I Don’t Have Any Assets; Do I Need a Will?
Far too many people view wills as something that only the wealthy have or need. They figure that there’s not much to distribute among their belongings, nothing of real value, so a means of distributing their assets isn’t really necessary.
The truth is, everyone has assets, and without a will, you can leave your heirs in the dark having to deal with frustrating and expensive probate processes at the darkest time in their lives. Learn about end-of-life planning, why the answer to “Do I need a will?” is yes, and how a wills and estate planning attorney can help get your affairs in order.
Do I Need a Will?
The truth is that yes, it’s very likely that you need a will. There are a lot of things that come up when you die, and even if you don’t have a lot to pass around, you will have an estate that needs to be settled. You could build up medical bills that need to be paid. In cases of an accident, there could be a settlement that creates a sizeable award to your estate, as well as generating costs.
If you die out of state, administrative bonds could rack up expenses that will need to be paid. You may also be shocked at the assets you do have. Your home, your car, even that old family heirloom you thought was just sentimental value could be worth hundreds or thousands of dollars.
What Purpose Does a Will Serve?
A will isn’t for you. It’s for the people you leave behind. A properly executed will leaves the distribution of affairs in your estate in your hands.
Without a last will and testament, your estate is going to be divided up by the state, and often only after a lengthy and expensive probate process. In other words, the state may take a hefty cut, and at very least those you leave behind are going to struggle with the process in a time when they should be focused on grieving and putting the pieces back together.
Isn’t It Expensive?
This is another misconception about wills. Some people forego creating one because they think there’s a complicated and expensive legal process that goes with it. Nothing could be further from the truth. While you can do it yourself simply by listing what you want and having two people sign it before a witness, then having it notarized, you run the risk of missing something that way.
Hiring an attorney to help you with your will needn’t be expensive at all, and an attorney can work with you to make sure that nothing is overlooked and all your bases are covered. Your best bet really is to talk to an estate lawyer and wills attorney to get your affairs in order.
Montana Estate Planning and Wills
If you live in Montana and need help with estate planning, the wills attorneys at Tanko Law are here to help. We’ve got decades of combined legal experience under our belt, focused on elder law, estate planning and asset protection. Whether it’s a will or trust, we can help you and work with you to control costs as well. Give us a call today.