Will Preparation in Hampton, Virginia

Find the right Will Preparation attorney in Hampton, VA

A lot of the pitfalls that plague wills and estate plans in Hampton, Virginia, such as contests by beneficiaries who think they got the short end, could have been avoided if the will had been better-drafted in the first place.

If your estate does not have a huge amount of assets, your assets are limited to cash and personal belongings, and you wish to leave all your property to your immediate family and friends, the process of drafting your will is likely to be fairly simple.

But even with "simple" wills, some easily-avoidable problems come up more often than they need to. A good Hampton, Virginia attorney can help you avoid these problems with careful will preparation.

With most wills, certain formalities have to be followed in the drafting process or will preparation, or else the will might not be valid. In general, these formalities exist with the goal of making fraud more difficult. The requirements for a will to be valid are pretty simple, but it's still possible to make mistakes in attempting to follow them. Most vitally, you should know that a will must contain a provision stating that the person making it is of sound mind, and actually intends the document to be a will. Also, the laws of most states require that wills be witnessed and signed by at least 2 neutral parties.

Holographic Wills in Hampton, Virginia

In some (but certainly not all) states, "holographic wills" can sometimes be treated as valid wills. A holographic will is just a will that is written entirely in the testator's own handwriting. They do not need to be witnessed in order to be valid.

A holographic will, where they are allowed, will generally be interpreted liberally, to give effect to the testator's intent if at all possible.

You should, however, know that not all states allow holographic wills. In such states, you can still hand write your will if you want, but all the formalities, such as witnesses, must be present.

If they are allowed in your states, a holographic will can be a good option, in some cases. If you do not have a large amount of money and property that you want to pass on, and your devises are going to be very simple (regular gifts to just a few people), a holographic will can suffice. However, you should seek the advice of a lawyer beforehand, and know that it is almost always a better option to have a will accompanied by all the required formalities.

How Can A Hampton, Virginia Lawyer Help?

Because of the formalities that must accompany most wills, it might be prudent to have a Hampton, Virginia attorney help you draft it.

Talk to a Wills, Trusts & Estates Law Attorney now!

Life in Hampton

Hampton is located in southeast Virginia, with a population of around 137,500 people. It is considered a major city and a part of the "Hampton Roads" area in Virginia. Neighboring waters include the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Popular attractions include Buckroe Beach, Buckroe Fishing Pier, Downtown Hampton Historic District, Fort Monroe, Gosnold Hope Park, Hampton History Museum, Jacques Cousteau Centre, Langley Air Force Base, New American Theatre, Old Point Comfort, and Sandy Bottom Nature Park.

Famous residents include Jefferson Davis, Jeff Parker, Jerry Roursh, Jim Burrow, Jimmy F. Williams, and Michael Husted.

Hampton is home to many practicing attorneys who manage small law offices and firms, and provide personalized legal services in most, if not all, practice areas. Therefore, residents are well-taken care of when it comes to tending to their legal needs.

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