Many of the issues that sometimes come up with wills in Litchfield, Illinois, such as contests brought by would-be beneficiaries, or devises which aren't clear on what they mean, can be avoided if the will is properly drafted in the first place.

If your estate does not have a large 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 be warned: even a comparatively simple will can encounter drawbacks in the drafting process, which can cause problems later on. An accomplished Litchfield, Illinois lawyer will considerably reduce the chances of this happening, if they help you in the process of robust 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 Litchfield, Illinois

In some states, "holographic wills" are legitimate. A holographic will is written by hand, in the testator's own handwriting. Such will do not need to have any witnesses to be valid.

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

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.

Making a holographic will is rarely the ideal option. But it's occasionally the only option. If you find yourself suddenly needing to make a will, a holographic will is definitely an option, if they're recognized in your state. If possible, though, you should still talk with an attorney, who can review your holographic will and suggest any fixes that will make it simpler to meet your goals.

How Can A Litchfield, Illinois Lawyer Help?

Because of the formalities that are required for most wills to be valid, it is normally a good idea to have a Litchfield, Illinois 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.