Nobody likes talking about wills. It's right up there with colonoscopies and root canals — necessary, but not exactly dinner conversation. Still, financial guru Dave Ramsey isn't letting anyone off the hook. In a clip posted to his Facebook page, Ramsey made it pretty clear: if you're going to ruffle feathers with your will, do it while you're alive — and do it loudly.
"If you're going to piss somebody off in the will, go ahead and do it while you're alive," Ramsey said. "Have a backbone. Instead of sneaking off into the grave and letting somebody else deal with their hurt feelings."
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The post itself was just as direct, urging people to "Get your will done, and tell everybody what the stinking will says while you're still alive."
He called out the drama people create when they treat their estate plans like a "deep, dark secret" — comparing it to a bad movie plot. "This is not a movie, it's your life," he snapped. And if you're a "crotchety old whatever" who wants to leave it all to your niece because your kids never call? Go ahead and tell them that, he said — and "shut up" about it.
The comment section, naturally, exploded — because nothing stirs emotions like money and family.
One person chimed in, saying, "I've been straight up with my kids all along. I told them they already received their inheritance in the form of private school, club sports and activities, and college tuition. They shouldn't be expecting anything when I pass." They added that the ball's now in their kids' court — they've been taught how to manage money and invest, and the rest is up to them.
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Another user joked, "If you just make sure to spend every dime you make and live a life in debt you will never have to worry about estate planning lol." Certainly not the strategy Ramsey would recommend, but it's one way to avoid family squabbles.
According to Ramsey Solutions, estate planning isn't just about deciding who gets Grandma's china set. It's about protecting your entire life's work — your money, your kids, your pets — and making sure you, not a court, get the final say. It's more than just writing a will. It's about setting up powers of attorney, trusts, and guardianship plans too.
And if you don't leave a plan? Well, the state's got one for you. Without a will, your estate is considered "intestate," and the court steps in to divide your assets based on your state's laws — usually following a strict order of succession.
That could mean your money and belongings end up with relatives you barely know or wouldn't have chosen. Debts also come into play, since creditors get first dibs on whatever you leave behind. Intestacy laws apply in all states, though the exact rules vary depending on where you live.
If you don't want your family starring in their own drama series after you're gone, take Ramsey's advice: have the talk now. No sneaking off into the grave.
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