Wills in Burns

Compare the will with how each asset is held

Make a list of significant assets and note, for each one, how it is owned and whether a beneficiary is named. Then compare that information with the intended instructions in your will. The comparison can reveal where the documents appear to point in different directions; it does not by itself determine the legal result.

For example, if a will names one person to receive an asset but the asset has a beneficiary designation naming someone else, flag the difference for review rather than assuming the will resolves it. Similarly, record how real estate is titled and gather the relevant deed. A recorded document is useful evidence to review, but a directory entry or recorded document alone does not establish clear title or determine the appropriate transfer process.

• List the asset and its current ownership or account title.
• Record any beneficiary designation and when it was last checked.
• Note the intended recipient in the will and any apparent mismatch.
• Gather deeds and other records that help identify ownership.

Choose the right person for each responsibility

A will can name an executor to handle estate matters, but that role is not interchangeable with an agent under a power of attorney or a trustee. An agent’s authority depends on the power-of-attorney document, including its scope, duration and limits. A trustee’s responsibilities arise from the trust arrangement. Naming someone in one role does not, by itself, establish authority in another.

When considering whom to name in a will, think about whether the person can take on the responsibility and whether your instructions and records will help that person understand your plan. Separately identify who should receive information and where current copies of relevant documents can be found.

• Who do you want to name to handle the estate under the will?
• Are any assets held in a trust, and who is identified as trustee?
• Are your financial power-of-attorney and healthcare documents separate and current?

Prepare a will review folder

Before a planning conversation, assemble your current will and any prior versions you can locate, a list of assets, beneficiary information, and available deeds or account statements. Add a short note describing what you want to happen and any inconsistency you have noticed. This gives the review a concrete starting point without assuming that one document controls every asset.

If a real-estate record raises a question, UT CTAS lists a separate Dickson County Register of Deeds contact at PO Box 130, Charlotte, TN 37036. The listed address may be a mailing address, so confirm before visiting. The contact directory is a place to seek current information; it does not determine ownership or which legal procedure applies.

• What has changed since the will was made?
• Which asset or designation seems inconsistent with the written instructions?
• What question do you want answered about the will, a trust, or an executor’s role?

Wills and related planning in Burns

Dale Law Group, PLLC offers will planning, including pour-over wills, as well as revocable and other trust planning and probate administration. The firm is based in Murfreesboro and serves clients in Tennessee; Burns is in Dickson County. A will review can focus on your intended instructions, the assets those instructions may address, and the records or separate documents that should be considered alongside them.