(5 Minute Read)

The purpose of a will is to outline your wishes for your children, money, personal belongings, burial and funeral arrangements upon your death.

Bottom Line Up Front: You will die…and when you do, you will need a will.

While this sounds incredibly harsh, it is the cold, hard truth of the matter. No one makes it out of here alive, and while this is an incredibly somber subject matter, it is something that needs to be addressed now, while you still have the ability to make your wishes known.

When should I create a will?

“Ok,” you might say, “You’ve convinced me, I probably need to check this out. When should I get started and create will? Isn’t that something for old people or those who don’t have much time left?”

Many times we consider a will (and even life insurance for that matter) to be something for the elderly. However, a will is something that every person over the age of 18 should create–especially those of us in the military!

Why? Because most of us in the military have high-risk career paths. Many of us face deployments, severe occupational hazards, and are our nation’s first-line of defense. Then, when you consider how many of us have families, why would we risk not protecting them monetarily and with our belongings in the event of our untimely death?

What does a will do?

“Sure,” you say, “But I don’t have much that I even own. I only have a guitar and some cash, it’s not worth anything to anyone.” That could be true, especially for very young airman without families, there may not be a lot to “give away.” But a will does so much more than simply give away money and belongings.

A will also outlines your wishes for your funeral, like if you prefer full military honors, or if you prefer to be buried or cremated, and if you would like to donate your organs to another person or for research.

A will is something that every person should create, and I’ll outline the criteria below regarding whether or not you need to create a will.

If you can answer “yes” to the question below, you need to make a will right now:

Are you over the age of 18?

If you answered “yes” and determined that you need to make a will, where should you get started? It seems so intimidating, but it is truly something that will make a huge difference for your family and loved ones.

Getting Started

Getting started on creating your will is simple. If you are an active duty military member or dependent, you can simply log on to the Air Force Portal and click the “Legal Assistance” section, where you will be led to the Air Force Legal Assistance Website.

From this website, you will be able to click on “Worksheets” and can begin creating your will here. The Air Force Legal Assistance Worksheets also include the option to create a Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney. I recommend completing all three of these at the same time, so you only need to make one appointment, and can talk through all of the information with the legal representative at the appointment.

Creating a will from the Air Force Legal Assistance Website is completely free–a benefit for all active duty military members and their dependents. After you complete the worksheet and submit it, you will be given a work-ticket number, which you use to call your local on-base legal office and create an appointment to have your will reviewed, legally signed and validated.

Important Note

When you create your will, it will abide by the laws and regulations according to the state in which you are a resident. Each state has specific laws and requirements for a will, therefore it is important that you abide by the laws of the state in which you are a resident, NOT the state in which you are residing (if this is a different state due to being stationed in another state for military service).

For example, if you are currently stationed in North Carolina, but are a resident of the state of Texas, then the will you create will abide by Texas laws and regulations. Often times, these differences may be very minor, but it is important to be informed when creating and updating your will.

What information is included in a will?

As I mentioned before, a will includes so much more information that simply “I’d like to give my cat to my sister.” There are 10 key elements to a will that you will address:

1. Personal & Family Information
2. Estate & Residuary Estate Information
3. Specific Gifts of Personal Property
4. Guardian of Children
5. Gifts to Children
6. Executor/Administrator/Personal Representative
7. Disinheritance
8. Funeral Arrangements
9. Durable Power of Attorney (POA) for Health Care
10. Living Will & Organ Donation

When you create your will worksheet through the legal assistance website, it will clearly walk you through each and every part of the will. If you are confused or unsure of any section, you can address this after you submit the worksheet, and discuss your questions and wishes with the legal attorney when you create your on-base appointment.

How often should I review or update my will?

The answer to this question depends on how diligently you want to review your information. Some people go through once a year to review their will, however this may not be necessary for everyone if very little has changed in terms of your family, income, or estate within the last year.

At the very minimum, you should review and update your will if any of these life-events have occured:

1. You were recently married or divorced
2. You birthed or adopted a child
3. You bought a house or other large purchase that should be included in the will
4. You had a significant increase in income or investments
5. You wish to disinherit someone from your will
6. You want to change your funeral/burial/healthcare/organ donation wishes previously outlined in your will

Ultimately, your will is what ensures your wishes are carried through upon your death. If you do not keep this up to date, your true wishes, or the wishes of your family may not be carried out if they are not legally outlined in your will.

Final Thoughts

Tomorrow is not promised. We have little control over the events that will take place that may cause our death, but we can take action now and take care of the ones we love by creating and maintaining an updated will.

By creating a will, you will have the legal say in your funeral and burial arrangements, if and when you would like to donate organs to others in need or to science, how your money and estate will be distributed, who will care for your children, and how they will be cared for in your absence.

As we live in uncertain times, it simply is not wise to wait. You can’t afford NOT to have a will. Life in the military is unpredictable, life outside of the military is unpredictable…and that is all simply because life is unpredictable. Take action now while you still can, and take care of yourself and your loved ones by creating a will!