August Is Make-a-Will Month: Give Your Family Clarity and Peace of Mind
Creating or updating your will is one of the kindest steps you can take for the people you love.
Have you been meaning to write a will for years now? Or maybe you wrote one back when your kids were small, and you haven’t looked at it since.
You’re not alone. Most people know they should have a will. Far fewer actually sit down and finish one.
August is National Make-A-Will Month, and it exists because of that gap. It’s not about fear or morbid thinking. It’s about giving your family clarity when they need it most.
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What Is Make-A-Will Month, Really?
This isn’t a government holiday with fireworks. It’s an awareness effort, backed by legal groups and nonprofits, aimed at getting people to stop procrastinating on one specific task.
The idea is straightforward. You decide who gets what, you name someone you trust to carry out your wishes, and you put it all in writing with the right signatures and witnesses.
A solid, no-nonsense starting point is the National Institute on Aging’s checklist for getting your affairs in order. It walks through the paperwork without trying to sell you anything.
One step to take today: Find your current will, if you have one, and check the date. If it’s more than five years old, that’s your sign.
Why Do So Many People Put This Off?
Part of it is the assumption that you need a lawyer, an appointment, and a few hundred dollars you’d rather spend elsewhere. Part of it is simply not wanting to think about your own mortality on a Tuesday afternoon.
Have you ever avoided a phone call because you knew it would be uncomfortable, only to find out later it took five minutes? Writing a will is a lot like that.
You do have options beyond hiring an attorney. Many states allow valid handwritten or template-based wills, and organizations like AARP and the American Bar Association publish free guidance on what makes a will legally binding where you live.
Skipping this step doesn’t spare your family stress. It just delays it and often makes it worse, because now they’re guessing what you would have wanted.
What Should Actually Be In A Will?
A basic will covers a handful of core decisions, and it’s worth having all of them settled rather than assuming they’re obvious.
Who inherits your property, savings, and personal belongings
Who you’re naming as executor to carry out your wishes
Who becomes guardian for any dependents who still need one
Specific gifts, like a wedding ring or a family heirloom, going to a particular person
That last one trips people up more than you’d think. Families argue over sentimental items far more often than over money, so naming heirlooms specifically saves everyone a headache later.
Actionable step: Make a short list this week of any specific items, jewelry, tools, photos, that you want to go to a particular person. Attach that list to your will as a memorandum if your state allows it.
What About Everything Else You Own?
Here’s a small aside worth keeping in mind while you’re at it. Your will handles the house and the savings account, but it says nothing about your email, your cloud photo library, or the streaming subscriptions still charging your card every month.
Passwords generally shouldn’t go directly into the will itself, since a probated will becomes a public record. Instead, most people keep that information in a password manager or a private document and simply note in their estate plan where it lives.
I go into this in more depth in my book Who Gets Your Passwords?, if you want a fuller walkthrough of organizing that side of things. But for now, just know it’s a separate piece of the puzzle, not a replacement for the will itself.
How Do You Actually Get Started This Month?
Momentum matters more than perfection here. Pick one small action and do it before the month is out.
Confirm whether you have a valid will right now, and if it’s current.
Decide on an executor you trust to follow through.
List any specific items you want to go to particular people.
Check your state’s requirements for witnesses and signatures.
Schedule a review date one year from now, so this doesn’t go another decade untouched.
Some nonprofits, including the American Red Cross, partner with free online will-writing tools if cost has been the thing holding you back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is a handwritten will legally valid?
A: A handwritten will can be legally valid in many states if it meets that state’s specific signature and witness requirements, though rules vary widely.Q: How often should I update my will?
A: Update your will after any major life event, marriage, divorce, a new grandchild, or a significant move, and review it at least once every three to five years otherwise.Q: Do I need a lawyer to write a will?
A: You don’t always need a lawyer for a simple will, but complex estates, blended families, or specific state requirements often make professional help worthwhile.Q: What happens if I die without a will?
A: Dying without a will means your state’s intestacy laws decide who inherits your property, which may not match what you actually wanted.
What’s the one thing that’s kept you from finishing your will so far?
