Wills

mummy2girls wrote: So how do you go about doing one? I want to do one concerning Jenna and such because of some crappy things that have surfaced the past couple days... is there will kits? I do not owe anything but i do want to figure some things out about Jenna....

lisar replied: Yes there is a kit you can buy. You can also go and see a lawyer they will do it also. Do a search for it. There are alot of diffrent ones so look thru them. A lawyer will draw up exactly what you want though. Thats the way me and dh went. We also made it clear in there who got the kids and the way the life insurance was to go. I had some put into savings for them that they can have when they turn 21 and some goes to the person who gets the kids to care for them.

lovemy2 replied: GET A LAWYER TO DO IT FOR YOU.................I have worked in this field for 14 years, do it right, get an attorney to ensure it is correct for Jenna's sake........

amymom replied: I agree get an attorney to do it. That way all the t's are crossed and I's dotted, nothing left out. When Lee and I did it, we paid $125 for simple wills that showed who was the guardian of our children, born and unborn. It covers it all....

Hillbilly Housewife replied: Kits are fine... heck you could write in on a napkin and have someone witness it, and it would be just as good.

BUT - a lawyer would ensure that everything is covered, and it's a little hard to say that a will was faked when it's bene notarized....

It's not very expensive. My mom does them.

J-rod replied: we are going to be doing one soon....we just have to wait to see our lawyer together.

TheOaf66 replied: we don't have one but then again we don't really have anything to pass on but debt our only concern would be the kids but they would probably go to one of our parents so...Tanner is listed in my 401K and such but other than that we don't have things people would want

Jackie012007 replied: this is something I've been worrying about since Carly was born - do I need one? I'm 22, unmarried, I have nothing of value, no big inheritance coming my way or anything - but should Carl and I have one anyways because of her? Can we get one even though we aren't married??

Calimama replied: We went through your family lawyer. It couldn't have been more than about 200 dollars.

Calimama replied:
Our will is talking about who would raise Bella if something should happen.

stella6979 replied: Speaking of wills, would you considerate it to be inappropriate to list someone as the caregiver of your child without asking that person first if they'd want that responsibility?

kimberley replied:
yes i feel that would be very irresponsible. it is unfair to the person and the child and leaves a lot of chaos behind after you are gone. cross your t's and dot your i's.

i have also been told will kits are junk. you need a lawyer to clarify exactly what you want so there is no confusion later. nothing worse than someone passing and the grief stricken relatives having to deal with red tape and paper work.

mummy2girls replied:
im not goign to do that..of course ill ask but anyways it will be her dad takign her..not my first desicion but by law nothing i can do

mummy2girls replied:
im not goignt o do that believe me im not...

stella6979 replied:
Oh, I didn't mean to imply that you would, I was just wondering...out of my own curiosity.

kimberley replied:
me either. i was just responding to her question. i answered your will question in the other thread.

holley79 replied: Dh and I had an attorney draw one up when Annika was 3 months old. I spoke with my sister in length of being the caretaker of Annika is should something happen to us. She was fine with it. I am also the stand in caretaker of Catelyn should something happen to my sister. She had hers drawn up before C was born due to her line of work. She also was scared that if something happened to her when she gave birth she wanted to be sure C was covered.

mom21kid2dogs replied:
Ditto. Especially if you expect "complications", you'll want to be sure all your legal bases are adequately covered.

lovemy2 replied: I am not sure about in Canada but in the US, a Will written on a napkin isn't a valid Will.....sorry, a true "Holographic Will" (a will written in your own handwriting) has certain requirements....like being in the military in battle, etc. etc....otherwise in NY anyway they have to be witnessed by two non party witnesses with proper witness affidavits, etc. so in your child's best interest have an attorney do it....

And as for the people who think they don't need a Will because they have "nothing"....if you have children, you have something.....if there is no Will your child could end up in foster care until it is sorted out....believe me, people do very strange things when money and/or custody of children are concerned and if you have a 401K, life insurance, something like that - you have something and someone will need to manage it for your child...so be sure that it is in writing PROPERLY!!!!

blue72 replied: Do the lawyers you hired to draft you will address the best way to handle your assets (estate planning). What is the best way to handle 401k assets that are getting sizable. Should a trust be estalished??? What assistance can a lawyer provide in this area. I just don't want the goverment to end up with all the money we have worked so hard to save. Do you do estate planning 1st and than meet with a lawyer or can a lawyer handle both.

lovemy2 replied: Yep, a good lawyer should be able to do planning with you then draw up a proper will and other estate plan docs ( health care proxy, living will and power of attorney as well as standby guardian docs) based on that planning....