A will that is drawn up by hand and signed by the testator is called a holographic will, and it does not have to be witnessed or notarized. Back in the day, some people would create these wills on their death beds, it can also be a battlefield solution. These days, most people know that it is probably not wise to get out a pen and jot down your final wishes with no one else around. This being stated, about half of the states in the union will recognize holographic wills, but there are … [Read more...] about Will an Unwitnessed Handwritten Will Hold Up in Court?
DIY estate planning
Debunking 5 Common Estate Planning Myths: Protecting Your Future with Facts
Estate planning is a crucial step in securing your future and protecting your loved ones. However, misconceptions and myths often cloud the understanding of this important process. In this blog post, we will debunk five common estate planning myths, backed by research and statistics. By dispelling these misconceptions, we aim to empower you to make informed decisions and create a comprehensive estate plan that aligns with your goals and safeguards your legacy. Myth #1 - "Estate Planning is … [Read more...] about Debunking 5 Common Estate Planning Myths: Protecting Your Future with Facts
Estate Planning Missteps Can and Should Be Avoided
A wise man once said that “Experience is something that you get just after you need it.” Clearly, we learn from our mistakes, but these can be hard-won lessons. With this in mind, we are going to look at some of the commonly made estate planning errors in this post so you can learn from the mistakes that others have made. False Assumption About Medicare Most people are aware of the fact that they have to pay some out-of-pocket Medicare expenses. At the same time, they assume … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Missteps Can and Should Be Avoided
How Can an Estate Planning Lawyer Help?
A lot of people do not understand why an estate planning lawyer is necessary. All you have to do is download a will template from a website, right? In reality, this are many reasons why legal counsel can be invaluable, and we will look at four of them here. Choosing the Right Asset Transfer Method There are different ways to facilitate transfers after you pass away, and a will is not the right choice in many instances. First, there is the time factor. Do you want your loved ones to wait for … [Read more...] about How Can an Estate Planning Lawyer Help?
Avoid These Estate Planning Missteps
We have worked with families that are trying to deal with estate planning mistakes that were made by loved ones. Because of this experience, we are aware of the missteps that people commonly take, and we will share a couple of them here in an effort to raise awareness. Intestacy Surveys that measure the estate planning preparedness of Americans consistently yield disturbing results. Everyone is going to pass away someday, but the vast majority of people in this country do not have estate plans … [Read more...] about Avoid These Estate Planning Missteps
Estate Planning: Separate Fact From Fiction
People sometimes pass along “information” about estate planning that is untrue or incomplete, and this can lead to mistakes that yield negative consequences. In this post, we will look at a handful of estate planning myths that can lead you astray. DIY estate planning is a simple solution. You can buy generic, fill-in-the-blanks legal documents online, and these companies sell will and trust templates. They contend that anyone can plan their own estate using these products. There are a … [Read more...] about Estate Planning: Separate Fact From Fiction
Is a Handwritten Will Valid?
Most people do not have estate plans in place, and there are those that decide to take the matter into their own hands at some point. They will literally get out a pen and paper and record their final wishes, and they assume that the document will be valid. In order for a will to be valid in the state of Connecticut, the testator must be at least 18 years of age, and they must be of sound mind. They have to sign the document in the presence of two witnesses, and the witnesses must sign the … [Read more...] about Is a Handwritten Will Valid?
Five Reasons You Need a Lawyer to Plan Your Estate
The majority of American adults are going through life without estate plans, even though most people that reply to surveys say that planning is important. Since there is so much procrastination, there is a temptation to create your own estate plan to get it out of the way. This makes sense on the surface, and a lot of people roll up their sleeves to undertake DIY projects. However, you have to know where to draw the line, and you really shouldn’t take on some tasks that are better left to the … [Read more...] about Five Reasons You Need a Lawyer to Plan Your Estate
Can I Get My Estate Plan Online?
We are conditioned to think that we can do just about anything on our own with some type of tool that we obtain online. This mentality extends into the estate planning realm, because there are websites that sell generic legal documents of all kinds, including simple wills and trusts. Why would people rely on these sketchy “solutions” that sound too good to be true? The popular website Caring.com conducts research on an ongoing basis to gauge the estate planning preparedness of American … [Read more...] about Can I Get My Estate Plan Online?
Avoid These Three Estate Planning Mistakes
People often make estate planning errors that yield negative consequences. In this post, we are going to look at three of these common mistakes in an effort to raise awareness. Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning The websites that sell generic, boilerplate legal documents contend that you can plan your own estate using their worksheets and downloads. This can seem like a simple, affordable solution, but there are reasons why you may want to consider before you go this route. There are various … [Read more...] about Avoid These Three Estate Planning Mistakes
