Finding A WayFor A Will (NAPSA)—You can’t take it with you, according to the adage, but it seems many Americans don’t have a plan for what they'll leave behind. Over half (55 percent) of all adult Americans do not have a will, a new survey shows, a per- cent that has remained virtually unchanged over the past three years. A will—an expressed intention of what should be done with one’s property after death—is typically the first document considered in an individual’s estate plan. The survey on estate planning was conducted by Harris Interactive for Martindale-Hubbell lawyers.com, a comprehensive and nationally trusted online resource for finding lawyers. Among nonwhite adults, the lack of wills is particularly pronounced. Only one in three African-American adults (32 percent) and one in four HispanicAmerican adults (26 percent) have wills, compared to more than half (52 percent) of white American adults. “Surprisingly, the majority of Americansstill aren’t planning for the distribution of their estate after death,” said Alan Kopit, a lawyers.com legal editor. “Virtually every adult dies possessing some form of property, but without a will, it’s up to the state to decide how those assets are distributed—which may notreflect an individual’s actual desires. People often attach the need for a will to having a lot of assets, whichreflects a misunderstanding abouta will’s actual function.” Living Wills, Powers of Attorney Twoin five adults (41 percent) How do Americansfeel aboutwills and estate planning? Surveyresults indicate: Ignoranceis bliss: One in 10 (10 percent) American adults who do not have any elementsof an estate plan say it’s because they don’t want to think about dying or becoming incapacitated. e Where fo begin: Nine percentof adults say they don’t have an estate plan in place because they don’t know whoto talk to aboutcreating such documents. But! don’t needa will: Nearly onein four adults say their biggest reason for not having anestate planis a lack of sufficient assets. @ now have living wills in place, a full 10 percent more than those who had one just three years ago. Living wills dictate individuals’ directions for receiving life-sustaining medical intervention in the event of grave illness or injury. Additionally, two in five (38 percent) American adults report assigning a power of attorney for health care purposes, compared to 27 percent in 2004. A powerofattorney for health care legally delegates authority to another to make medical decisions for that individual if he or sheis incapacitated. “In preparing a living will and accompanying power of attorney for health care, you’re clarifying your desires unequivocally. With minimal advance preparations and costs, loved ones can be spared from difficult decisions and uncertainties during emotional times,” said Kopit. For more information, visit www.lawyers.com.
