Do I need a Will?
The answer is "absolutely yes".
A Will is a written document that is signed, dated and witnessed which indicates how you want your property distributed after your death. It may be changed at any time during your lifetime. Without a Will the State decides what happens to your children and how your Estate is to be distributed. It can be a simple hand written document, signed, dated, and witnessed or a fill in the blanks document that can be purchased online. The other option, which we strongly advise, is to have an attorney draw up the will. Often the hand written document as well as the fill in the blanks can be ambiguous leaving the interpretation of what you want to others, whereas an attorney is trained to ask the correct questions and assure your wishes are met. The following are two examples of what can happen without a Will. Do you have a story to share? If so send it to our email address listed in the Contact section - Charlie passed away - $150,000 Estate - no will - divided up between mother, first wife, children, & 3rd wife - 7 years of probate
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A young couple lost their lives in a terrible accident leaving a 10 year old son and 12 year old daughter. Both sets of grandparents lived out of town and filed suit for custody of the children. Neighbors said they had conversations with the children's parents and knew the parents would want the children to stay in their community, attend the same school, and the neighbors offered to become guardians of the children. The neighbor's children were best friends with the grieving son and daughter. The State will decide and it's very unlikely to be what the parents would have desired.
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