KEEPING YOUR PLANS UPDATED

Soon it will be possible for people, in concert with their attorneys, to maintain wills and other estate planning documents on a home computer. This would make them easily changeable and provide other advantages. Even though not presently realistic, your will or trust should be viewed as an ongoing document, not a once-in-a-lifetime creation forever sealed and stored in a secret place. It needs to be updated periodically because of such possibilities as the following  

Life is not predictable, especially among beneficiaries. Your life may seem predictable to you, but this may not be so with younger members of your family. They may also be more conditioned to the fact that divorce can happen in all age groups—even yours. 

Caution Never make changes directly on the face of your written will. Such changes could invalidate it. The best way to make an addition is to use a typewritten, legal codicil (an extra page or more that can explain, add, or delete provisions in the will itself). To be valid, it must meet the same legal requirements as the will. This is another reason to maintain a good relationship with your lawyer. 

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