The Dangers of DIY Estate Planning
Posted on Jul 30, 2018 5:50am PDT
While it’s true that there are some really good companies with fill-in-the-blank
templates online, more often than not a DIY Estate Plan can be riddled
with error.
Instructions for do-it-yourself document creation software must be crystal
clear in order for the average person to successfully avoid making a costly
error. In fact, some forms, like healthcare surrogates or living wills,
are straightforward and can be completed online error-free without the
help of an attorney.
However, even minor mistakes can
mess up an entire document. A more complicated document, like a will or a trust, can mean something
completely different than intended if drafted incorrectly.
Webinar Video: Estate Planning Mistakes
The biggest problem with a DIY approach to Estate Planning is simple: you’re
not a lawyer. And even if you are, just as doctors don’t treat themselves,
lawyers generally don’t create their own documents.
Mistakes can be very costly to fix, and an Estate can easily get used up
from the legal fees in the aftermath of poorly-drafted documents. If you’re
tempted to do an Estate Plan yourself because the cost of a qualified
Estate Planning Attorney concerns you, weigh it up against the cost of
future litigation.
Related links: