Also: Make sure your spouse (or NOK) knows where the safe deposit box, wills, titles, insurance policies, passwords, financial information, and other important stuff are. Well over three years after the wife's unexpected death I still haven't found some of that stuff.

I agree, it�s important

Last month, I was pulled aside and told of his/her will details and what attorney wrote it

They said I just wanted 1 person to know

Honestly, I�m glad they had enough trust in me

It involves people of my family but I won�t say a word to anyone other than this right here

I�m not a beneficiary and didn�t expect to be but I know what was said and the lawyer who wrote it

If need be, I can swear to it

I�ve struggled with this decision for awhile. I don�t want to be buried. But I want my son to come visit me. Maybe he won�t want my stinky ashes on his mantel

What would someone expect to pay to have a living will constructed by a reputable Attorney?

The two attorneys who mentored me in business matters during law school charge $295 for a single person's will (including durable power of attorney, advance directive, etc) & $495 for a married couple. I'm doing the same.

I was discussing that with a client this morning. Even small estates can get really ugly!

If you haven't done it - make plans NOW to go get a will done by a professional.

You can download a template for a will. They are easy enough to modify in word. You just have to make sure it gets signed in front of a notary. Everyone should have a "Legacy File." A will, end of life instructions, and then a file folder with all your financial information, user names, passwords, map of where all your assets lie, insurance information, property information, titles, etc... etc... etc... I update mine once per year. I keep the whole file in highly secure place that is only accessible with a combination. Two individuals outside of my immediate family each have half of that combination. One of them is the executor of my will and will access that information and extract all the information should my wife and I both die.

I've seen families torn apart a bunch of times over poor end of life instructions/wills. As part of your legacy, you owe it to your kids or whomever to make sure you've documented your wishes. It's a pain to be honest, but once you have it set up it only takes a few hours a year to keep it updated.

If you do the Template Will, strongly encourage you have an attorney review it.
I did Template Will several years ago. Decided to have an attorney draw me up a formal estate plan last year. Took in my Template will and he quickly pointed out numerous things that were missing and seriously doubted in would have withstood the scrutiny of the court probate process.

That seems reasonable. The last attorney we asked several years ago wanted $750 for a single person and $1,000 for a married couple.

The first two statements are true. The third is sometimes true. There are different rules for having wills witnessed or proven depending on how they're written.

I'll be dead. Who cares.