There are countless reasons to make or update your
will,1 and the process can look very different depending
on the lawyer you hire. You must ensure that your lawyer is fluent
in estate planning and is also able to spot and protect against
areas of potential litigation down the road. But what, exactly,
does the process look like?
First, you will need to make a few significant decisions. Before
you take any formal steps, consider your choices for estate
trustee(s) and guardian(s) of your child or children, and the
beneficiaries of your estate.
Next, you will need a lawyer. You may have seen advertisements
for "will kits" or online will drafting services. These
services do not consider your personal situation or plan for
various circumstances, nor do they consider the best way to manage
your assets. Since you likely do not have expertise in estates law,
you will not know whether there are any errors, mistakes, or
problems, or things you may have missed.
