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Here’s why you don’t want a DIY will

On Behalf of | Nov 10, 2022 | Wills

Estate planning has been on your mind for a while now and you’re ready to get to it. The first thing you want to do is create a will, and you’re considering a do-it-yourself version. 

This is certainly lawful in Virginia, but is it advisable? Not really. DIY wills are prone to problems. Here are just a few questions you need to carefully consider before you commit to that route:

Is the template right for your state? 

DIY will templates can be purchased online for relatively small amounts of money. This may seem great at first, but is it really this simple? A DIY will site may guarantee to meet all of your demands. The problem is, this is a message that is being sold to multiple people across the country, not to you specifically. 

Estate planning laws vary from state to state, and the legislation in Virginia is very specific. How can you be sure that a DIY will template is going to tick all of the right boxes and use the appropriate legal language for your state? 

Are your circumstances complex? 

You have a blended family with children from different marriages. You want all of your children to benefit from your savings and assets should something happen to you. A generic DIY will may not be flexible enough to do this. It is possible to include different clauses in your will that account for everyone you love dearly, but this is not easy to achieve when you go it alone. 

DIY wills can be counterproductive and the safest way to ensure that your needs are met is by seeking some legal guidance as you make plans for the future.