Wills

Do I Need a Des Moines Will Lawyer?

Though you can attempt to draft a will on your own, doing so is taking a huge risk. Wills are very complicated documents, and though there are several online will-writing kits available, you should understand that without an attorney on your side, you are open yourself up to a wide array of potential pitfalls. If you make a mistake while drafting your will, when you pass on, your family will be left to sort it all out, and will most likely end up hiring an attorney themselves. Why not simply be proactive and leave something as important as drafting your will to a professional?

Why Do I Need to Draft a Will?

There are several reasons why everyone should draft a will. To start, you should understand that you are never too young to write up your will. Even if you are not particularly established financially, you most likely have far more than you may think. Some of the primary reasons why people create wills are as follows:

• You can predetermine who will receive your assets upon your passing. The primary purpose that people write wills is to ensure that their loved ones will receive their assets when they pass away.
• You can appoint an executor. The person you appoint as an executor must be someone you wholeheartedly trust. Essentially, your executor is the person who will administer your estate. This means that your executor will be in charge of spearheading the probate process, ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes, and ultimately, closing your estate. This is a lot of responsibility, so you must choose wisely.
• You can appoint a guardian for any minor children you may have. This is especially important for younger people who are holding out on writing their wills because they do not believe they have many assets. In your will, you can appoint one or more guardians for your child who will have the duty of caring for and raising your child, should you and the child’s other parent be unable to do so on your own. If you fail to appoint a guardian and you and your spouse cannot raise your child either due to incapacitation or you both pass away, the court will have to appoint a guardian to raise your child. The court will try to select the best option for your child, but no one truly knows what’s best for your child other than you.

If you fail to create a will, it is known as “dying intestate.” When this happens, the court will have to appoint an administrator to handle your estate matters, determine who gets what assets, and more. Simply drafting a will can save your family time, money, and emotional distress so they can focus on what matters most when the time comes. Speak with a Des Moines estate planning lawyer today.

Contact a Des Moines Will Lawyer

The bottom line is that writing a will is something everyone must do, no matter their age, financial situation, or otherwise, and our firm is here to help. Contact Herting Law, PLLC today so we can get started.