Will Preparation in Madison, Wisconsin

Find the right Will Preparation attorney in Madison, WI

A lot of the issues that plague wills and estate plans in Madison, Wisconsin, 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.

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 an intricate trust arrangement.

Nonetheless, even with "simple" wills, there are a few prevalent stumbling blocks that frequently make things far more difficult down the road. Fortunately with proper will preparation, most of them are easy to avoid, with the help of a good attorney in Madison, Wisconsin.

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 truly intends the document to be a will. Additionally, the laws of most states require that wills be witnessed and signed by at least 2 neutral parties.

Holographic Wills in Madison, Wisconsin

If you need to make a will quickly, some states permit 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.

If holographic wills are valid in your state, courts will, as with any will, have to figure out what is truly being said, and resolve ambiguities. Because holographic wills are not always written under ideal conditions, they have to be interpreted very liberally, so they can be given effect and not fail for technical reasons.

You should know that not all states recognize holographic wills. Of course, you could still handwrite your will if you desire; but to be legitimate, it would have to be accompanied by all of the formalities (witnesses being the big one) of any other will.

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 speak 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 Madison, Wisconsin Lawyer Help?

Because of the formalities that must accompany most wills, it might be advisable to have a Madison, Wisconsin attorney help you draft it.

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

Life in Madison

Madison, Wisconsin is the capital of the state of Wisconsin. It is also the county seat of Dane County. It has a population of over 235,000 people, making it the second-largest city in Wisconsin.

Madison is known for being a classic example of the "college town" - with a laid-back atmosphere, large numbers of restaurants and bars, andindependent retailers,most of which cater to the student demographic. The presence of University of Wisconsin, Madison also means that the population ofMadison, at least during the school year, tends to be fairly young, on average, giving the city a very vibrant and diverse feel.

The largest employers in Madison are the Wisconsin state government, as well as the university.These twosectors provide relatively stable employment, pay reasonably well, and tend to provide good benefits. Together, they makeup a solid economic base forMadison.

In the last decade, Forbes Magazine has consistently ranked Madisonas one of the best places to live in the United States. It is also ranked among the healthiest cities in the United States by various health magazines.

Thanks to its fairly vibrant economy, and unique culture, Madison, Wisconsin has a robust legal community. Madison, Wisconsin lawyers are diverse and well-educated, partially owing to the fact that UW Madison has a very well-regarded law school.A Madison, Wisconsin lawyer can probably help you with almost any legal issue you might face.

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