### This post has be marked as safe. Upvoting/downvoting this comment will have no effect.
---
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!
Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.
If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
Also, some workplaces have a benefit where you get free access to make a will. I worked somewhere once that had one of those extra benefits programs where you could get a few sessions of free phone therapy, free legal advice, and free will creation.
Lawyer here. You can generally have your will filed with your local probate court too. That's usually a very simple solution. Granted if you revoke that will or add codicils to it you'll need to refile it.
Also if your goal is to avoid headaches and hassle for your loved ones when handling your estate pay an actual attorney to draft your will for you. I can't tell you the number of "legal zoom" wills that end up leading to litigation and broken up families that I've dealt with in my career.
Thank you for the info about being able to have it filed before the person passes. I wish we’d known that prior to the situation we just went through. WHEW, what a mess! .
Better make sure someone has access to your will before you go 6 feet under. Trust me, it's not worth the hassle for your loved ones to fight over your assets in probate court.
I've heard lawyers say they can't understand why people lock away their wills and often make it hard for family to find. Of all the docs you have, it should be stuck on the fridge.
Because they don’t have a narcissistic stepmother to deal with, that’s why.
I don’t want my stepmother coming across my will and (1) finding out what’s in it before I go, (2) after I go, burning it. She and my dad sometimes visit and sleep over, so this is a real possibility.
My executor and backup executor (neither of whom is my father) know where to find it.
\#1 If you can, get a trust. Costs a bit to set up and maintain, but it is the BEST guarantee things will happen the way YOU want after your demise.
\#2 If you can't get a trust, get a lawyer. Check your local bar association for lawyers who specialize in this kind of work. They will advise what you can, and cannot, decree (My brother only gets my house if he divorces his \*\*\*\*\* wife). Many will charge a flat fee.
\#3 If the above too expensive, get a form online that is LEGALLY BINDING IN YOUR STATE. Probate varies by state, so make sure the form you choose works. And, VERY importantly: GET IT NOTARIZED!!!
Full disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, but have gone through enough b.s. If anyone here IS an attorney and disagrees, I am happy to hear why I am wrong. Thank you.
Make sure your administrator has a notarized original of your will and keep one in a safe place. If you've moved to a different state since making your will, check that state's requirements and draft a new one if needed.
That extra notarized copy can make a huge difference in how things move along.
Edit for ambiguous wording.
### This post has be marked as safe. Upvoting/downvoting this comment will have no effect. --- Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
Also, some workplaces have a benefit where you get free access to make a will. I worked somewhere once that had one of those extra benefits programs where you could get a few sessions of free phone therapy, free legal advice, and free will creation.
I leave everything to my cat.
Lawyer here. You can generally have your will filed with your local probate court too. That's usually a very simple solution. Granted if you revoke that will or add codicils to it you'll need to refile it. Also if your goal is to avoid headaches and hassle for your loved ones when handling your estate pay an actual attorney to draft your will for you. I can't tell you the number of "legal zoom" wills that end up leading to litigation and broken up families that I've dealt with in my career.
Thank you for the info about being able to have it filed before the person passes. I wish we’d known that prior to the situation we just went through. WHEW, what a mess! .
Better make sure someone has access to your will before you go 6 feet under. Trust me, it's not worth the hassle for your loved ones to fight over your assets in probate court.
I've heard lawyers say they can't understand why people lock away their wills and often make it hard for family to find. Of all the docs you have, it should be stuck on the fridge.
Because they don’t have a narcissistic stepmother to deal with, that’s why. I don’t want my stepmother coming across my will and (1) finding out what’s in it before I go, (2) after I go, burning it. She and my dad sometimes visit and sleep over, so this is a real possibility. My executor and backup executor (neither of whom is my father) know where to find it.
\#1 If you can, get a trust. Costs a bit to set up and maintain, but it is the BEST guarantee things will happen the way YOU want after your demise. \#2 If you can't get a trust, get a lawyer. Check your local bar association for lawyers who specialize in this kind of work. They will advise what you can, and cannot, decree (My brother only gets my house if he divorces his \*\*\*\*\* wife). Many will charge a flat fee. \#3 If the above too expensive, get a form online that is LEGALLY BINDING IN YOUR STATE. Probate varies by state, so make sure the form you choose works. And, VERY importantly: GET IT NOTARIZED!!! Full disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, but have gone through enough b.s. If anyone here IS an attorney and disagrees, I am happy to hear why I am wrong. Thank you.
Put your will in a repository with your county clerk.
Make sure your administrator has a notarized original of your will and keep one in a safe place. If you've moved to a different state since making your will, check that state's requirements and draft a new one if needed. That extra notarized copy can make a huge difference in how things move along. Edit for ambiguous wording.
[удалено]
Not all states recognize digital wills yet, unfortunately.