Wills prepared hurriedly are often prone to errors for several reasons: The quickly drawn will may not distribute the property as the testator intended; hasty preparation may overlook, and miss strategies to minimize or eliminate the federal estate tax; and the Will may be judged invalid because it does not meet a certain legal requirement, such as the signatures of two (or, in some states, three) witnesses who are not related to the testator and do not benefit under the Will.

While a deathbed Will is better than no Will at all, to avoid errors or potential challenges, you should create and execute a Will while you are still of sound mind and body. Your family will appreciate your advance planning.