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For example, if long ago as a teenager you were an unmarried parent, make sure that your attorney is aware of this fact as well as what hap- pened to the child. Are you legally the child’s parent? Did you place the child up for adoption? Answers to similar questions will help your attorney put the correct legal language in your will to reflect what you want—or don’t want—to happen with your estate regarding that child.
Tell your attorney if your business is having difficulties, or if you and your spouse are having marital problems and divorce looks like a pos- sibility. Your will must be one step ahead of life changes that you may be able to anticipate.
Rushing through your will
Take your time. Even if you think you have a relatively uncomplicated family and financial situation and preparing your will can be a snap, you must still go through a number of what-if scenarios to make sure that you have thought of everything. Even when working with your attorney, prompt him or her with the same what-if questions to see if the questions spark any thoughts about potential problems that you need to address.
The last thing you want to happen is that you think you have a valid will that accurately reflects what you want to happen with your estate, and then after you die, all kinds of problems surface because you failed to address what you thought were nitpicky details that turned out to be very important.
Avoiding Common Mistakes and Problems in Your Will