why hire an attorney to draft a will

Here are five reasons to hire an attorney when creating a will:

• 1. To Address All Components of Your Estate Most people assume wills are just for bequeathing property to loved ones, but you can include all kinds of assets and terms in this document. ...
• 2. To Ensure Everything Is Legally Binding ...
• 3. To Navigate Complicated Family Dynamics ...
• 4. To Reduce Your Loved Ones’ Tax Burden ...
• 5. To Protect Your Own Interests

Full Answer

How do I draft my own will?

Sites such as LegalZoom.com ($69 for a basic will) and Nolo.com ($59 for a basic will) provide forms and guidance on drafting your own will. If you go this route, make sure you meet your state’s requirements, such as having independent witnesses sign the document. You may be able to ask a lawyer to review the will for a small fee.

Do I need a lawyer to review a will?

If you go this route, make sure you meet your state’s requirements, such as having independent witnesses sign the document. You may be able to ask a lawyer to review the will for a small fee.

Should you write a do-it-yourself will?

Write a do-it-yourself will if you need a short-term fix until you can hire a lawyer or if your situation is very straightforward -- say, you’re leaving everything to one person. But even small mistakes could cause problems down the road.

How do I cut the lawyer out of my will?

Cut the Lawyer Out of Your Will? Write a do-it-yourself will if you need a short-term fix until you can hire a lawyer or if your situation is very straightforward -- say, you’re leaving everything to one person. But even small mistakes could cause problems down the road.

1. To Address All Components of Your Estate

Most people assume wills are just for bequeathing property to loved ones, but you can include all kinds of assets and terms in this document. For example, you can name the executor of your estate, designate guardianship of any minor children, and leave certain assets to charity.

2. To Ensure Everything Is Legally Binding

Although it is possible to draft a will yourself that is legally binding, having an attorney perform a thorough review can help ensure the document will hold up in court. Every state has strict statutes governing probate, and they change all the time. That means you must use a template that is both up-to-date and meets your state’s requirements.

3. To Navigate Complicated Family Dynamics

Perhaps you were married before or you have children with someone other than your current partner. Regardless of your family dynamic, estate planning lawyers can help you devise arrangements that are ideal for your current situation. They can also help you update essential documents if your circumstances change.

5. To Protect Your Own Interests

There are some documents that can accompany a will and actually go into effect before you pass. For example, a healthcare power of attorney grants someone else the authority to make important medical decisions on your behalf should you ever become incapacitated.

What is holographic will?

A holographic will is holographic in the sense that it is entirely in the handwriting of the testator (and signed). Entirely, you should note, means ENTIRELY. If any of the “will” is typewritten, the typewritten parts will be disregarded.

Can you draft a holographic will?

You can draft a holographic will; You can prepare a will using a proprietary fill-in-the-blank form; You can use an online legal service provider to help you prepare your own will; or. You can contact an attorney who will work with you to prepare your will (and other documents). In this blog post, I will discuss some of the pros and cons of each ...

Does holographic will extend to other documents?

Does not extend to other estate planning documents: a holographic will does not extend to the other “typical” documents that form the estate plan that you might receive from one of the other sources of drafting a will – such as a medical power of attorney, durable power of attorney, physician directive (or living will), or HIPAA authorization.

Can a will be enforceable without an attorney?

No legal guidance: without an attorney to guide you through the process of creating a will, it’s possible that some of your instructions or bequests might not be legally permissible or enforceable and accordingly, it is possible that the court might disregard or reinterpret the problematic provisions or bequests.

Can a holographic will be written on anything?

It is simpler with fewer formalities: the holographic will does not have to be witnessed and notarized like a more traditional will, and the holographic will can be written on anything (in one famous case, a holographic will scratched on a tractor fender was found to be a valid will).

Do you have to keep a copy of your will?

Safekeeping: If you want an attorney to keep a copy of your Will, there are few places more secure than the locked file cabinet of a Trusts and Estates attorney . But if you have not engaged the services of an attorney, you’ll have to make your own safekeeping arrangements.

4 critical reasons to utilize an attorney when drafting a Will or a Trust

State laws are very particular about what may or may not be included in estate planning documents. For example:

Ongoing Support

Attempting to manage your own estate plan without legal representation could leave you abandoned and in the dark if you run into difficulties or complex issues. Hiring a skilled and knowledgeable law firm can help you avoid problems down the road and will give you peace of mind knowing you will have ongoing legal support.

Have questions about Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning in Washington State?

The Estate Planning and Probate attorneys at Tarutis & Brunstrom in Seattle, Washington can help navigate you through this process so that estate planning is straightforward, effective, and can be resolved promptly and appropriately.