It is important for every person, regardless of their situation, to begin planning for the future of their assets and property after they pass away. Oftentimes, the simplest and most direct way to accomplish this is to create a will. Serving as a versatile estate planning arrangement, wills inform your heirs and the probate court about your future wishes.
Therefore, drafting a will that meets legal standards and carefully accounts for all your assets is crucial. Thankfully, a St. Charles County wills lawyer could help you plan for your future, no matter how complicated your family situation might seem. A diligent estate planning attorney could explain the laws that govern the construction of wills and draft compelling documents that leave no room for other people to doubt your intentions.
What Might a Will Discuss?
There are two main things that any well-crafted will needs to discuss. To begin, the document must encompass the entirety of testator’s estate, meaning that it should include their personal property, cash assets, real estate, and business holdings. This means that a preliminary step in drafting a will involves isolating or tracking down those assets. Legal representation could help with this key stage.
Then, one of the other main focuses of a will is to create a document that transparently outlines the destination of all property and assets. The arrangement needs to list each heir without confusion; heirs could include either adults or children.
It is essential to speak as directly as possible when naming one’s heirs since any errors during this phase could lead to a probate court challenging the validity of a will. A detail-oriented St. Charles County attorney could help draft wills that adhere to the two main goals.
How to Legally Form a Will
When comes to the creation and required content in a will, state laws are rather flexible. However, there are some characteristics that every will must contain. While a probate court would likely consider almost any writing or verbal statement to be a will, drafting these documents in a way that meets all the established legal standards helps to shorten probate and lessen the likelihood of legal consequences.
According to Missouri Revised Statute § 474.320, a will needs to be in writing. It must also contain the signature of the testator and the signatures of two witnesses who observed the testator sign the document. If a will meets these criteria, the law presumes the document to be valid. A knowledgeable St. Charles County lawyer could provide more information about the legal process of creating a will and help a family get started.
Let a St. Charles County Wills Attorney Help Plan Your Future
An important portion of any comprehensive estate plan is your will. These documents inform a probate court as to who you want to inherit your assets after your death and who you want to serve as the executor of your estate. For the most part, you are free to insert any language into your will that you want but being as detailed as possible is always advisable.
A St. Charles County wills lawyer is ready to help in both these areas. They could work with you to explain the purpose of a will, identify your assets and heirs, and draft documents that carry the necessary legal impact. Reach out today to schedule your initial appointment.