Why should I have a will?

Here are a few reasons you should have a last will and testament:

• A will allows you to choose who gets your assets when you die. If you don’t have a will or a trust, the state will determine who gets what from your probate estate.
• A will allows you to choose who will be in charge of your estate when you die. In Arizona, this person is called your personal representative. If you don’t have a will or a trust, then the state will determine who should be your personal representative.
• If you leave money to someone who is under the age of 18 years, the court will likely appoint a conservator to be in charge of the inherited funds until that person turns 18. With a will, you can create a testamentary trust so that your underage loved ones can receive any bequests “in trust,” making a court appointed conservator unnecessary. Within your will, you would nominate a trustee to be in charge of the testamentary trust until the beneficiary turns 18 and is able to manage his or her own money.
• In a will, you can specify who you would like to be the guardian of your underage or disabled children should you die or become incapacitated.
• Having a will to refer to when you die may give your loved ones peace of mind knowing that they are following your wishes.

How to avoid Hiring an Expensive Trusts and Wills Attorney

In Arizona, you can hire an Arizona Certified Legal Document Preparer (“AZCLDP”) to prepare your last will and testament or trust instead of spending a lot of money on a trusts and wills attorney.  Please visit my Services page to find my inexpensive, flat fees for the preparation of wills and trusts.

The information on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice.