While it may be tempting to try to plan your own estate and write your own will, there are a number of reasons why this might not be such a good idea. It’s better to hire someone who specializes in estate law in Chico, CA and who is be familiar with all the laws so that he or she can make sure the estate plan is legally binding.
Complex Laws
Estate law in Chico, CA can be a bit confusing. Each state has its own laws, and an estate planning lawyer, such as Attorney Raoul J. LeClerc, can help make sure any plan is in accordance with local laws. For example, some people don’t realize that only certain people can be designated as personal representatives in some states. Naming an ineligible person will cause problems when it comes time to enforce the contents of the document.
Complicated Situations
There are a lot of families with complicated situations, which can make it difficult to plan an estate and write a will. These difficult situations for estate planning include having children, disabled family members, divorces, plans to leave some or all of the estate to charity, owning property in multiple states, owning businesses or having been married multiple times. The attorney will be able to advise a person on how to create documents that will result in as much of the estate going to the intended beneficiaries as possible and limit the amount of money that needs to be spent on probate attorneys or go to the IRS in the form of taxes.
Regular Updates
Some people think of wills or estate planning as something that only needs to be done once, but this isn’t the case. Situations change, making it necessary for the estate plan to be revised or updated. Look for a lawyer that offers this type of service will ensure that the will or estate plan is always up to date.
