Do-it-yourself Wills

In our culture today a lot of people are into the DIY or "do-it-yourself" mentality, and the fact is that in many cases doing it for your self is a very good thing. Whether or not it is the right course of action for a given task probably boils down asking yourself these questions:

How complex is the job?
How much time is it going to take?
How much money will I save by going it alone
How much will I enjoy doing it?
How severe are the consequences if I botch the job?

These days you can find information about any subject on the Internet, and though this too is a very positive step forward, it is said that a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing. When you apply the above questions to estate planning and the drawing up of a will, you will find that it really does not pay to do it for yourself.

A will is a legal document that states the final wishes of the deceased, and like the drafting of any legal document there are details involved that the layman may not consider. The will is going to have to pass through the process of probate, where its validity will be determined. The probate or surrogate court would also be the venue for any challenges to the validity or terms of the will. Since probate lawyers make a career out of handling these matters, they know how the probate courts work. When they assist clients in creating wills they are drafted with the realities of probate in mind.

When you go back to our qualifying questions, the fact is that drawing up a will is complex to the extent that it takes experience and savvy to do it correctly, and just how complicated it can be depends on the case. It will take you quite a bit of time to research every aspect of probate law. Estate planning attorneys actually charge very reasonable fees considering the level of expertise involved. Few people enjoy muddling through a lot of "legalese." And finally, if you do not create a will that is valid, binding, and complete, your family can be left struggling through probate for months, and your true wishes may never be understood and carried out.

The fact is that no law prohibits you from drawing up a will on your own. So yes, you can go the DIY route, but most would agree that it is best to place important legal matters in the hands of a professional.