Creating a simple will online may seem like the quickest and cheapest way to carry out your wishes, but there are many things that can go wrong if you choose to go this route. Like any legal process, creating a simple will involves complexities and requirements that only an experienced attorney can address, and choosing to fill out a simple will form in North Carolina without the assistance of an attorney opens you up to a great deal of potential complications.

Only estate planning attorneys, like those at the Parker Herring Law Group PLLC, can provide the best guidance for preparing a simple will that addresses all of your personal desires and wishes. Without legal guidance, your simple will sample that you found on your own may fail to address important aspects of your life — leaving them up to the court and the state and causing much trouble for your family after you die.

The only way to effectively complete a simple will in North Carolina is by working with an experienced attorney. To start the process with the Parker Herring Law Group, please call our law firm at 919-821-1860. We offer reasonable flat fees for couples and individuals. Click here to view our fee structure.

What to Know About Simple Will Templates Found Online

As you start your research into simple wills and the process of creating one, you will likely see many websites advertising “simple will forms – printable,” “examples of simple wills,” and “free simple will forms.” You may think that downloading a simple will online and filling it out on your own will be enough to protect your assets and family after you die. This could not be farther from the truth.

Your simple will is unique — which means that you cannot find a simple living will form online and expect it to address all of your needs for estate planning. Leaving this important step up to simple last will and testament templates you find online is a dangerous thing to do and can actually cost more money for your family in the long run than working with an estate planning attorney from the beginning.

Several issues may arise when you create a simple will online:

• Estate planning is not “one size fits all,” so a generic simple will form may not do you or your loved ones any good. If there are mistakes in your will, the survivors you intended to protect and take care of could end up spending thousands of dollars arguing over the validity of your will in court.
• Laws regarding estate planning vary from state to state, which means that each state has its own rules regarding the execution of wills and other estate planning documents. If your will is not executed according to the laws of the state in which you reside, many courts will find that your will is not valid. For example, in North Carolina, the person making the will is required to sign the will in the presence of at least two witnesses, but some states require three witnesses.
• “Do-it-yourself” websites, software and simple will samples are not adequate to address everyone’s individual needs. In fact, most of these materials contain a disclaimer that the information provided is not legal advice and should not be substituted for legal advice. Usually these programs also recommend that you seek the help of an estate planning attorney at the same time that they advertise free simple last will and testament forms.
• You pay for what you get. Even though it may seem as though you are saving time and money by preparing a simple will online, the long-term results may not be what you expect or intend. It is very important that you have a strong, valid will and that you work with an estate planning attorney to ensure that your wishes are carried out efficiently and effectively after your death.

A will is one of the most important estate planning documents, especially as you get older and you experience major life changes such as marriage, divorce and the addition of children to your family. Do not take a chance on doing it yourself with free will forms and risk leaving your loved ones to deal with major issues regarding your estate.

The time and money you invest in the services of an estate planning attorney will more than pay for itself in the future. Rather than hoping that your free simple will form found online will cover what you need it to, you should always work with an experienced estate planning attorney from the start. This way, you can secure the peace of mind of knowing that your family and your assets are protected should something happen to you, and that they will need not deal with the complexities of North Carolina intestacy law after you are gone.

Our wills and estates attorney at the Parker Herring Law Group PLLC can walk you through a simple will form to protect your assets and family, just in case. To learn more about our simple will program and to start writing a simple will today, please call 919-821-1860.