Will Preparation in Dubuque, Iowa

Find the right Will Preparation attorney in Dubuque, IA

In Dubuque, Iowa, many of the problems that sometimes come with a will, such as would-be beneficiaries challenging its validity, or devises which don't make it clear who gets what (resulting in costly and time-consuming litigation) can be avoided if the will is well-drafted in the first place.

If your estate doesn't contain a lot of money and property, and you only want to leave your assets to a few individuals, making a will can be pretty simple.

However even with "simple" wills, some easily-avoidable problems come up more commonly than they need to. A seasoned Dubuque, Iowa 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 legitimate. In general, these formalities exist with the goal of making fraud more challenging. 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 notably, you should know that a will must contain a provision stating that the person making it is of sound mind, and really intends the document to be a will. Furthermore, the laws of most states require that wills be witnessed and signed by at least 2 neutral parties.

Holographic Wills in Dubuque, Iowa

In some states, testators are authorized to make "holographic wills." This is a will which the testator hand-writes, in his or her own handwriting. Such wills do not need to have any witnesses to be given effect.

Assuming that a holographic will is valid in your state, a court will probably interpret it very liberally, acknowledging the fact that it likely wasn't written by a lawyer. This is to make it much easier to really give your wishes effect.

You should, however, know that not all states authorize 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 your state authorizes them, a holographic will might be a good way to go in some cases. For instance, if you don't have an unusually large amount of money, and simply want to leave your assets to close family members, or even to a single person (such as a spouse), it probably wouldn't be a problem. Nonetheless, even in cases like this, it's never a bad idea to make a will with the help of a lawyer.

How Can A Dubuque, Iowa Lawyer Help?

Because of the formalities that are required for most wills to be valid, it is normally a good idea to have a Dubuque, Iowa attorney help you make it, or at least go over it after you have written it, to make sure there aren't any problems with it.

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

Life in Dubuque

Dubuque is the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa. It is situated along the Mississippi river, and has an estimated population of just under 60,000, placing it in the top ten largest cities in Iowa.

Dubuque is one ofthe oldest settlements west of the Mississippi River. The firstEuropeans toset foot in the area were French missionaries commissioned by the French government to establish a new colony in North America, and map the unexplored areas beyond the colony's borders. Theyreached what is now known asDubuque in 1673. The first permanent settlement in the areawas established by Julien Dubuque, who arrived in 1785 and gave the area its present name.

The area has rich deposits of lead, and Dubuque quickly grew in wealth and population, with its economy revolving around mining. Today, the economy of Dubuque, Iowa is fairly diverse, based on tourism, publishing, and various high-tech fields. Dubuque, Iowa attracts visitors with its beautiful natural scenery, and many fascinating historical sites.

If you live in Dubuque, and need an attorney, chances are excellent that you'll find a Dubuque, Iowa lawyer who can handle whatever case you're likely to face.

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