Thanksgiving Planning: Why Now is the Time to Update Your Will (Before Family Drama Hits)

Look, Thanksgiving is coming. You're thinking about pie. You're thinking about whether Aunt Carol is going to start that argument again. What you're probably not thinking about is your will.

But here's the thing, November is actually the perfect time to update it. And I'm not being dramatic when I say this could save your family from absolute chaos.

Why November? Why Now?

First, it's the time when family comes together and you realize things have changed. You got married. You got divorced. You had kids. Your finances shifted. Your priorities shifted. Your ex is suddenly remarried and you're like, "Wait, do they still have access to my accounts?" (Spoiler: maybe, and that's a problem.)

Second, we're heading into the end-of-year rush. January through March? Busiest time in family law. If you wait, you're fighting for appointments and paying rush fees. Thanksgiving week? We've got time. Let's use it.

Third (and this is the real one) people die in the winter. Cold weather, health stuff, accidents. I'm not trying to be morbid, but it's true. Having your ducks in a row before December hits is just smart planning.

What Happens If You Don't Have an Updated Will?

Let me paint you a picture. You pass away. Your family is grieving. They're also confused because your will is from 2015 and a lot has changed. Your ex-spouse might still be listed as beneficiary (yes, this happens). Your kids might not be listed at all. Your digital assets? Nobody knows the passwords. Your house? Now everyone's fighting about who gets it, and the state gets to decide instead of you.

That's a will disaster. And it happens more than you'd think.

What Should Be in Your Updated Will?

• Who gets what. Be specific. "My house to my kids" is not specific enough. Which kids? When? If they're minors, who manages it until they're old enough?

• Who's the executor? This is the person who has to deal with everything. Make sure they actually want the job and that you've talked to them about it. (Seriously, don't just assume.)

• Guardian for minor children. If something happens to you and your spouse, who raises your kids? Have you actually asked them if they'll do it?

• Digital assets. Passwords. Accounts. Cryptocurrency. Your kids don't need your email password, but your executor does.

• Specific bequests. "My grandmother's ring to my daughter." "My coin collection to my son." These things matter.

North Carolina Specifics

In North Carolina, we have some specific rules about wills. They need to be signed in front of witnesses. Notarized is even better. If you do it yourself or mess up the signing, the whole thing could be invalid and you're back to square one, which is why DIY wills are usually a bad idea.

We also have something called the "elective share" which basically means your spouse can claim a portion of your estate even if your will says otherwise. Good to know.

The Gilmore Girls Moment

Because it’s that time of year: Rory had a plan for everything in her life, college, career, relationships, except for that one messy moment with Dean. And we all saw how complicated that got. The point is, having a plan before life gets messy is so much better than trying to untangle everything after.

Your family doesn't want to spend January in court fighting about your will. They want to grieve and remember you. Give them that gift. Update your will now.

Ready to Update Your Will?

If you're in North Carolina and you're thinking, "Yeah, Melenni, I should probably do this," you're right. We can make this simple and painless. Let's get your will updated before the holidays hit.

Schedule a consultation. We'll talk about what you actually need, answer your questions, and get this done without any of the legal jargon nonsense.