Lets talk will/legal advice.

[OtisBlkR1]

Im searching out information for making my first "last will and testament" & no im not on my death bed

Can you go to a local government agency (courthouse, annex,etc) and pick up the forms needed to create your own last will/living will ?

or do you have to pay, online services, local lawyer etc ? I would think that there must be a way of placing your last wishes and how you want your estate passed on or distributed without paying someone to do it, or paying for the documentation to do it.

Awhile back i was speaking to a friend that mentioned a Holographic will, however there is no statute in Indiana for this.. and im not finding alot of information on the web.

Any BITOG's know anything about this topic ? I can spend the money but something like a will seems like you should be able to do it without cost.. atleast to me it does..

Information ?
Opinions ?

 

[simple_gifts]

Dibs on the Ninja.

 

[simple_gifts]

FWIW; I paid years ago (a lawyer friend) to write one up. As you probably know, varies by state. At the least others need to be involved to witness it is not being done under duress.

 

[OtisBlkR1]

I agree, i would think that you could write it up yourself and take it to a notary and have it stamped and that would cover you.. however im not posting the question because i already know the answers..

 

[Papa Bear]

Talk to a lawyer who specializes in challenging Wills and you'll learn a lot.

A Will is a great thing unless someone contests it then you'll find where the difference lies between a well-done Will and a homemade one.

 

[LoneRanger]

Use an attorney that has the know how. That is what I did last year. $300 but I consider it worth it.

 

[demarpaint]

That's something I wouldn't mess with or have done on the cheap to save a few $$. Have an attorney who knows what he's doing draw it up, it'll be money well spent.

 

[AdmdeVilleneuve]

OtisBlkR1, from the number of vehicles in your signature it would appear you have a sizeable estate. It would not cost much to have a family law attorney to put a will together with you. The end product will be superior to a generic "fill in the blanks." The whole reason for the will and an identified executor/personal representative up front is to make it easier on your family after you are gone. And make sure the Ninja goes to who you want to get it.

Distributed the last of my parent's estate this past month; fairly simple due to good planning. On the other hand my best friend died in August without a will. He had just returned home from the hospital (recent heart attack), and I was the last person to see him. While talking about "stuff" that day he assured me his brother was all set, and going to take care of everything. Problem is he had been separated from his wife for several years, and never divorced. Lots of other problems, which equals a lot of expense now. Because of no will, it all got dumped in his wife's lap to sort out.

I strongly recommend an hour with an attorney. It will be worth it for your family/friends after you are gone.

 

[OtisBlkR1]

well, i see a trend here..

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Originally Posted By: AdmdeVilleneuve
OtisBlkR1, from the number of vehicles in your signature it would appear you have a sizeable estate.


LMAO.. thats all the room in the Sig ! I have other toys not listed

With that said its my insurance and my property (my home and land) that most concerns me. I dont want any argueing when im gone (hopefully a long ways down the road yet) I have two young children at home and i am penny pinching on alot of things if i can while one is still in diapers and formula.. I thought as long as my basic wishes were on paper that should be "good enuff" well, maybe not.. I will ask around about a good lawyer and fair prices for this kind of thing.

thanks for the input.

 

[IndyIan]

We had ours done by a lawyer, it wasn't too much and they keep the official copy. It's also a way to get some free advice for simple matters atleast.

 

[dkryan]

Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1
.. however im not posting the question because i already know the answers..


Huh???

Then why did you even post?

 

[Eddie]

I bought legal software and followed the instructions. When finished, I had it witnessed at the Notary.

 

[dkryan]

Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1

LMAO.. thats all the room in the Sig ! I have other toys not listed

With that said its my insurance and my property (my home and land) that most concerns me. I dont want any argueing when im gone (hopefully a long ways down the road yet) I have two young children at home and i am penny pinching on alot of things if i can while one is still in diapers and formula.. I thought as long as my basic wishes were on paper that should be "good enuff" well, maybe not.. I will ask around about a good lawyer and fair prices for this kind of thing.

thanks for the input.


Wow! "......other toys not listed,...... my home and land concern me most, .....two young children at home,.... I am penny pinching a lot of things......."

And you want to "penny pinch" on a will? Really??

Tell us BITOGERs, exactly when were you elected to Congress?

 

[expat]

I had mine done by a lawyer.

But, to go

I had always thought I should have my family Bid on who should inherit my estate.

None of them 'need' the money, and really I don't care who gets what. Personally I'd be happy to die with $2.50 in the bank, but unless I get a terminal illness with a fairly accurate time line, there will be a good deal more than that.

It would be interesting to see who would make the gamble.

Heck! I could sell the idea to a reality TV show, and put some more $ in the pot

 

[OtisBlkR1]

Originally Posted By: dkryan
Originally Posted By: OtisBlkR1

LMAO.. thats all the room in the Sig ! I have other toys not listed

With that said its my insurance and my property (my home and land) that most concerns me. I dont want any argueing when im gone (hopefully a long ways down the road yet) I have two young children at home and i am penny pinching on alot of things if i can while one is still in diapers and formula.. I thought as long as my basic wishes were on paper that should be "good enuff" well, maybe not.. I will ask around about a good lawyer and fair prices for this kind of thing.

thanks for the input.


Wow! "......other toys not listed,...... my home and land concern me most, .....two young children at home,.... I am penny pinching a lot of things......."

And you want to "penny pinch" on a will? Really??

Tell us BITOGERs, exactly when were you elected to Congress?




Yes, I have alot of toys.. Im also almost 40yrs old and purchased most of them before my first child was born, My oldest is almost 4 years old and my youngest is 7 months.. I havent purchased any new toys since my boy was born, most of my extra "penny pinching money" goes into higher education funds for my kids.. so any way i can avoid added monthly expenditures like $300 for a piece of paper.. is a plus in my book.. and yes my home and land are important to me, i would prefer they are not sold off and kept in my family when im gone, and when i pass somebody is going to get a life insurance check.. i would hate for there to be any argueing over that.. Congress you say ?, yeah right.. I work a extremely dangerous job on the GS payscale (im a GS 8) so im nowhere close to rich or loaded.. However i did provide security for a Senitor once.. guess that means im rubbing elbows with the Washington elite ehh ?

 

[mattwithcats]

Three things to have,

First a "a living will" or "advanced medical directive", stating who can make decisions for you if you are unable.

Second a power of attorney, preferably a limited one.
The difference is a general POA let's someone do anything with your estate,
a limited spells out what they can do, for example, sell your car...

Third, a last will and testament, notarized, and witnessed...
Clearly state who gets what, and how much...

 

[GreeCguy]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
Talk to a lawyer who specializes in challenging Wills and you'll learn a lot.

A Will is a great thing unless someone contests it then you'll find where the difference lies between a well-done Will and a homemade one.


+1

The money you spend having a lawyer creating an air tight will will be money well spent. It will save your heirs a possible headache and your wishes will be carried out. (It's surprising how many times I used "will" in writing about a "Will").