Will Preparation in Manitowoc, Wisconsin

Find the right Will Preparation attorney in Manitowoc, WI

A lot of the dilemmas that plague wills and estate plans in Manitowoc, 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 Manitowoc, 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 Manitowoc, 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.

If your state permits 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 Manitowoc, Wisconsin Lawyer Help?

Because of the formalities required in drafting wills, it's never a bad idea to have a reliable Manitowoc, Wisconsin 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 Manitowoc

Manitowoc is a city located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. It is also the county seat of that county. As of the 2000 Census, Manitowoc has a population of approximately 35,000 people. The area now known was Manitowoc has been continuously populated by humans for thousands of years. It was first settled by people of European descent in 1835. Manitowoc has the interesting distinction of being the crash site of a Soviet spacecraft, Sputnik 4. The crash occurred in 1962, and involved a 20-pound piece of a much larger spacecraft. Nobody on the ground was injured, and the spacecraft itself had nobody in it. Today, there is a historical marker on the spot where the piece hit, and a cast of the part was made before it had to be returned to the USSR. The cast now sits in a museum in Manitowoc. Manitowoc is home to a zoo, as well as several historical sites, art museums, and parks, providing many recreational opportunities. If you live in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and need an attorney, it's likely that you'll be able to find one. Manitowoc, Wisconsin lawyers can handle just about any case you might have.

Clients Rate LegalMatch Attorneys
(click to read reviews)

Regel B.
Regel B.

Wills, Trusts and Estates

Caldwell, LA

Brad M.
Brad M.

Wills, Trusts and Estates

Sussex, NJ

David L.
David L.

Wills, Trusts and Estates

Ashland, OH