Saving a little money up front can be tempting, but can end up costing you and your family thousands of dollars down the line.The internet is littered with DIY estate planning websites and forms. You can even find someone else’s will or template online for free.
However, all of these methods have pitfalls. Most templates or sample wills have outdated language contained in them, or only contain a general understanding of the law around wills, trusts, and probate court. Furthermore, some estate planning law is state specific and many people have suffered severe consequences by using guidance from companies or even lawyers in another state who are unaware of specific quirks or differences in each state. Most templates and websites cannot ask more difficult and nuanced questions regarding specific family matters, levels of trust for individuals, or personal health.
When I attended law school I had an estate-planning professor that stressed non-verbal communication from clients is just as important as verbal, and a website is not going to be able to react to someone’s discomfort and ask appropriate follow up questions to assure the best will is written for them.
Our firm prides itself on taking the time you need to create a custom estate plan that will reflect your express desires while being legally sufficient, and we still charge a fair price. A website will not provide the same peace of mind an attorney can, and the last thing anyone wants is to have their heirs fight over their will in court and destroy some of their express wishes. So remember, professional wills are not expensive and are often only a few hundred dollars more than website or software wills, and they will provide you with much more security and peace of mind than any fill in the blank document can. To learn more, contact our offices today.