Will and Copyright and Publishing

[callistra]

I am wondering - any writers out there have any specific clauses covering their copyright and their works? I want to do up a will for Chesh and I, and I am wondering if I should include something about that. I believe it's recommended, and since we do our wills every .... ooo... ten years or so... then I should think WAY ahead. In case, you know, I ever get anything published.

So, fellow writers, talk to me about your clauses in your wills pertaining to your works. 

Comments

[cassiphone.livejournal.com]

I don't have any specific clauses or anything set up but the main thing to think about is if you want a literary executor to be separate from your main executor. If you want someone other than your partner/children to make decisions about published/unpublished works.

[stephen-dedman.livejournal.com]

Mine (when I finally get around to updating it) bequeaths everything to Elaine if she survives me, but names two writer/friends as the executors of my literary estate if she doesn't.

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

As others have mentioned, the traditional thing is to appoint a literary executor, usually a fellow writer.
You can also assign copyrights to particular people etc, but there usually isn't much point unless they generate significant income or the other person has some reason to use them.

[mireille21.livejournal.com]

Yes. it was simple to do. I appointed someone I deem to be trustworthy as my literary executor, trusting that he will edit and print anything which seems worthwhile and destroy everything else so it never sees the light of day (which will be most of it I think!) Master J is the sole benficiary of any income from said works, the literary exec is just the guy who gets to decide what gets published or not.
Most probate lawyers will be familiar with this,