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DIY Wills
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Estate Planning
DIY Wills
<p><font size="1">Don’t know the difference between a living will and a trust? Ask others how you can make sure your estate is secure after you're gone, with advice and tips on how to write a will and more.</font></p>
I am thinking of using LegalZoom.com to write my own will. My assets are minimal with cash amounting to less than 20k. I own and live in a mobil home, which has minimal value. My question is whether o
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Cat:827966ee-6d39-4ef7-98a5-0157a43092f8Forum:d1b3584a-513f-457d-a932-697b385c7ff9
Cat:827966ee-6d39-4ef7-98a5-0157a43092f8Forum:d1b3584a-513f-457d-a932-697b385c7ff9Discussion:8c70235a-10fe-499a-9178-ce703bac1744
Forums » Money » Estate Planning » DIY Wills
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DIY Wills
posted at April 23, 2012 12:37 PM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: April 23, 2012 Last: April 23, 2012 |
I am thinking of using LegalZoom.com to write my own will. My assets are minimal with cash amounting to less than 20k. I own and live in a mobil home, which has minimal value. My question is whether or not I could undertake this task myself. |
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Re: DIY Wills I have a question for all
posted at September 24, 2012 5:33 PM EDT
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Posts: 3
First: October 22, 2011 Last: September 28, 2012 |
my husband and I moved from Ga to Mi to be closer to my parents who are getting older and need help with some things. We wanted to be here before they needed us for everything. We had used Legalzoom while in Ga to make power of attorneys and Healthcare Directives, ie, living wills when my husband was diagnosed with cancer. They were notarized and accepted everywhere from financial to medical. Now I am wondering if they are still good in Mi and if it is safe to create durable powers of attorneys and Healthcare Directives for my parents. I cannot afford what a lawyer wants to do this and legal zoom is so easy. Any suggestions, anybody used them also?, Help, I needed guidance and the local court house nor the state aging places seem to know anything. thank you all in advance. |
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Re: DIY Wills
posted at November 27, 2012 11:02 AM EST
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Posts: 10
First: November 27, 2012 Last: March 11, 2013 |
I would caution against Do It Yourself wills as there is too much that could go wrong and is ultimately not worth the risk as cleaning up a mess takes way more time and money then preventing a mess in the first place. Estate planning attorneys will work with you on price and you can find one that will charge a reasonable fee. There are other sources such as legal services and wills clinic that may provide them for no charge. The durable power of attorney and healthcare directives are valid in a new state if they were validly executed in the old state. A hospital or other healthcare facility may provide a healthcare power of attorney and living will at no charge. Evan Guthrie Law Firm 164 Market Street Suite 362 Charleston SC 29401 843-926-3813 |
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Re: DIY Wills
posted at January 14, 2013 1:51 PM EST
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Posts: 1
First: January 14, 2013 Last: January 14, 2013 |
In Response to DIY Wills: I am thinking of using LegalZoom.com to write my own will. My assets are minimal with cash amounting to less than 20k. I own and live in a mobil home, which has minimal value. My question is whether or not I could undertake this task myself. Posted by skeezix202 I did use Legal Zoom for my will (5 years ago prior to a surgery) and was very pleased with the results. I used WORD to organize my thoughts and then transferred it to their paperwork. They put it into legal jargon. I am currently updating the same will. Adendum will have to be notorized as well. In NJ, will is submitted after death. My sister has a copy. |
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Re: DIY Wills
posted at January 15, 2013 7:31 PM EST
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Posts: 1
First: January 15, 2013 Last: January 15, 2013 |
In Response to DIY Wills: I am thinking of using LegalZoom.com to write my own will. My assets are minimal with cash amounting to less than 20k. I own and live in a mobil home, which has minimal value. My question is whether or not I could undertake this task myself. Posted by skeezix202 I recently took a class in Estate Planning at a local college. We discussed using on-line sites to do it ourselves as you are planning. One warning-there are several sites that are facing lawsuites. Not sure of the details, however, you might want to check this out before you go ahead. |
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Re: DIY Wills
posted at January 16, 2013 1:38 PM EST
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Posts: 1
First: January 16, 2013 Last: January 16, 2013 |
After extensive research, I found that wills are not the way to go because they require probate courts, lawyer costs, and take a period of months, if not a year or more, to settle, End result, the financial aspect of the person is drained by the probate procedure and little is left for the end results tor the recipients mentioned in the will. That is why I and my better half created Trust Funds to handle our estates (we are a blended family) and now our estate goes exactly where we want it to go and there is no probate situation, i.e., no taxes due upon our death to federal, state, local governmental entities. In addition, the trusts are also our living wills and powers of attorneys, thus further protecting our assests. Look into it and then make your decision. |
Forums » Money » Estate Planning » DIY Wills
