When preparing your will, there are a few options to choose from, including engaging a lawyer, using an Online Will service, buying a DIY Will kit, and attending Community Will Days.
The Legal Services Commission in South Australia considers the best way to make a will is through a private lawyer with experience and expertise in wills. Why? So that your will reflects your wishes. As you will discover reading this blog, you need a lawyer to prepare your will and FJS Lawyers can help!
Why a Will Is Important
A will is a legal document that sets out your wishes for who will inherit your estate when you die.
If you die without a will, your estate is distributed in accordance with the law of intestacy, which is often not what you would have wanted. Moreover, your loved ones will have to deal with the often stressful, time-consuming and costly process of administering your estate while coping with the grief of your departure. Making a will is best for you and your loved ones.
Why You Should Get Your Will Prepared by a Private Lawyer
When you get your will prepared by a private lawyer like FJS Lawyers, you receive legal advice tailored to your circumstances. As our years of experience have taught us, every client has unique circumstances which must be properly considered to ensure that their wishes are reflected in their will. Circumstances such as blended families, stepchildren and estranged children are just a few that require careful consideration. Whilst there are other methods of will preparation, these methods often employ a “one-size-fits-all” approach that may leave your will open to misinterpretation and disputes, and may cost your estate far more than the cost of having a will prepared by a solicitor.
Your intentions may change after significant life events such as births, deaths, and divorces. Consulting a private lawyer will ensure that you receive timely and accurate advice and if required, that your will is updated to reflect your wishes in light of these life changes.You must ensure that your will is safely stored. At FJS Lawyers, we offer safe will storage and Private lawyers have access to secure registers, among other safe locations, to store your will. You won’t get this security elsewhere.
Alternative Options
– Online Will Services
You can create a will using online will services. People may choose this option because it is sometimes cheaper and more convenient. However, the real costs may not be known until after you die and may be very stressful for your loved ones if your will is open to misinterpretation and costly disputes. A private lawyer will draft your will to accurately reflect your wishes.
– DIY Will Kits
Online DIY Will Kits are perhaps the cheapest and most convenient option to make a will, but the future costs to your estate may be substantial. This is because they offer a “cookie-cutter” (one-size-fits-all) approach to all wills. There is a risk that the will is not signed and/or witnessed correctly, which may affect its validity, and these issues are usually unknown until after you die. Reach out to us now at FJS Lawyers to start preparing your will.
The Lawyer Who Assisted in Your Will Creation Can Also Provide Probate Services to Ensure Your Wishes Are Fulfilled
After a person dies, probate is often required before the estate assets can be dealt with.
In South Australia, the Probate Registry within the Supreme Court issues a grant of probate once they are satisfied that a person has passed away, that they left a valid will, and that the executor named in the will has the authority to administer and finalise the estate.
At FJS Lawyers we offer Probate services to assist your loved ones when you are gone, and our fees are reduced for estates where we prepared the will.
