online will

You’re most likely familiar with the basics of what a Last Will and Testament is: it is a legal document which ensures that your loved ones are taken care of if anything happens to you.  An online Will (sometimes also known as an online will form) eliminates the need for a lawyer by providing you with the guidance and knowledge you require to complete your Will from your home.

Making a Will online allows you to create your Will by using a will form which guides you through a series of questions and produces your Will for you.  You then print out your Will and follow proper steps regarding witnessing, signing and storage.

One of the great things about online Wills is that you can usually log back in and change your Will easily if your circumstances change.  For example, if you want to change your appointed Executor you can simply log back in to your online Will account, change your Executor, and print out a new Will for signing.  This is much more cost-effective, faster, and efficient than going back to see a lawyer to make a change to your Will.

If you feel that you can answer some straightforward questions and do not require the guidance of a lawyer, then an online Will would work for you. A Will created online carries the same weight as a document created by a lawyer, provided that it follows the same basic required steps (for example, being witnessed and signed by independent witnesses). There is no legal requirement that a lawyer witness or write up your Will.

An online Will would work for you if your estate is fairly straightforward and you do not have complex issues to deal with (e.g. property scattered in several jurisdictions, a multi-million dollar estate, etc.) that may be better dealt with through a lawyer rather than through an online Will form. When you create and print out your online Will, you simply sign off with some independent witnesses and you have completed your Legal Will.

 

 

write a will

Want to know how to write your own Will?  It’s actually more straight-forward than you think.  The following items should be included when you write a Will:

  1. Your Name
  2. Your Location
  3. Listing who your Executors Will be
  4. Specifying how you want to divide up your Estate
  5. Listing your Beneficiaries
  6. Appointing Guardians if you have minor children
  7. Your Signature and Date
  8. The Signatures of your Witnesses

 

The reality is that you know you need to have one, but for various reasons, you keep putting it off. This is usually due to the following: a) a lack of money to see a lawyer b) a lack of time to see a lawyer c) it’s an uncomfortable process to think about. The last reason involves going over some hard but necessary questions to think about.  While you mull over the hard questions to think about, you may also want to consider the alternatives in having a lawyer write your Will out for you. There are a few different options for writing a Will.  One of these is a holographic Will which is a handwritten document created by you outlining where you want your assets and items to go after you have passed on. A handwritten holographic Will can be problematic for several reasons: you may not have included all of the proper items that are needed to write a Will; you may not know the basics on how to validate your Will; you may not understand the legal terminology that goes into writing a Will; and a handwritten Will can lead to disputes surrounding the authentication of your writing.

Other alternatives to write a Will can include a Will kit or online Will software. Using a Will kit, as opposed to Will software, typically involves a blank fill-in-the page Will book. It may be a generic type of one size fits all type of kit which does not address the various situations you may find yourself requiring a Last Will and Testament for. In addition, a Will kit may not be updated with laws and regulations the way online Will software can. In the event of changes to laws, you may find that you have to purchase an updated Will kit to ensure that the Will you create is properly updated.  In contrast, online Will software can be continuously updated using advanced technology.

Using online Will software or an online Will form would provide a better alternative to a generic Will kit. Will software programs can also better guide you through the process of how to make a Will by going through each online page in a clear and readable format. Basic answers to legal terminology is usually available at the click of a button. Will software can help you to write your Will by guiding you through the difficult questions about what would happen if you pass on.  For instance, who would inherit your assets? Who would be your beneficiaries? Do you want to leave any specific gifts to particular individuals? Do you want to leave charitable donations? Do you have a guardian in mind for your minor children? Speaking of which, what about leaving assets in Trust? There are many questions to ponder when it comes to creating a Last Will and Testament. Will software or online Will forms may be the best choice to go with as an alternative to a lawyer.

 

Canadian savings plans

 If you’ve ever dreamed of winning a fortune through the lottery or inheriting millions through some rich deceased relative, then you’ll probably find this story interesting:

Marlena and Victoria Laboz are the daughters of the now deceased New York real estate magnate Maurice Laboz. They are both set to inherit $24 million dollars (out of a $37 million dollar fortune) in the wake of their father’s death in 2015, but only if they follow the strict rules and conditions set out in his Last Will and Testament. This isn’t just another story of some young kids who squandered their fortune, but an interesting case study of how those who are deceased can still affect the lives of their loved ones from beyond the grave.

Both Marlena (age 21) and her sister, Victoria (age 17), have a laundry list of rules to follow if they want to see a penny of their late father’s money before the age of 35. They are set to receive $10 million by the age of 35 but that money could roll in earlier, IF they follow these rules:

1) Both daughters receive $500,000 upon marriage prior to the age of 35 IF their husbands agree to sign a prenuptial agreement.

2) Each daughter receives another $750,000 if she a) graduates from an accredited university, and b) writes a 100-word essay on what she plans to do with that cash (the trustees appointed by her father are supposed to voice their approval before releasing those funds).

3) If gainfully employed by the year 2020, the two siblings are each set to receive three times their annual income (as listed on their tax returns).

4) They earn the same amount if they stay at home, to be caregivers to their mother.

5) If one (or both) sibling chooses not to work (because neither of them will have to) AND they have children, they will continue to receive 3% of the value of their trust.

The remainder of Laboz’s estate and assets will be given to charitable organizations.

Unsurprisingly, Marlena and Victoria are unhappy with this situation, and as of August 2015, they brought the matter to court to contest the Will. Joining the sisters is their mother, who was cut out of Laboz’s Will prior to his death (Laboz was in the midst of divorcing his wife when he died). It’s unclear how much money she is seeking from her late ex-husband’s estate.

On the one hand, a Testator has the right to lay down the rules of how he or she wants his money allocated, but on the other hand, should the pair have to jump through a series of hoops in order to effectively claim their father’s legacy?