Many of the dilemmas that sometimes come up with wills in Grambling, Louisiana, 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.

Drafting a will doesn't need to be a convoluted or particularly expensive process. If you have a small to moderate amount of assets (limited to a home, a car, and a few bank/investment accounts), and don't need to set up trusts or anything similar, you can probably have a will written in just a couple days, for a relatively small fee.

But even if the will is relatively simple, some preventable problems can derail the process. An accomplished lawyer in Grambling, Louisiana who specializes in wills and estate planning can help make sure that this doesn't happen to your will.

Most of the dilemmas that plague wills stem from failure on the part of the drafter to comply with the required formalities. These requirements aren't terribly complicated, but they have to be followed to the letter if a will is to be valid. Normally, wills have to be witnessed and signed by at least 2 people, and it must include a clear statement that the document is, in fact, a will. You should choose the witnesses carefully, because if they have any direct interest in the will, they won't count as valid witnesses.

Holographic Wills in Grambling, Louisiana

If you need to make a will quickly, some states authorize you to write a "holographic will." This is simply a will which the testator hand-writes. These types of wills don't need to be witnessed.

Holographic wills, assuming they're recognized, are interpreted very broadly. This gives them the best possible chance of really being implemented, since they will rarely be invalidated on technicalities.

You should be aware that not all states recognize holographic wills. In such states, you can of course still handwrite your will if you want. But for the will to be valid, it has to be accompanied by all the formalities (including witnesses) needed for any other will.

If your state recognizes them, a holographic will might be a reasonable option if you have a very small estate, and wish to make very simple devises. However, it is never a bad idea to at least have an attorney review your will for completeness and clarity, even if you aren't having the attorney draft it from scratch.

How Can A Grambling, Louisiana Lawyer Help?

Because of the various required formalities that accompany a will, it's not a bad idea to have a brilliant Grambling, Louisiana attorney help you draft your will, even if it is relatively simple.