Sooner or later, somebody's going to get your "stuff."

Your pictures on the wall, the socks in the drawer, even the pots and pans in the kitchen cupboards.

Some things of value, some trash. Some things you value that no one else does. A few things relatives are bound to fight over, like your Waterford crystal and your collection of Santa Claus snow globes.

"That's why it's important for everybody to have a will, even if you feel you don't have a lot of money," said Fay Blix, Laguna Hills, Calif., elder law attorney.

"First, a will appoints someone to be your personal representative and executor, and secondly, it allows you to say what you want done with things important to you instead of the state deciding where things go."

QUESTION: So how do I write a will?ANSWER: For the most part, a will should be written through an attorney. A handwritten will is valid in California as long as it is completely in your own handwriting and signed and dated. But since these are some of the most important decisions in your life, it's worth spending the money on an attorney to make sure it's all OK.

QUESTION: How about the wills on the Internet or other preprinted forms?ANSWER: The big problem with fill-in-the-blank wills is that people don't always understand what the words before the blanks are really saying. In some ways, the preprinted forms can be worse than a handwritten will.

QUESTION: People avoid writing wills. Why? Because it means thinking about death?ANSWER: Exactly. But there's more to a will than what happens to your stuff after you die.You should be more concerned about an advance health care directive, for example. With that directive, if you can't sign forms for your health care, there is a mechanism in place for someone else to sign for you.

QUESTION: So wills do more than list where the china, the silver and the coin collection goes?ANSWER: There are lots more things in a will. Put in computer passwords and other online information about financial affairs. The names and numbers of important players in your life, like doctors and pharmacists and insurance companies. And get your records organized and say where people can find out about your daily and monthly bills.

QUESTION: Is this something that should be talked over with family members?ANSWER: Certainly. Put yourself in the place of your children. If you were suddenly asked to take over somebody's life, what would make it easier for you? Just talking through issues with them helps.How do you want to be informed if you are losing your memory, for example? From a doctor or a friend or family? The whole point is to keep everything from becoming a knock-down drag out.

QUESTION: Is there a difference between a will and estate planning?ANSWER: Estate planning is for peace of mind and for everyone, regardless of the value of the estate. You're talking about values of the heart. A trust, however, is important for people who own real property and want to avoid probate. It's easier when there is incapacity or following death to handle the property issues.

QUESTION: Do you put children in charge of everything?ANSWER: It's generally not a good idea to have the children serve together. Choose one above the other. Make sure whoever is on your list of decision-makers, there is someone younger than you. And if you have an illness, talk that through with your kids. The more you can anticipate your needs, the more the kids are able to prepare.