Let’s admit the eternal truth of life: a person who was born on this planet will leave the world someday. We know wrapping your head around this fact can be difficult for most people. However, one has to admit this harsh fact someday. Once you comprehend this reality, the first thought that will pop into your head is to protect your heirs even when you will not be there by their side. Having a will that’s approved by you is going to help them a lot in the hour of their need once you’ve been gone! For a lawful will, having an estate lawyer by your side holds a lot of importance. In this article, you’ll learn why estate lawyers are so important for having law-bound wills. So, let’s begin!
What is the meaning of wills and estates?
Before you know about the protection provided by the wills and estates lawyers, you should understand what these terms stand for. A will is basically a legal document that conveys your desire for how you want your property and assets to be distributed. Alongside this, it also lists who’ll take responsibility for distributing the property.
An estate means the things that are owned by an individual at the time of their website. It includes different types of properties like real estate, investments, bank accounts, etc. You need to know that it also includes any liabilities and debts that have been accumulated throughout one’s life. The whole approach to managing and distributing the assets once someone is dead is commonly known as estate planning.
What happens if a person dies without having a proper will in place?
Dying without a proper will in place can have several potential risks involved. Without proper instructions to follow, the family of a deceased person might be in limbo and face many difficult scenarios over several disputes for the assets. In case a person dies without a will, they will be known as dying intestate. In that case, the properties and assets will be divided as per the rules laid out in the Succession Law Reform Act. There’s a high chance that these plans might not be what the deceased person might have had, but the family has to move on with what they get. However, most of the heirs will be left with plenty of stress and unmatched expectations.
What is the role of a wills and estate attorney?
If there’s one person who plays a big role in getting rid of the uncertainties, then that has to be a wills and estate attorney. They not only ensure the right distribution of the assets but also provide the much needed help to the family members in this difficult time period.
How can Will and Estate attorneys ensure justice?
Here’s how will and estate lawyers make sure that the heirs get what they deserve:
- First of all, these lawyers do expert drafting of the will. In fact, these lawyers are trained to draft the wills as per the requirements of their clients. Moreover, they have a great level of expertise in reviewing the will as well. These lawyers make sure that the will is legally binding, without any ambiguous words, and even represent the desires of the person. Due to this document, any chances of future disputes arising diminish considerably. The best part is this will is not going to give anyone any chance to challenge it.
- Do you know there might be many reasons which can result in the legal authorities terming your will as an invalid one? Some of the reasons can be the sign might not be properly done, the will-maker couldn’t understand the demands of their client. Alongside this, there can be certain evidence of having an influence when the will was being made. That’s why having a will and estate attorney by your side is so crucial. They will make sure that the will is properly prepared and executed appropriately. It will prevent any potential issues in the future that the family might face.
- Each individual’s requirements are different for making a will. That’s more of the reason a will lawyer is needed. In fact, estate planning requires tailored estate planning services as well. The lawyer can give you personalized advice as per your unique situation. The lawyer can suggest you set up a trust to protect your assets for children. Furthermore, they can also help you establish Power of Attorney documents to make astute decisions regarding your property.
- Handling an estate requires a lot of responsibilities to be executed and there are many legal obligations along with the duties. A lawyer will help you navigate this process by guiding you through the whole process. It involves paying undue debts and taxes and helping with any legal issues in the future.
- It doesn’t matter how much effort one has put in; issues can still arise over an estate or a will. The will and estate lawyer can use their experience and solve these issues.
- There can be many instances where the heirs might disagree among themselves regarding the interpretation of the will. With an experienced will and estate lawyer by the family’s side, they can mediate between the family and help everyone to reach a common consensus. In this way, a fair settlement will be reached among the all the heirs.
- In the event of a dispute leading to litigations, a lawyer can even represent the heir in court and represent their interests. With this approach, the right heir will get the assets and property that they deserve as per the will.
- The will and estate lawyers are also well-versed in strategic tax planning. They will reduce the tax liability and protect the estate’s value.
Final Thoughts
An estate lawyer is crucial to ensure that a person’s will is taken care of along with their estate once they’re no more in this world. Alongside this, these lawyers protect the heirs and the family from any wrongdoings or issues that they might face in the future. So, hiring a will and estate lawyer is a must if you want to protect your family.
