Do you absolutely need to have a lawyer for a will? One of the most frequently asked questions that lawyers tend to get is concerning this question. The short answer is no. However, as with most legal questions, the full answer may be a bit more complex. Here are the true facts of the matter.
You Don’t Need a Lawyer for a Will, But It Helps
You don’t absolutely have to have a lawyer present to draw up your will and witness it on your behalf. You can still make a legally binding will even with no outside help of any kind. There are several “do it yourself” options that you can research. If you feel the need to do it all yourself, you really can.
But should you? There may be a thousand tiny details involved in the parceling out of your estate with all of its various assets. You may be of sound mind and body, but you probably can’t think of every last detail all at once unless you have an ironclad memory. This is one reason you may need a lawyer present.
You may be able to create a will that your family and the court may be willing to accept. But unless you include every last detail, you may be setting your heirs up for a long series of legal battles. Moreover, the assets you desired to leave to your family members may be exhausted thanks to ongoing legal fees.
Your Lawyer Will Help Your Family Avoid Legal Battles
The main reason for you to hire a lawyer is to do your will right the first time. This is most likely not the kind of legal action that you want to indulge in more than once in your life. Sifting through all of your various assets to decide who gets what can be a tedious process. A lawyer will streamline it.
If you really don’t want anyone else involved in the creation of your will, you may at least wish to use your attorney as a notary. This will be the quickest and best way to give your will an extra level of legal finality, even without their official consultation.
The Time to Make Your Choice is Now
As outlined above, you don’t legally require a lawyer to be present as you draw up your last will and testament. But for the sake of your family as well as your own peace of mind, it’s a good idea to hire one. You may be leaving your family open to years of legal battles due to mistakes or omissions you didn’t notice.
This is why it’s always best to do it right, once and for all. For a nominal fee, a lawyer will gladly go over the contents of your will. They will help you correct any errors so that it can pass through the court system with no hitches. This is the way for you to make sure you have provided for all of your loved ones.