Have the will to make a will

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cody H. Ramirez
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  A three-round burst to the chest; a car accident traveling to church; choking on a meatball during dinner--these are just a few of the ways that people can die. No one knows how they will die, so why not have a will prepared for the worst-case scenario.

"Why should I make a will?" you ask yourself. "I'll be dead, so who cares what happens.?

Simple: a will allows a person to designate who receives their property--including children--when they die. Without a will, nothing is guaranteed. This is especially important to recognize when serving the military during a time of war, according to Capt. Jason Templin, 509th Bomb Wing Judge Advocate civil law chief.

"If you die intestate (without a will) all of your property will be divided according to state law: first to your spouse, then children and finally to other relatives," Captain Templin said. "Essentially what you're doing is allowing the state to dictate where your belongings end up."

And there is more to think about than just property, according to Captain Templin.
"It is also important to decide who will be your executor, or property distributer, and who will care for your children when you die," the captain said.

"Say you don't have a will set and you happen to die in an accident while the babysitter is watching your children," he stresses in a worst-case-scenario. "Who will end up caring for your children? They go where the state decides is most suitable, which isn't always a bad thing, but wouldn't you rather your children go to someone you choose, know and trust?"

But how much will this cost? Actually, nothing. A service that would cost hundreds of dollars for civilians can be done for free in less than an hour, according to Captain Templin.

And it doesn't stop at wills; you can get powers of attorney and living wills, too, he added.
"A living will allows a person to make end-of-life decisions in advance--before that person is in a persistent vegetative state," Captain Templin said. "That way, you don't put the stress of making a life or death decision on a loved one."

Powers of attorney, in contrast, gives an agent the right to make important decisions for the person--from filing tax returns to deciding what medical treatment that person gets.
If people decide they want a will or other services, appointments can be scheduled Mondays 8-10 a.m., and Wednesdays 1-3 p.m. The legal officer will review the will with you to ensure the information is correct. The will is then signed and notarized with witnesses to make it official.

The legal officer will then tell you how to care for the will to ensure your family receives it properly when the time comes.