Wills Lawyer in Brooklyn Helping You Plan for the Inevitable

Most people don’t sit around thinking about death. However, just because you’re in good health now doesn’t mean you should be prepared for the inevitable. Accidents happen, and life can flip in an instant. Everyone should have a plan in writing. A wills attorney will work with you to properly prepare a will for your estate. A will is a legal document that goes into effect as soon as you die. Additionally, your will names the executor and any beneficiaries.

Generally, wills are straightforward documents you can create to protect your estate. That said, even the most straightforward legal documents can get complicated. Wills are no different. Creating a will without legal advice is risky. A will that is not prepared correctly may not hold up in court if someone tries to protest it. An estate planning attorney can help you plan for the future so that you can focus on today.

What is a Will?

Generally, estate planning can be a complex process—organizing property, assets, and who will be listed as beneficiaries. Spending days, even weeks, making tough decisions in regards to those you love. A last will and testament, commonly known as a will, is probably the most common estate planning tool used today. Your will directs what will happen to your estate when you die. A wills lawyer will help you assign an executor and beneficiaries and work with you to list out all of our assets and how you want them divided up. It may seem morbid to sit around deciding who should get your things after you die, but creating a will is a very important part of life. Without a will, you risk family members fighting or breaking apart if they don’t feel like the court has made a fair decision. The truth is, a will that is put together without the guidance of a trusted estate planning attorney may not hold up in front of a judge if the will is contested. A savvy estate planning attorney can ensure your will is filed correctly and that your wishes are followed in the future.

Why is Having a Will Important?

Having a will takes away a lot of the stress from your already hurting family when you pass away. Many people assume wills are only for the extremely wealthy, but the truth is that anyone over 18 who has any savings, assets, properties, or business interests should definitely have a will. If you don’t have a will, the court will decide how your belongings will be disbursed to your loved ones. A will allows you to specify who gets what when the time comes. Maybe you want to include your lifelong best friend, or you have multiple children from multiple spouses. A will allows you to decide how things are distributed. Going through this process today can make it easier for your family in the future. A Brooklyn estate planning lawyer can easily help you put together a will that fits your needs.

What Happens if You Don’t Have a Will When You Die?

Simply put, if you die without a will, the court will supervise the distribution of everything you own. More often than not, they will divide your assets equally between your children or spouse. If those aren’t options, it may go to a sibling, parent, or other close family members. In many cases, this isn’t how you would have ideally done it. An uncle you’re close with, or a childhood friend wouldn’t be guaranteed anything, and if you don’t have any relatives available, your belongings could be turned over to the state. Maybe you wanted to leave your favorite charity something? The court has no way of knowing that without a will. Additionally, without a will that specifies your wishes, there is a much greater chance of someone challenging the court’s decision, which would lead to probate and a potentially ugly trial. Probate is known for putting loved ones at odds as they plead their case for who should get which of your assets. The only way to ensure your loved ones receive what you feel they deserve is to seek the assistance of a knowledgeable wills lawyer who can get your plan in place today.

Are Estate Planning Lawyers Worth the Money?

While it may seem hard to justify paying for something that will be used after you’ve passed on, properly planning for the inevitable can save your family a lot of time, stress, and money. When you die, your family will already be going through a lot of pain. Having a will drafted with the help of a seasoned estate planning attorney will relieve them of the stress of figuring out what to do next. It will also speed up the process in which your loved ones receive the things you’ve left them. If you’re thinking about your family’s future, reach out to The Law Offices of Marjory Cajoux at 718-237-0411 to work with a trusted estate planning attorney on drafting your will or modifying an existing one.