Will Preparation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Find the right Will Preparation attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania there are various problems that can rear their heads, derailing the process of drafting or executing a will. Frequent examples include ambiguities in the language of the will, leading to conflicts and challenges. Most of these issues can be staved off through quality drafting.

The procedure of drafting and executing a will can be very simple with the average estate which has only a moderate amount of assets held in only a few locations (a couple bank accounts, a house, maybe a stock portfolio). This is also true if the decedent simply wants to give their property to a few immediate family members, without setting up a complicated trust arrangement.

But be warned: even a comparatively simple will can encounter delays in the drafting process, which can cause problems later on. An accomplished Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 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 especially, 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 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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.

But you should be aware that not all states authorize holographic wills. In these states, you are still authorized to hand write your will if you so desire, but they must be accompanied by all the formalities necessary by the law of that state.

If they are authorized in your states, a holographic will can be a good option, in some cases. If you do not have a massive 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. Nonetheless, 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 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Lawyer Help?

Because of the formalities required in drafting wills, it's never a bad idea to have a seasoned Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania attorney help in making your will. Even if your will is quite simple, and you have all the formalities figured out, it's still easy to make mistakes without a good once-over by a professional.

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

Life in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is known as "The Steel City" for the extensive steel trade that fed the city's economy through the 1970s. Some folks know Pittsburgh as "The City of Bridges" because it's positioned at the confluence of the Allegheny River and Monogahela River. The Allegeheny and Monogahela Rivers combine to create the Ohio River. The three waterways create the triangular shape of downtown Pittsburgh. There are more than 450 bridges within Pittsburgh city limits. Today, Pittsburgh is home to a number of high tech companies that specialize in everything from robotics and biotechnology to internet startups. Pittsburgh is home to a number of corporate headquarters who are responsible for many downtown skyscrapers. Tied for the 8th most Fortune 500 companies, Pittsburgh is home to PNC Financial, U.S. Steel, H.J. Heinz Company, WESCO Internations, Mylan Labs, CONSOL Energy, PPG Industries who supply paint and optical coatings, as well as Dick's Sorting Goods who operate over 408 national retail locations. Pittsburgh is a major manufacturing city but that doesn't mean they don't have world class entertainment and culture available. The Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the ArtGardens are just a few options that locals have. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra calls Heinz Hall home. Heinz Hall also hosts a number of other concerts like Bruce Springsteen and other natural disaster aid concerts. The rap song "Black and Yellow" by Pittsburgh's Wiz Khalifa is one example of great local musicians. George Benson, Perry Como and Christina Aguilera all hail from Pittsburgh or Pitts suburbs. No wonder Pittsburgh is ranked consistently as "one of the most livable places in the United States."

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