While you aren't technically required to hire a lawyer to draft a will, failing to do so can lead to costly problems for your family and other heirs.
A will is a legal document that directs who will receive your property when you die. The legal requirements are pretty simple. In order for your will to be valid, you must know what property you have and what it means to leave it to someone, then sign the document and have it witnessed according to the laws of your state. Some states allow you to make a handwritten will, called a "holographic" will. This will does not need to be witnessed, but it is much more likely to be challenged after you die.
Many services have popped up that offer do-it-yourself will software or documents. These might work fine if you have little or no property, small savings or investments, and a traditional family tree, but the rest of the population should not use these programs. After testing three leading online legal document preparation services, Consumer Reports concluded that none of these will-writing products were likely to entirely meet a person’s needs unless those needs are extremely simple.
You'll probably need a lawyer to definitively determine whether or not your needs are indeed simple. Do you have supporting documents like a durable power of attorney and a health care proxy? Are these drafted accurately as to your wishes? Do you have an estate that is taxable under state or federal law? Do you own significant amounts of tax-deferred retirement plans? Do you know how to fund the revocable trust provided on the computer program? Is there anything about your estate that is unusual, such as having children from a previous marriage or a disabled child? How is your real property deeded and how does that affect your estate plans? If you aren’t sure about any of these questions regarding your estate plan, you need to see a lawyer.
Not hiring a lawyer can lead to costly problems that drag out your estate administration and create headaches for your heirs.
For more information on estate planning, call or email Kelliher & Beyer LLP at (508) 960-1112 or info@kelliher-Beyer-Law.com to set up an appointment.
Phone: (508) 960-1112
Email: Dawn@Kelliher-Beyer-Law.com