Why You Need an Estate Planning Attorney
You might think that you do not need professional assistance for your estate plan because you know who you want to get what. There is more to estate planning than that.
It is actually easy to create an estate plan for yourself. You can simply write your own will, directing who should get what pieces of property. If you execute that will properly with witnesses and signatures, your will can be probated.
If you are not certain that is the best idea and would like a little bit more help, download some prepared forms to fill out from an online service at a low cost. The ease of doing that might make you think that an estate planning attorney is not necessary. However, there are other reasons to see an attorney, as the Huntsville Item points out in “Do you really need an estate planning attorney?”
Those other reasons include:
- The estate planning attorney knows about property law and how different types of property are handled differently by courts. If you do not get this correct in your will, your estate can face difficulties.
- There are different types of estate planning documents that do different things. Estate planning attorneys can help you pick the right ones for your unique circumstances.
- Estate taxes are still a concern at the federal level for many people and in several states. A professional is needed to properly plan around them.
- The attorney can also help craft your estate plan in a way that compliments your other financial goals, often including paying less in taxes.
Reference: The Huntsville Item (May 21, 2018) “Do you really need an estate planning attorney?”