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Can I download and fill out forms for a will and will it be a legal one? Or do I need to go through an attorney?
6 ANSWERS
Trust Attorney serving Cincinnati, OH
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Paul A. Nidich Attorney at Law
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One needs to be careful about using an online will.
Answered on Jun 24th, 2013 at 12:32 AM
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A form Will may be valid if properly assembled, drafted, witnessed and executed. Many times, the witnessing is done improperly and the notary notarizes the wrong person's signature. This causes the Will to be difficult to prove in Court as the witnesses my be unable to be located or are deceased. However, since estate planning is important it is better addressed and completed after meeting with an attorney who can asset you in implementing the plan that you choose. If you are a senior citizen in Clark County and only need a simple Will you may want to contact the Senior Citizen Law Project to make an appointment. They assist seniors on a pro bono basis for Will preparation. If you are not eligible for assistance from the Senior Citizen Law Project and want assistance in having a Will drawn, our firm charges $500 for a single person and $600 for a married couple, plus costs for a complete Will, power of attorney for health care, power of attorney for financial matters and a Living Will. We charge $100 for a one hour consultation with an attorney who will provide you with important information regarding your specific case and will able to advise you on the options that you should consider in determining your next steps. If you are interested in making an appointment with one of our attorneys, please contact Michelle at 702 873 9500. She will need to gather some initial data from you and run a conflicts check before an appointment may be set. Our web site, www.goldguylaw.com , can provide you with more information about the law firm and our attorneys. This response is not intended to create an attorney client relationship. The response is solely intended to answer the question presented. Additional facts and issues are unknown to the responding attorney. Should you still have questions, legal assistance should be sought by making an appointment to meet with an attorney, rather than attempting to resolve the issue via e mail. This response is merely provided to give direction to assist you in the decision of whether you should contact an attorney or not.
Answered on Sep 28th, 2011 at 12:32 PM
Glen Edward Ashman
Many online forms are garbage. A few are legal sometimes. But even the few that are legal tend not to be optimal. Given that you can draft a proper will for a couple hundred dollars with a lawyer, and also get valuable advice as to overall estate planning, why take a chance on a form that could be invalid or badly done?
Answered on Sep 28th, 2011 at 11:07 AM
Criminal Defense Attorney serving Summit, NJ
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Stephen P. Dempsey Counselor at Law
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The issue is not whether the will is legal, but whether the will you create will be valid. There are formalities that need to be followed in preparing a will. If you carefully prepare and complete the will properly it will be valid. I would review the requirements prior to preparing the will yourself. The money spent on a lawyer for a simple will may not be as expensive.
Answered on Sep 28th, 2011 at 6:38 AM
Probate Attorney serving Newport, OR
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Minor, Bandonis & Haggerty P.C.
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You can use forms for a will; it is vital that it be properly witnessed. Having a lawyer help, though, is not that expensive, and there is a lot to know about how to properly plan so that your estate can be handled smoothly and easily. Your will will go in a safe deposit box and will not be taken out until after you die and then, if it's not what you wanted, it cannot be fixed (since you are the only one who can testify about your intentions).
Answered on Sep 28th, 2011 at 6:38 AM
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If it a statutory will it is legal but you may want to consult an attorney to make sure your will accomplishes what you want with regards to the disposition of your assets when you pass on. In addition, most standard wills do not protect the beneficiary in case of insolvency, disability or litigation.
Answered on Sep 28th, 2011 at 5:55 AM