The next question will ask whether you want to appoint a guardian or guardians for your minor children. A guardian will raise and take care of your children until they reach 18 years of age. A guardian will be able to do anything you could have done as biological parent. The guardian does not have to be a family member. Please discuss guardianship with the person or people you are considering, as this is one of the most important decisions to make.

The guardian can be the same person as your executor, but does not have to be. The executor of your Will is the person you trust to carry out your Will. The executor takes control of your assets so that they are distributed according to your Will.

If you do not appoint a guardian or an executor, a court will appoint one.

Consider naming an alternate guardian in the event each of the guardians you just named predeceases you or is unable to carry out his, her, or their guardian duties. You'll be able to do this in the next question. If you do not want to name an alternate, select "0" in the next question.

The next few questions will ask you about the executor(s) of your estate. This is the person or people you trust to carry out your Will. The executor will take control of your assets to ensure they are distributed according to your wishes. You can appoint anyone as your executor(s), not just family members. You can appoint multiple co-executors, who will share duties in administering your estate.

Please discuss being an executor with the person or people you are considering, as this is a very important duty. Please also be sure to tell your executor(s) about how to access your Will upon your death.

Please name at least one alternate executor, or multiple alternate co-executors, in the event the executor(s) you just named predeceases you or is unable to carry out his, her, or their duties. You'll be able to do this in the next question.

The next question will ask whether your executor(s) should receive reasonable compensation for administering your estate. This is typically not chosen. "Yes" may be appropriate if you think administering your estate will be time-consuming or complicated. Any compensation will be paid out of your estate.

The next question will ask whether you want to specifically exclude anyone from being a beneficiary under your Will. It's recommended that you specifically name any excluded persons, rather than simply not referring to them in your Will.

The next few questions will ask you about any final instructions or preferences you have regarding your remains and your funeral or memorial service. Please keep in mind that your Last Will may not be read until a few days after your death. You may want to consider a Living Will for these instructions. If you include this information in your Last Will, please let your executor(s) know.

First, it's important to know your options. A funeral is a service to remember the deceased with the body present. A funeral can be open-casket, where those attending can see the deceased, or closed-casket.

A memorial is a service to remember the deceased without the body present. If the deceased is cremated and a service is held with the cremated remains present, it is a memorial.

Of course, you can choose to have neither. It's completely up to you.

The next question will ask about any additional instructions you'd like to provide. You can be as specific or as general as you'd like. For example, if you want a funeral, you can state something as simple as "I request that my funeral be modest and in keeping with my standard of living."

We are moving on to questions regarding how you would like your estate to be distributed. Please remember that anyone can be a beneficiary under your Will: A relative, a friend, someone you've never met, companies, organizations, charities, and even governments. It's your choice!

Also, please consider adding at least one alternate beneficiary for each asset you bequeath. If you do not name any alternates and all of the beneficiaries you name predecease you, that asset will be distributed as part of the residue (the remainder) of your estate. 

Here's an example of how alternate beneficiaries work. 

This means that John will own 60% of the asset, and Jane owns 40%. Here are some hypotheticals and their results: If John predeceases you, his 60% share of the asset goes to Jane, who now owns 100%. If both John and Jane predecease you, 75% of the asset goes to Sam and 35% will go to Susan. If John, Jane, and Sam all predecease you, then Susan gets 100% of the asset. Only if John, Jane, Sam, and Susan all predecease you would the asset be distributed with the residue (remainder) of your estate.

First, we will ask you how specific assets should be distributed. Let's start with real property: your house, any investment or vacation properties, and land. Even if you do not own a house right now, you can state how you would like the house you may own at the time of your death should be distributed. Remember, if you don't specifically bequeath an asset, that asset will be grouped and distributed with the residue of your estate.

One last note: if you want to change any part of your Will after you execute it, you will have to execute a formal amendment (a "Codicil"). Now, let's get started!

Great! We will now ask you to describe each property and its beneficiaries one at a time.

Now for your second piece of real property.

Now for your third piece of real property.

Now for your fourth piece of real property.

Now for your fifth piece of real property.

The next set of questions will ask how other assets, called "tangible personal property," should be distributed. For example, you can bequeath your car, a watch, a painting, etc. We will ask you to describe each asset and its beneficiaries one at a time.

Now for your second asset, or piece of tangible personal property.

Now for your third asset, or piece of tangible personal property.

Now for your fourth asset, or piece of tangible personal property.