Why You Shouldn't Make A Will Without A Lawyer
Posted on: 3 January 2015
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Nowadays, there are a lot of software programs and templates out there that you can use to create a will on your own, so you might assume that you can make one yourself without a lawyer. Although you are better off making a will on your own than not making one at all, it really does pay to hire a lawyer instead. These are a few reasons why you shouldn't try to make a will without the help of an attorney.
To Be Valid, Certain Criteria Must Be Met
If a will doesn't meet certain criteria, then it isn't valid at all. For example, many states require that there is a witness on hand to see you sign it, and some states do not recognize video wills yet. Since laws vary based on different states, it's important to talk with a lawyer to ensure that your will is completely legal and valid.
You May Have Legal Obstacles to Worry About
You may have certain legal obstacles to worry about; for example, you may want to list your child as one of your beneficiaries. However, you may not be able to do so in the unfortunate event that your child is still a minor when you pass away. Therefore, you will need to ensure that such obstacles are covered in your will. You might not think of all of these situations or know how to handle them, but your attorney can help ensure that your family won't have any legal obstacles to deal with if something happens to you.
You Won't Have to Worry About Charges of Fraud
In some cases, things get a little nasty after a person passes away, especially if there are a lot of assets being left behind. If you have your will made by an attorney, however, you won't have to worry about your family members -- or anyone else -- trying to say that your will was made under false pretenses, that there was any case of fraud or that your will isn't up-to-date. Then, you won't have to worry about people challenging your will and not giving your belongings to the person that you intend for them to go to.
As you can see, it definitely makes sense to hire a lawyer to make your will. Contact a legal service like Housecall Wills & Estates to get the help you need in setting up your will.