Online Probate Legal Advice
If you die without a Will, your assets will have to go through the Probate process before being distributed to your family. That could mean years of delays and substantial taxes and fees. Or, if your Will wasn’t drafted properly or is out of date, that could lead to similar Probate nightmares. LegalShield Plans cover you, your spouse, and your eligible dependents, on select plans, and come with a Will drafted by your provider lawyer.
Make Probate faster with a Will
Having a Will does not avoid Probate. But, a well-drafted Will can make it go faster. If you die without a Will, most, if not all, of your assets will have to go through the Probate process before it can be distributed to your family.
Even if you have a Will, if it’s not been drafted properly and paired with other Estate Planning essentials like a Trust, you may cause your family to spend a significant amount of time and money they otherwise could have avoided.
Using clear, unambiguous language and following the law to the letter is critical. Because laws vary from state to state, it’s also important the lawyer who prepares your Will is familiar with the laws and practices of your state. Having a lawyer create your Will ensures it’s done correctly and that your family gets the money-saving benefits of proper Estate Planning.
Use Trusts to avoid Probate
Transferring assets to a Trust allows them to pass without the hassle of Probate.
Trusts are a powerful tool to avoid Probate and available for estates of any size. A Trust can be designed with many goals in mind, including to help you:
- Manage estate tax
- Designate heirs
- Care for children with special needs
- Care for minor children
- Give to charity
A lawyer can create the right Trust for your specific situation so there are no costly surprises for your family after you pass.
Reduce family conflict
A Will communicates your wishes for your estate—your financial and physical assets. More crucially, questions of guardianship of children and even pets will be left to the courts if you die without a Will.
If you die without a Will or any Estate Plan, your family may be left to fight it out. Adding a difficult and costly Probate process to that situation can only make matters worse.
An experienced lawyer can create an Estate Plan that smooths out the Probate process and dramatically reduces the chances of family conflict.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Estate planning lawyers help create legal documents such as will, power of attorney, and living trust so your wishes are clear and legally protected. They ensure that everything is done right so your family doesn’t have to figure it out later.
If you don’t have an estate plan, the government decides who gets your belongings and who raises your kids, not you. A plan lets you control what happens and takes the burden off your family during an already difficult time.
No, a Will is just one part of an estate plan. A complete estate plan usually also includes a power of attorney, a living will, and sometimes, a trust.
While you’re not required to use a lawyer, we strongly advise using one to make sure that your documents are prepared correctly. If they’re not, the court may reject them. A lawyer makes sure that your plan holds up when your family needs it most.
Most people need a will, a durable power of attorney, and a living will. A trust may also make sense, depending on your situation.
There’s now time like the present to plan, because life is unpredictable. You don’t need to be old or wealthy to have a plan. If you have kids, own anything, or care who makes medical decisions for you, plan today.
A lawyer can help people clearly outline how their assets should be distributed after they pass away. Lawyers ensure all documents are legally sound and tailored to meet your personal and family needs. Also, they can help set up trusts, name executors, and update plans as life circumstances change, offering peace of mind and legal protection.
It’s the process of deciding what happens to your money, home, and assets after you pass away, and who makes decisions for you if you’re too sick to speak for yourself.
Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to get legal advice on any Wills and estates issues to ensure that your rights, and those of your loved ones, are protected.
Pretty much everyone. If you have kids, own anything, have money in a bank account, or care about what happens to your things after you’re gone, an estate plan is a good idea.
Instead of paying a lawyer by the hour, you pay a small membership fee for access to a provider law firm in your state for the legal services membership you select. Prices and coverage vary depending on the membership services you select.
Hiring lawyers the usual way can cost hundreds per hour. But with LegalShield you pay a recurring fee and get access to experienced lawyers who can help with any number of estate planning issues.
Membership applications are reviewed within 72 hours. Once approved, you can contact your lawyer and use all the perks of your membership.
For over 50 years, LegalShield has made it affordable and easy for its members to connect with its network of vetted, dedicated law firms across the United States and parts of Canada. Lawyers average 22 years of experience. Please note that LegalShield provides access to legal services offered by a network of provider law firms to its members.