Wills in Guys

Compare the instruction with the asset record

Begin with two questions for each important asset: What does the current ownership or beneficiary record say, and what instruction do you want your will to express? A will can state instructions for handling an estate, while an asset’s ownership form or beneficiary designation may also affect how it is handled. Do not assume those records automatically match the will or one another.

For example, if a will names one person to receive an asset but a separate account record names someone else, flag the difference for review rather than assuming which document controls. The same comparison is useful for real estate: gather the deed or other ownership record and compare the names and intended plan. The appropriate result depends on the documents and circumstances.

Make a one-page asset and instruction inventory

Before a planning meeting, create a simple table with one row per significant asset. This gives you a practical way to spot missing records and inconsistencies without deciding legal effect on your own.

• Asset and institution or location, if known
• Current owner or owners shown in the record
• Beneficiary designation, if any, and the record or statement showing it
• What you would like your will to say about the asset
• Any mismatch, uncertainty, or document you still need to locate

Identify who has which role

Keep the will’s estate-handling role separate from other decision-making authority. The person named to handle matters under a will is not automatically the same as an agent under a power of attorney, a trustee, or a healthcare agent. The CFPB describes these as distinct roles, and a power of attorney’s scope, duration, and limits depend on its terms. Gather those documents too, but do not treat them as interchangeable.

If your plan includes a trust, bring the trust documents and identify the assets you believe are connected to it. Dale Law Group, PLLC offers wills, pour-over wills, revocable and other trusts, and financial and healthcare planning documents; the right combination depends on your goals and records.

Gather records and ask focused questions

Bring any existing will and amendments, trust documents, recent account statements showing beneficiaries, and available deeds or ownership records. Note when each record was obtained and what question it raises. If a McNairy County land-record contact may help you identify where to ask about a recorded document, UT CTAS lists a separate Register of Deeds contact at 170 West Court Ave, Room 105, Selmer. Confirm contact details before visiting; a directory or recorded document does not establish ownership or determine the appropriate legal procedure.

Useful questions include: Which assets appear inconsistent with my will? Which records should I request or update? Who is named in each role, and what document gives that person authority? Does my plan need a trust or another document to address my goals?