The saying “it is never too early to make your will” is correct. It is also correct that updating your will does not require a special checkpoint either.
Michigan law provides a couple of ways to update your will easily and comprehensively depending on your situation.
The basics of will-making
For both of these solutions, a will requires a few things:
- You must be 18 years or older
- You must be mentally capable to make a will
- You must have two witnesses
As Michigan law states, you can make or update a will before an authorized officer or instead draft a statement signed by you and your two witnesses so long as it starts with the following language: “I certify (or declare) under penalty for perjury under the law of the state of Michigan that…”.
The codicil and the revision
In the event you want to add more things to your will and leave the former document unchanged, you can create a signed and dated codicil to keep with your will that acts as an addendum to the previous statement. This makes things easy since it leaves the rest of the will as is while expanding your wishes to whatever new assets you have.
If enough details about your will require revising, the next best solution is to void your first will in favor of a new, updated will.
The best time to do it
Changes like your home address, items you no longer own and moving out of state are all reasons to update your will. It is easy to update your will provided you have the information and resources to help you do so.