Marriage is a bond that makes two people one. So that means you should only need one will right? That is a common thought however it is not the case. In marriage, each person should still have their own will. The primary reasons for making a will are to:
- Decide where your stuff will go
- Name who will care for your children
- Choose who will be in charge to see your wishes are carried out
This needs to be done for both you and your spouse. Even if your wishes are similar, it still should be done for each individual.
You may have heard of a joint will. Joint wills were popular back in the day when wills were written or typed (like on a typewriter). It saved time and money.
But now, they can be a big headache. That’s because the surviving spouse can’t change a joint will even after the death of their spouse. So if a surviving spouse remarries and has a stepchild, they can’t leave anything in the joint will to that stepchild.
Our RamseyTrusted provider Mama Bear makes getting a will for your spouse easy. When you purchase a will, you can get one for your spouse at around half the price. You'll just click the checkbox that says "Married" when signing up. You can do that here.