As profiled in the two previous blogs, it is all too easy to make a mistake with a do-it-yourself document. Read on to learn more about the final two scenarios that can be problematic if you use a document you found online instead of consulting with an experienced California estate planning attorney.
Not Thinking Through Alternative Situations
It is important to speak with an estate planning attorney so that you can adjust your goals and plans based on various what-if scenarios. You want to avoid having your loved ones go through the process of having to file a legal claim or contesting the integrity and validity of your will in court.
Make sure you have carefully considered what will happen if individuals you name in your will are no longer around when you pass away. This is particularly problematic if you have a trust with a trustee or if you have named an executor who is no longer around.
You Did Not Sign the Document Properly
The last and most common mistake with a will template has to do with not signing it properly. If there were no signatures of witnesses, a family member could argue that this last known version of the document is not valid. This means that changes you have made since then may not be incorporated in your estate planning and this can be a major mistake that your beneficiaries are left reeling with after you pass away.
Do not hesitate to reach out to an experienced estate planning attorney to make sure that you have a document in line with your individual needs.
