avoids distribution under the law of intestacy
If a person dies without a will, he or she is said to have died "intestate." States have laws to deal with this situation. 这些州的“无遗嘱”法律通常会将财产传给死者的某些亲属. 这些法律的制定是为了在一般情况下保持公平, 但是大多数人都想选择死后谁来继承他们的遗产.
允许为未成年子女指定监护人
在没有遗嘱指定的情况下，法院将为未成年子女指定一名监护人. 亲属并不总是监护人的最佳选择，必须考虑潜在监护人的经济状况, as well as his or her health, age, willingness and ability to care for your children.
Waiver of the probate bond
In the absence of a will, 法院会要求遗产管理人(遗嘱执行人)提交一份信托保证书，以保证被他挪用或转移的任何资金得到补偿. 因为这个额外的费用必须由遗产承担, 遗产所有人可能希望在遗嘱中放弃担保要求. Great care should be used in selecting an executor.
Choosing the executor
The duties of the executor 房产的管理是非常耗时和令人沮丧的, 尤其是对刚刚失去爱人的配偶来说. In the will, 可以选择合格的个人和/或公司信托公司来承担这些责任.
Making specific bequests to individuals
An individual may bequeath specific items of jewelry, heirlooms and furniture, or make cash bequests, 一定要把它们交给合适的人. 没有遗嘱，书面或口头指示不得执行.
Sale of assets during the administration of probate
一般而言，允许遗嘱执行人出售资产而无须在报纸上刊登出售通知，可避免遗产的额外开支. 为了支付死亡税和费用，出售资产可能是必要的 probate.
Authorizing the continuation of a business
除非遗嘱授权继续经营, the executor must operate it at his or her own risk. 许多遗嘱执行人可能选择不管理遗产，除非该风险由遗产承担.
Deferring distributions to minors
When parents die leaving minor children, 每个子女的遗产份额必须存放在一个监护账户中，直到他或她年满18岁(或21岁)。, 届时剩余的全部股份将被直接分配. Trust 可以在遗嘱中规定将这些分配推迟到更成熟的年龄.
Peace of mind
虽然这种优势不能用金钱来衡量, 当遗产井然有序时，关心家人幸福的人的情感负担就会减轻.
