What can I do with a New York will?
A will, also called a "last will and testament," can help you protect your family and your property. You can use a will to:
● leave your property to people or organizations
● name a personal guardian to care for your minor children
● name a trusted person to manage property you leave to minor children, and
● name an executor, the person who makes sure that the terms of your will are carried out.
What happens if I die with out a will?
In New York, if you die without a will, your property will be distributed according to state “intestacy” laws. New York’s intestacy law gives your property to your closest relatives, beginning with your spouse and children. If you have neither a spouse nor children, your grandchildren or your parents will get your property. This list continues with increasingly distant relatives, including siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and your spouse’s relatives. If the court exhausts this list to find that you have no living relatives by blood or marriage, the state will take your property.
What are the requirements for signing a will in New York?
To finalize your will in New York:
● you must sign your will in front of two witnesses, and
● your witnesses must sign your will.