Wills in Finger

Compare the will with how each asset is set up

For each significant asset, ask two separate questions: What does the will say, and what do the ownership records or beneficiary designation say? A will may express one plan while an account or other asset is set up to pass under a separate ownership arrangement or beneficiary designation. Do not assume the will answers both questions.

Make a simple comparison list rather than relying on memory. For each item, record its description, how it is titled, any named beneficiary, and the relevant document or record to check. Flag anything that appears inconsistent, is out of date, or is unclear. This is a review tool, not a determination of who legally owns an asset or how it will transfer.

• Will: instructions and the person named to handle the estate.
• Ownership: the names and form of ownership shown in available records.
• Beneficiary: the person or people named on an account or other designation.

Choose the right person for each role

Consider who you want to handle the estate under your will and whether that person can organize records, communicate with the people involved, and follow through on practical tasks. Keep that role distinct from a trustee, a financial agent under a power of attorney, and a healthcare agent. Those roles arise from different documents and do not automatically give one person every kind of authority.

If you are reviewing an existing plan, check the names in each document rather than assuming that one appointment updates another. Dale Law Group, PLLC offers wills and related planning services, including pour-over wills, trusts, and durable financial powers of attorney.

Prepare a useful review folder

Gather the current will and any amendments, a list of significant assets, available ownership records, and beneficiary designation confirmations. Add the names and contact information for the people named to handle the estate or receive property. Note when you last checked each item and write down any changes in family circumstances or intentions that raise a question.

Bring the comparison list even if some records are missing. It helps distinguish a confirmed designation from an assumption and gives you a concrete starting point for deciding what needs attention.

When local records may matter

If your list includes real estate in McNairy County, the county Register of Deeds directory identifies a separate land-record contact in Selmer. A recorded document or directory listing alone does not establish ownership or determine what transfer or court procedure is appropriate. Confirm current contact details before relying on them or visiting.

Questions about a will or estate proceeding may involve different county offices. McNairy County listings identify a Clerk & Master contact and a separate Circuit Court Clerk; their roles are not interchangeable, and a directory listing by itself does not determine the right venue or whether a proceeding is needed.

Questions to bring to a will review

Ask which instructions in the will apply to the property you have listed, whether any ownership or beneficiary records appear inconsistent with your intentions, and which documents or designations may need further review. Also ask whether the person named to handle the estate is still the person you want in that role and what information would help assess any uncertainty.