Online Form and Instructions
Leaving a Will is one of the most responsible things
a person can do prior to their death. The ability to bequeath
certain assets acquired in one's life to their heirs and friends
is pivotal to the successfully probate of your estate. In general,
if you die without leaving a will, your estate is divided up and
disbursed in accordance with state law. Your assets may be divided
between parties whom may not otherwise wish to receive proceeds
from your estate. Therefore, a Will, regardless of the size of
your estate, is an important testamentary tool to leave for the
survivors in your life. Generally, you can give anything you want
to anyone you want as long as you were not under duress or incompetent
at the time you executed your will. Additionally, you can decide
who will administer your estate upon your death. This person is
called an executor or personal representative. Depending on the
size of your estate, probate may or may not be necessary. The
process of probate simply means that the Courts will have the
final say over the disbursement of an estate. Individual
circumstances will determine the need for this area of the law.
The most important this for you to do at this time is to have
an attorney draft a will that specifically codifies your wishes
to make ambiguity extinct.
In addition to leaving a will, you should also
have a durable power of attorney, living will and advanced medical
directives prepared. Each tool enumerates your desires should
you be unable to make decisions for yourself to do injury or disease.
Such directives may dictate whether you wish to receive food from
a machine if you are without brain activity (vegetative state).
Or if you are older, a directive may be to not perform miracle
life saving techniques (such as if you are a terminal cancer patient
and have a heart attack). Obviously, there is no way to give specific
advice as to your situation through this web site. Your circumstances
will require me to consult with you to discuss your goals and
your plans. Again, the elimination of any ambiguity is the primary
goal. Your life is set in paper, and if the documents are prepared
correctly, you will have the final say regarding medical treatment
at the end of your life or the disposition of your estate after
your life is over. You are never too young to begin the process.
Tragedy or disease can strike anyone at any age. If you would
like to discuss this area of law with me, please feel free to
fill out the Wills/Estate form.
CLICK
TO BEGIN THE WILLS/ESTATE QUESTIONNAIRE OR
Click
HERE to fill out the "General Response Form" and
I will contact you about your case.
INSTRUCTIONS:
This form spans 5 pages, required
fields are marked with an (R).
At the end of the form you will have the opportunity to review
and edit all of the information you provided on the form.
While working on the form, you may go back to previous pages by
using the back button at the bottom of the form, however answers
on the page you are currently working on when you click the back
button will NOT be saved and you
will need to re-enter the information, therefore I highly recommend
that you complete the entire form, then review and edit your answers.
You may NOT stop part way through
the form and come back to it later as your information will NOT
be saved for you. Should you click any links on the form
page, the linked page will open in a new window. Simply
close that window to return to the form where you left off.
Clicking a link from the form will not cause your information
to be deleted.
You will have
the opportunity to schedule an appointment with me for a real-time
Internet chat or phone call to discuss your case after you have
completed the form.
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