Can I Make a Will Without a Lawyer?
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It is possible to make a simple will without a lawyer, so long as you follow all of the specific requirements for execution (two disinterested witnesses, with their signatures notarized if you want it to be a "self-proving" will). Faced with a properly executed "do it yourself" will, a court will do its best to discern and enforce your intentions.
However, there are pitfalls to this approach. First, without a complete understanding of the different estate planning tools, you may be putting something in your will that cannot be accomplished by a will. You may omit specific language required to disinherit a family member. You may leave your personal representative without the flexibility and authority you would want them to have, just by not knowing what to include in the language of the document. You may unintentionally word your description of what assets go where in such a way that there is a dispute among your heirs after you are gone. Most importantly, you don't get a "do-over" if something was not done right and you have already passed. Learn more here about the legal and financial risks of a do-it-yourself will. |
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