A will is a legal document that outlines your wishes for the distribution of your assets after your passing, and when it comes to making sure that your family is adequately cared for when you die there’s no substitute for a properly and thoughtfully drafted will and estate plan.
There are plenty of DIY will kits or online templates that promise to give you a quick and easy will in no time at all. The fact is however, that estate planning can be an incredibly complex task, with real legal and financial consequences for your family.
With that in mind, it makes no sense at all to do anything less than a thorough job when preparing your will. The difference in cost between a will kit or online solution and a lawyer drafted will is often negligible, and the consequences of an improperly prepared will can have considerable financial or other consequences for your estate.
Here Are Some Of The Key Benefits Of Having A Lawyer Drafted Will:
Expertise
An Estate Planning Lawyer will have specialized knowledge of the laws surrounding wills and estate planning. This means that they can ensure that your will complies with all of the necessary legal requirements to ensure that your will is valid, binding, and optimally drafted. Preparing a will can also require multidisciplinary knowledge in other areas of law, such as tax law, superannuation law, family law, and property law.
Customisation
Everybody has a different family situation, and everybody has a different set of assets and liabilities. By seeing an estate planning lawyer, a will can be custom drafted to your individual and family circumstances to ensure that your wishes are carried out.
Avoidance Of Disputes
A well-considered and thoughtfully drafted will can help to minimize the chances of your estate being challenged, leaving your beneficiaries with less than you hoped to provide them with. Potential claimants against your estate can include partners, ex partners, other family members, dependents, or people in a close personal relationship with you.
Peace Of Mind
By working with a specialised estate lawyer, you and your family can rest assured that your estate plan has been properly considered, and that your will truly reflects your wishes. This will give you the comfort in knowing that when you do pass away, you’ve received the right advice, prepared the correct documents, and that your family will be protected.
While this is list is just a start, there are countless benefits to having a lawyer prepare your will. At Thornton + King, we have a specialized estate planning team who have prepared thousands of wills and estate plans. We’d love to help you to prepare your will and provide you with peace of mind. Give us a call or submit an enquiry now.
