11th Nov 2022
What Are the Disadvantages of Writing Your Own Will?
Can you believe that 65 million people die every year worldwide? The statistic means that 120 people pass away every minute.
The truth is that we never know when our time will be up. This is why it's crucial to be as prepared as possible. This includes writing a will that can let your surviving loved ones know what to do next.
The peace of mind you can get from having your will complete is priceless. Are you wondering if writing a will is worth doing yourself? Keep reading to learn all about the disadvantages of writing your own will.
What Is a Will?
Before we go in-depth about will writing, it's worth making it absolutely clear what a will is in the first place. In plain language, a will is a legal document that tells people what to do with their assets after they die. If you have any children, a will can also appoint a guardian to look after them until they come of age.
Without a will, it'll be up to the state you live in to distribute your assets. The rules of this can vary quite a bit. However, it's always better to have a will completed rather than allow the state to do things on your behalf.
That way, your wishes can be respected and your loved ones have a better chance of being happy with the results of the distribution.
It Might Not Count
It may not come as a surprise that a will scrawled out on a cocktail napkin most likely won't be viable in a court of law. However, even if you use the best stationery on the market, the will may still not count. This is due to the fact that there are certain rules you have to follow when writing a will in the first place.
The last thing you'd want is to think that you're helping your loved ones out only for them to be left with a mess. The legality behind a will can fluctuate depending on what state you live in. For instance, a will in the state of North Carolina must have a "self-proving" aspect.
Self-proving means that a notary and two disinterested witnesses will have to be present. The person making their own will needs to be of sound mind and at least 18 years of age or older. This rule doesn't apply to every situation involving a will.
To figure out exactly what your will requires, you should seek out help from a personal lawyer who specializes in will writing.
It May Not Be Clear Enough
As a will writer, it's important to be as clear as possible. Writing in a way that's easy for the reader to understand is often harder to accomplish than some people realize. From the structure of your sentences to your word choice, there are plenty of things worth focusing on.
If you don't have it in you to be meticulous, then whoever executes your will could run into one or more snags. Aside from grammatical concerns and other things of that nature, there's also the matter of being specific regarding assets and recipients.
The vaguer you are, the more difficulties that could arise. Instead, you should write something like the following: "My heirloom Bible with the blue tassel will go to my granddaughter Elinor Proctor."
Without the guidance of a professional will writer, you could even forget to mention assets altogether. Not only can a professional help you with clear wording but they can ensure that anything of value is included in the will.
How to Find a Will Writer
You'll be glad to know that a legal professional can help you write a will that will stand up in a court of law. Are you asking yourself, "Who can I trust to write my will?"
Finding the right will writer involves doing some research. You can start by asking for recommendations from your friends and family members. There's a good chance that you know at least one person who has dealt with a will lawyer.
In the worst-case scenario, someone can warn you against working with a specific individual. Another way to get some promising recommendations is by searching online. As you make a list of potential attornies, don't forget to look up their ratings.
Any lawyer worth their weight in gold will have some reviews and star ratings you can use to make a more informed decision. Once you've used this feedback to make a shorter list of the most promising attornies, you should schedule consultations. This is the single best way to determine whether they're the right fit for such an important task.
This will be your opportunity to ask them as many questions as you can think up, including what the will laws in your state are. You can also get a feel for their personality and if they seem truly reliable or not. In situations like these, it's a good idea to trust your gut.
Are You Ready to Avoid Writing Your Own Will?
Now that you've learned all about the disadvantages of writing your own will, you can get a professional to help you. Be sure to let your friends and family members know how they should go about writing their wills, too. That way, everyone can feel prepared for the future no matter what.
Whether you've decided to write your own will anyway or you've enlisted the services of a lawyer, it's important to have the correct paperwork. We can provide you with the highest quality will supplies and much more.
Feel free to reach out with questions about our will supplies.