Do You Have a Valid Will? | Lawyer in Raleigh NC
Did you know that close to 70% of Americans do not have a valid will in existence? Though that might not come as a shock to some, many individuals understand how important it is to have their affairs in order, in the event of their untimely death.
Having a will in place offers advantages to everyone that might be involved, in the event of your death. A will can give you peace of mind, offering a way for you to name a guardian for your minor children, distribute property and belongings, and more. These are things that family members shouldn’t have to deal with after you pass. It will be a difficult time for them. Having a valid will to help distribute your belongings and share your wishes will take a burden off their shoulders during this very stressful time.
If you die without a valid will, your survivors might face an intense time-consuming legal process that often costs far more than hiring an estate attorney who can help you plan and create a will. Not having a will that documents arrangements made to distribute property and belongings to your family and loved ones, essentially leaves your estate to probate court. Probate court will divide your estate as they see fit, giving property to surviving relatives, even if you never intended for certain relatives to have specific property or belongings.
In addition, unpaid debts and death expenses will be paid and then legal guidelines will be followed, after that. This probate process can be expensive and could take much longer to complete than the dividing of assets through an estate plan would.
For more information on what might happen if you were to pass without a valid will, please visit back with our blog, soon.
If you don’t have an estate plan in place or haven’t reviewed yours in several years, now might be the best time to start. Our lawyer in Raleigh NC is here to help you get your estate planning in order and ready should you pass in an untimely manner or become incapacitated at some point. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to an estate plan. Contact our lawyer to get started estate planning, today.
