Jay-Z said it best…
If you’re having death problems
I feel bad for you, son
I got 99 problems
But a will ain’t one
Ok maybe that’s not exactly what he said, but we’re here to convince you that this parody should be a thing!
During my time as an after loss professional, I’ve worked with many clients who have had some serious “will problems.” All parodies aside, it has been completely heartbreaking to watch. Not only can it be a grueling and exhausting process to prove the validity of a will, it can also be extremely expensive.
Recently, a woman called me because her life partner had passed away a few weeks prior. He had a will, which made her the executor, but that will was now being challenged by the decedent’s sister who was claiming it was an invalidly prepared will. I told her that I would love to help her when the time is right and gave her the names of a few attorneys to consult.
So how do you know that you won’t end up having will problems? First and foremost, I always recommend consulting a licensed and experienced estate planning attorney to help guide you through the process. However, here are few of the basic requirements of a will that (hopefully) prevent issues down the road. In order to for a will to be legally binding, generally it must be:
- In writing
- Signed and dated by the person who made it, and
- Signed by witnesses (usually two)
There are exceptions to these basic requirements, the major one being that several states allow handwritten unwitnessed will as long as it was signed and clear it was intended to be a will.
While we can’t help you write a will, we can help you find the right attorney to help you design a comprehensive estate plan that protects those who you love the most. Once that will, trust, power of attorney and/or other critical documents are created, come back to us so that we can help to help you create an organized system and plan that captures your most important details (like remembrance wishes, digital assets, treasured family recipes and traditions, etc.) so you can ensure ease instead of anguish for your family has the space to breathe.
Consider working with us if you (or someone you know) have yet to go through the legacy planning process. We’d love to help and show you, or them, just how easy it can be. Plus, then you can proudly quote our Jay-Z parody, too!
