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Do know that a hand written will is best HAND WRITTEN, and not a form, and not typed. In your own handwriting it will pass almost all muster.
The other thing you may wish to do is get someone who is a legal aid to assist. Reference a NOLO Press article, read Wills for Dummies. Good luck, and hoping it is not overly complicated for you. Be certain that the person you name as executor of your will would be willing to file it for probate. Very good if they have a copy. Good if your whole entire family knows where your will is kept. Do not lock it in a lock box unless you have a POA who has permission to go into your bank lock box. Even then I would not lock it away.
Do know that the best and safest way to do a will is with an attorney. It isn't rocket science and it isn't a trust that costs 5,000. Go to Senior centers and get recommends of those willing to do wills for a lower cost. Have all your ducks in the row of knowing and having written out what you have and who gets what. Also know if we are talking simple bank accounts or CDs that whoever is listed as POD (pay on death) will get that money no matter what a will says about it.
My will, POAs etc all cost me less than $1000. Money well spent. Copies are held by me, the executor, who is also POA and the legal firm has the originals.
When my step dad was ill last year, it was quite wonderful to have a lawyer available to talk to the banks etc, during the time Mum was acting as POA and as executor. His help was invaluable.
There are some good attorneys who focus specifically on moderately priced wills, while others work in tandem as necessary with other estate planning attorneys who specialize in probate litigation, a variety of trusts, specialized trusts, gifting, and more.
When you deal with an online site, do you really know the person providing advice? What standards exist for hiring and retaining the attorneys? How much continuing legal education do they pursue? And importantly, are they up to date on all regulations and case law governing the areas of their practice?
One of the law firms for which I worked has e-newsletters (which many law firms have for their various practice groups), alerting clients to new legislation or rulings critical to maintaining up to date documents in a wide range of areas, including but not limited to estate planning. Any law firm, or site that doesn't do this isn't one on which I would rely.
I also get periodic letters on critical changes or updates on necessary document changes or additions, or IRS positions. Do online sites provide that?
Some law firms (including another for which I worked), had lunchtime seminars briefing staff on new regulations or updates in specific practice areas. Do online sites have that?
E.g., there's been a change in the certification prepared and sometimes recorded as to the existence of trustees and successor trustees, which can now be used for real estate transactions. This is important, b/c it means the trustee or successor trustee doesn't have to provide the entire certification document, with information that really isn't anyone's business except the trustee and his/her successors.
Minnie, these are issues you might want to consider.
Another option to find reasonably priced attorneys is to go to Senior Center or other sponsored health care shows. There often are law firms there, but you'll have to check the exhibitor list beforehand to see if there are.
The Area Agency on Aging has for years held an excellent Caregiver Expo, at which there were at least 3 or 4 local law firms present, distributing literature on various estate planning and elder law issues. In my area, these seminars have been discontinued, unfortunately.
Three local counties are holding seminars, but in spending some time yesterday locating others to substitute for the now D'C'ed AAA one, I found that most of them were held in the Spring.
My sig other and I use an "Elder Law Attorney" who advises us any new State or Federal rulings coming down the pike that could play havoc with our current Will, or any other legal documents.
it is easy to create a will with step by step guidance...and for a small amount more, you get person to person legal advise too