In today’s day and age, online will-writing kits are available to all, which causes many people to wonder, “do I really need to hire an attorney to write my will?” The answer is, absolutely, yes. Please continue reading and speak with our experienced Pennsylvania estate planning attorneys to learn more about why everyone should draft their will with the assistance of an estate planning attorney. Here are some of the questions you may have:
Why do I need an attorney to write my will?
While yes, you can, technically, draft your will without the assistance of an experienced Pennsylvania estate planning attorney, the truth is, you open yourself up to a slew of potential legal pitfalls. In fact, anyone who knows anything about estate law will tell you that choosing to go it alone may be one of the most irresponsible decisions you can make. Even if you are a great writer and believe you have an understanding of what you are doing, the truth is, even a simple misphrase can drastically alter the outcome of your will, and your assets may not be distributed according to your wishes as a result. Furthermore, you should understand that the cost of hiring an attorney is nothing compared to the headache and financial cost of fixing your mistakes after your passing, so hiring an attorney now will save both you and your family time and money in the long run.
What should I include in my estate plan other than a will?
The first thing that you should understand is that simply creating a will is not enough. There are various other facets of estate planning that can benefit you and your loved ones in the long run. For example, you can create trusts, guardianships, powers of attorney, and more. Guardianships are particularly useful if you are a parent, as you can establish who you would like to care for and raise your child, should you and your spouse become unable to do so on your own. Additionally, powers of attorney are also extremely important documents, and they have many different functions. Essentially, depending on the power of attorney, they can give a trusted individual the right to make certain medical decisions on your behalf, manage your finances, and more, should you ever become incapacitated or otherwise unable to do so on your own. If you have any additional questions, all you have to do is pick up the phone and give us a call today–we are here to help.
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Friedman Schuman Layser is an experienced and dedicated legal resource for clients throughout Pennsylvania. We proudly serve clients facing a wide range of legal matters. If you require the services of an effective attorney, please contact Friedman Schuman Layser today to schedule a consultation.