We know what you’re thinking: “You’re lawyers – of course you’re going to say that I should see a lawyer to prepare my Will”.
You’re right. We think you should see a lawyer to prepare your Will.
Here’s why:
- Post Office and DIY online Wills can leave important gaps. They generally focus on what happens after death and don’t include other important documents like an enduring power of attorney (read more here), so there may be no plan in place if you lose capacity during your lifetime. They can also overlook assets not held in your personal name, such as superannuation or life insurance.
- Without tailored advice, Wills are more likely to be unclear or incomplete, which can increase the risk of disputes later on. We often see issues like assets not properly dealt with or gifts that don’t work in practice, such as trying to leave jointly owned property to a beneficiary, nominating super to someone who may not be eligible under the rules, or failing to execute documents correctly (resulting in invalidity).
- DIY wills are a low (or no) cost option upfront, but fixing problems later can be costly and stressful for the people left to deal with them.
- Working with an estate planning lawyer involves tailored advice on how to structure your affairs so your wishes are carried out effectively (i.e., you’re not just buying an off-the-shelf template document). DIY Will services don’t provide this.
Book a free chat with us today to discuss how we can help you to get an estate plan in place that will give you peace of mind and ensure your loved ones are taken care of.
We are experienced Wills and Estate Planning lawyers based in Prospect and work with families across Adelaide to help you put in place an Estate Plan that reflects your values and gives you confidence about the future.