The New York Times Blog featured a great post last week. Entitled, “Getting a Will: Six Common Questions,” it supports the over-riding question that we've been addressing for month: Should I make a will? In case you're still filled with more questions than answers, the post may address some of your own concerns, including:
- 1. When Do I Need a Will?
2. Can I Do It Myself?
3. Do I Need More Than Just a Will?
4. What About a Revocable Trust?
5. How Else Can I Avoid Probate?
6. Where Should I Keep My Will?
Here's our favorite excerpt from the post, relating to whether or not an online, DIY will is ever appropriate:
- “… do-it-yourself wills can be completely invalidated because of simple mistakes…such as failure to name an ‘alternate’ executor of the will.”
Yet another reason to consider an attorney-review option when shopping for a will online. In fact, our Smarter Will team posted that point in the article's comment area that was quickly highlighted as the editor's favorite. Even well-researched journalists haven't fully grasped the middle ground in the DIY vs. law firm war of wills: online, yet still attorney-reviewed is the missing link. “WHERE should I make a will?” is not as important as “HOW should I make a will?” Make sure that an attorney is a part of the process, whether it's online or off.
Still stuck on the most fundamental “Should I make a will” question? Feel free to refer to our Why You Need a Will in Illinois introduction to Smarter Will for answers.
