# Reasonable adults have wills, dammit!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasonable-adults-have-wills-dammit/182935>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [June 19, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasonable-adults-have-wills-dammit/182935 "2003-06-19T15:18:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2003, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasonable-adults-have-wills-dammit/182935/41 "2003-06-22T21:59:36Z")

</div>

Two words: Ted Williams.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasonable-adults-have-wills-dammit/182935/42 "2003-06-23T08:05:23Z")

</div>

Okay, I will take you up on it: I will write a will. But do I have to go to a lawyer to do this? Isn’t there a will-generating CD-ROM that will do the same thing and be legal? If so, can any of you make a recommendation?

Thanks

Quasi

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasonable-adults-have-wills-dammit/182935/43 "2003-06-23T15:47:57Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by obfusciatrist \*  
> \*\*
> 
> Can I just have a will that says “I don’t care, whatever the specific people hash out among themselves is fine. - Signed me.” Would that keep them out of probate? \*\*

I am not a lawyer, but unfortunatly I have had to wind up more than my share of estates. You don’t have to decide who gets what, as a matter of fact, when I made my will, I was specificaly told not to do the list thing unless there was something very valuable. All the will does is alow people the legal right to dispose of the flotsam and jetsam of a life, at a time when otherwise abslolutely wonderful people become something less than rational.

If something happens to you do you really want to leave the people who cared about you a financial mess? Untill the estate is settled they can’t access your money or sell of your stuff to pay to dispose of your remains, or pay your bills. If you pre-decease your wife I think it all goes to her and its not a huge problem, but it is if you die at the same time as your wife. I know there are programs you can use to make a will, and I don’t think you have to do a whole lot more than name a couple of people who will make sure your final taxes get filed pay off your debts and hand the bits and pieces out. It really doesn’t have to be a big deal.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reasonable-adults-have-wills-dammit/182935.md?page=2)