What is the best way to make up a Will?

With everything that is going on, I decided it was time to make a up a Will, but I have no clue how to do it or who to go to. How much does it cost and how long is it good for?

This really is depressing.

I went to a lawyer but I believe there are other options that are cheaper. A will is good until you write another one to replace it. It is such a necessary thing but a downer to take care of. My husband and I need to change our wills due to family issues but I keep putting it off.

You can buy Will kits in most stationary stores. However I used to be a paralegal and have done up a whole lot of Wills for people, and can tell you that there is no substitute for going to a lawyer and having done there.

There are clauses that you may not be aware of, and if you want your Will followed and to hold up in court if it's contested, it's better to get it professionally done.

Also, don't forget to make provisions for your pets And it's best to not use the names of your pets because chances are you will out live the pets that you currently have and will have different pets when you die. If you have named specific pets in your Will, the pets that you do have are not covered. I'd suggest wording along the lines of "Any pets that I may have". And indicate a monthly amount for food and medical care for the life of the pets. Make sure that you have stated that when that pet dies the allotted money is to revert back to the Estate and be disposed of in accordance to your wishes either divided up between your heirs or given to a charity that you have named.

I don't know how much it is to draw up a Will at law firm, but back when I worked at one it was usually between $75 and $250.00. It depended on the complexity of it.

With the way things are going, if something does happen to my mom, my dad may soon follow, and I will have to draw up one soon to make sure that I have one if something should happen to me.

I may just leave the money and house to my best friend. She has always liked it here. I know one person who will take one cat so I need to make sure they all have homes they can go to.

I'm already depressed and this isn't helping, but it needs to be done.

Originally Posted by laureen227

well, then the online one i used was well worth it. it had a place for pet provision, specific bequests, etc.
no one's likely to contest mine - i just wanted to have something in place for the cats.

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I'd go to a lawyer, just to make sure nothing is missed.

I wouldn't find it depressing... think of as making it sure that there's no worries about that stuff in the future. A relief of sorts.

I did mine with a lawyer. I have a copy of it but the original is kept in their vault.

We worked a deal with a lawyer downtown here...we fixed his file backup system in exchange for having our wills and power of attorney papers filled out. We even filled out the form regarding our wishes should one of us be in a vegetative state (think Terry Shiavo).

I'd say, call around to local law offices and see how much they might charge for it and compare that to what places online are charging.

Either way, good luck!!!!

I had a lawyer do mine as well. It is one way of assuring that it is a legal document without question.

This website can help to teach you about how you can do advance planning: http://www.caringinfo.org/

I'm looking into these things myself lately after having lost a few too many friends that were only in their 40s.

As soon as our daughter was born we had a Will drawn up by a lawyer. At that time it was only about $75. The lawyer was amazing, he had all the legal knowledge to add portions that would cover any future children we had so that we wouldn't have to make another will, etc.

My recommendation would be to pay out the extra few dollars and get it done through a lawyer and then you know you have a legal document that will stand up to any scrutiny.

There's another good site: www.legalzoom.com

It is depressing, but once you have done it it takes a load off your mind, and you never need do it again unless you want/need to change something. But I agree to getting it done through a lawyer - they may ask questions you had never thought of. And then you have total peace of mind.

here is a website I found for a kit to fill out it only costs about $20 then you have to have it filed with a lawyer.

http://www.findlegalforms.com/produc...h-no-children/

I sent you a pm about Wills

BTW some lawyers/sites can charge up to $700 for preparing a will!