Drafting a Will or Power of Attorney? Here’s Why You Should Hire a Lawyer
There is no substitute for consulting with a lawyer who can provide legal advice that is correct, current, complete, and customized to your particular situation. In this day and age of do-it-yourself online document preparation, the lure of quick and easy seems alluring, and it also appears to cost less. The problem is that the documents prepared by these online cut-and-paste sites may not be as effective as one custom-created by an attorney.
The process of preparing a Will, contract, or other legal document is not as simple as filling in the blanks on a standardized form. In limited circumstances, a “standard” form is an acceptable, cheap alternative. However, most of the time, using downloaded legal forms is risky. In important matters, the last thing people want is mistakes in their legal documents. Even small errors can have big ramifications.
For example, we represented an estate in which the deceased person left his entire estate to his “children.” The problem was that he had no biological children; all of his children were stepchildren. The individual used an online website to prepare his Will, which did not ask the correct questions and then left the man’s estate to his “children.” This critical mistake cost the family significant time and money to rectify the situation. Petitions needed to be filed, hearings held, and a lot of other legal work had to be performed in order for the “children” to receive the inheritance that the deceased intended.
Lawyers do far more than “fill in the blanks.” They ask questions, they search for nuances that could arise, and make certain that the documents they prepare are appropriate for and tailored to their clients’ particular situations.
That’s why when you need documents prepared you should contact an attorney who will ask the right questions now and avoid situations that can create major problems down the line. If you need a Will or other estate documents prepared, send us an email or give us a call at (610) 446-3457. We will listen to you, ask questions, and do everything we can to draft documents that meet your needs.
