What You Need to Know About Will Lawyers
If you know you own a large estate, you should make arrangements to write a will so that if by any chance something happens to you and you die, you don't die without a will. Such a situation leaves your family stressed, in disputes and incurring large legal fees. Here's what you need to know about wills and will lawyers:
Where Do You Start?
Look for a will lawyer to guide you through the writing process. A will is not something you just write the things you want to leave to different people. Many factors are considered, for example, the rights of your family members, the rights of people you have signed contracts with, reasons you might not want to leave anything to a particular person, etc.
When writing a will, you need help; there are so many loopholes (clauses that create an opportunity for a will contester to contest your will) that may exist in a poorly written will. Will lawyers know about such loopholes and can help you write a solid and non-contestable will. For this to happen, you need to answer all the questions asked by your will lawyer truthfully and in detail. Don't hide any facts because they may affect your will in the future.
Your mental state might be evaluated to guarantee that you are of sound mind. You also need witnesses to sign your will so that it is evident you were not coerced into writing it.
What Is Probate?
When you write a will, it needs to be validated. A probate court, which is usually a supreme court, validates your will and confirms or acknowledges the company or will lawyer you have authorised to execute your will upon your death. No other person can act as an executor unless you also name them in your will as being secondary executors if anything happens to the primary executor.
What Can You Add to Your Will?
You can only leave property that is solely yours. That may include houses, vehicles, jewellery, private businesses, shares, money, etc. If you have any joint ownership of assets, your partner may become the sole owner, but honour any agreement you have in case either of you dies. Such agreements may include things like the sending of a particular amount of money to your family monthly. Your will lawyer will inform you of other kinds of assets you can't leave in your will based on the properties or assets you have.
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