There are things in life you need to have. Not a nice to have, a need, if you have anyone in your life you love. Children, a spouse or partner… your readers, if you have none of the above. Don’t let your books die with you.

I’m talking about making a will. There’s a deeply personal reason behind this post, as you might guess. I’m urging you, all of you, to make a will. You can do it free and easy in most states – look at what a holographic will is – and then you can jump through hoops with a family lawyer to get a more complex estate all planned. But do not, I beg of you, delay in action. Make a simple will, don’t live without it for another day. Putting it off until you can set up a trust is not a plan at all. The good plan is to do simple now, then make it more complicated. In the meantime, you’ll be protected. And so will your loved ones, particularly if you are in a domestic partnership with no legal ties to the one you live with.

If you have no children or someone to leave your intellectual property to, don’t just leave the books to a cat sanctuary or suchlike without detailed instructions of what to do with them. I can’t tell you how many books I’ve wanted to buy, only to realize that when the authors died, so did the books, out of print and lost forever or at least until copyright expires on them, which is so long they are doomed to obscurity.

And another thing, while I have you here. Get your medical paperwork straightened out: advanced care directive, medical power of attorney, that sort of thing. Make it so that in case of dire circumstances, someone who loves you can show the doctors exactly what you wanted to be done – or not done – and you will spare them a lifetime of second-guessing themselves.

Even if you are in rude good health, young, and optimistic, this will take you very little time, and will be a wonderful gift to give your loved ones peace if you are unexpectedly taken. If you are ill, don’t delay. Don’t assume that recovery is just around the corner and this is not necessary. Make that will, simple now, complicated later when time or money allows. Anytime there is a major life change, update the will without delay. Don’t let your loved ones and your life’s work languish in limbo, expensive burdens, because you were not feeling like taking care of a simple chore.