Every August brings a quiet observance that rarely shares the calendar with cookouts and back-to-school sales. August is National Make-A-Will Month, a yearly nudge to handle the one task so many people intend to get to "someday" and never quite do.

The numbers tell the story. Only about a third of American adults have a will. That means roughly two out of every three people have no written instructions for what should happen to their home, their savings, their belongings, or even the care of their children if the unexpected occurs.

The reasons are familiar. Some believe they are too young. Others assume they do not own enough to bother. Many simply find the topic uncomfortable and push it down the to-do list one more year. But a will is not about how much you own. It is about who you love and how you want things handled when you are no longer able to say so yourself.

Here is what a will lets you do. It names who inherits your property. It lets you choose the person responsible for carrying out your wishes rather than leaving that choice to a judge. And for parents, it is the only place to nominate a guardian for minor children. Without a will, Florida law makes these decisions for you, following a fixed legal formula that may look nothing like your actual family or intentions.

There is one important caveat, though. A will is the foundation of a plan, not the entire house. On its own, a will still passes through probate, the court-supervised process that can mean months of delay and added expense for your loved ones. That is why a complete estate plan usually pairs a will with other tools, such as a revocable living trust, a durable power of attorney, and healthcare directives, so your wishes are protected both during your lifetime and after.

If you already have a will, Make-A-Will Month is the perfect reminder to dust it off and read it. A will written years ago may name people who have moved away, passed on, or are no longer the right fit. Marriage, divorce, a new child or grandchild, a move to Florida, or a major change in assets are all reasons to revisit your documents. A good rule of thumb is to review your plan every three to five years.

So consider this your annual reminder. You do not have to figure it all out alone, and the process is almost always simpler than people expect.