Last Will and Testament
Every state has its own laws regarding drafting, signing, and the enforcement of a last will and testament. While there are plenty of financial reasons for people to make wills, making them is often fraught with emotional considerations. Questions like who inherits, what is inherited, and why someone inherits are all answered during the will drafting process.
Legal Consideration is Most Important
A will legally protects your spouse, children, and assets after your passing. It accomplishes this by spelling out the division of your assets following your death. With minor exceptions, no other legal document exists with which you can share your wishes and have those wishes be legally binding on everyone, including the government.
Every Person’s Family is Unique
There are circumstances that are unique to an individual’s household. At death, the decedent may leave property to:
1) minor children or,
2) an incapacitated parent or sibling for who he/she was financially responsible.
To ensure continuity of care or support, a will provides for these individuals directly; moreover, a will provides them access to resources that will help in their care or development.
Going to Court Takes Time
All estates, whether you die with or without a will, must go through the probate process. The probate process completes the transfer of assets from the decedent to the beneficiaries. The probate process, especially if the person died without a will, or intestate, is lengthy and costly. A will speeds up the probate process, cutting steps and reducing costs of closing out the estate.
“You Get Nothing”
A will allows an individual to exclude someone from receiving assets from the estate. You have the right to disinherit people from your will; people who would otherwise be eligible to receive a share of your assets under California law.
California Wills Must be in Writing
For a will to be valid in California, it needs to be in writing and signed by an individual over the age of 18 who is also of sound mind. California does not recognize oral wills and are therefore invalid. When a person dies without a will, the state divides the decedent’s estate equally among the decedent’s heirs; this may include distant relatives. When a person dies without any relatives, the estate goes to the state.
Affordable Way to Handle Small Estates
Some individuals know exactly what they want to do with their assets following their death. Such individuals do not require the services of an attorney. These individuals can greatly benefit from the services of a legal document assistant’s office such as IntegriDocs.
Legal documents prepared by a California Legal Document Assistant, a non-attorney alternative for the preparation of your will, can help you divide your assets among your beneficiaries and cut or eliminate costs like attorney’s fees. IntegriDocs is more than qualified to assist you in preparing your last will and testament at an affordable rate. Visit us online today to get started.