Online Will info
 

Anyone use an online legal service to prepare a Last Will and Testament?


We are leaving the kids with Grandma for a little trip in a couple of weeks and I have never took the time yet to prepare for the worst.

Any info would be appreciated.

I'll second your question. I've been meaning to do the same, but don't really wish to pay a lawyer to prepare basic documents. Hopefully someone here has a good answer.

Check out NOLO press (www.NOLO.com) or Legalzoom (www.legalzoom.com) if you want to do it yourself.

if you have very substantial assets requiring tax sheltering and trust creation, you absolutely want to see an estate planning attorney

if all you need is a basic will, a lawyer should be able to do this for you for $150 and no more than that.

if you want to do it yourself, you can use software like Quicken Lawyer. It is "possible" you might find this software at the local library. When I have used such software to generate a "simple" will, I got it from the law library...you have to be a lawyer to get a library card at my local law library though....

if your will really is simple, I give all my crap to X, and if X is dead, then Y. I want Z to be my executor. I want my parents to be the guardians of our children if me and the wife are hit by an asteroid, if my parents are dead then X to be guardian

...then I see no reason why you cant just type it up and makes sure it is witnessed in accordance with the laws of your state...some require 2, some require 3 witnesses, etc...

I have not seen any free will making programs on line that i would trust

Yeah, it's your kids. Not a time to cheap out. You are probably want to establish a guardian for the kids and an executor for your estate. When the kids were younger we had a designated guardian, and then a different person to manage the finances for them until they were college grads. Otherwise, you are turning over the cash to them when they are 18.

I used Legal Zoom. I was going on a long trip and waited til the last minute to prepare a will.

It was pretty easy and it asked good questions about the kids and how I wanted them taken care of and then it sticks all the info in the will. I'd recommend it.

I initially looked at Legal Zoom, then decided to ask the Pelican Brain Trust.

I need to do something quick and then get a local lawyer over the next few months to review everything and do it right.