Wills

A will is the most basic legal document of an estate plan. It can be the only document but is often accompanied by other legal documents such as a trust, healthcare directive and power of attorney to name a few.

A will is a legal document stating how your property and assets are to be distributed upon your death. It also contains other instructions such as guardianship of your minor children and naming a personal representative, formerly known as an executor. It is important to understand a will cannot avoid the necessity of probate. Every estate must go through probate. If you die without a will, your assets will be distributed according to Missouri state law.

A will can be changed or revoked by you at any time. A regular review of your will and general estate plan is always recommended, especially after a significant life change such as a divorce, marriage, additional children, etc.

Many of your assets can avoid going through the probate process by creating a trust or naming beneficiaries or providing transfer on death (TOD), depending on the type of asset. An experienced estate planning attorney can create an estate plan to protect your goals and objective while also ensuring your heirs receive as much of the estate value as possible. Assets that do not go through probate will dramatically lower probate fees, which means more of your estate value will be passed on to your heirs.

To learn more about the importance of having a will and possibly other estate planning documents, please call our office or contact us online to meet with an experienced estate planning attorney.