When it comes to estate planning, the internet makes it seem easy to go it alone. With countless templates and DIY legal services promising quick, low-cost solutions, many people think they can skip hiring an attorney. However, estate planning is about more than filling out forms—it’s about ensuring your loved ones are protected when you’re gone. The truth of the matter is that when you go it alone, you don’t know what you don’t know. And what you don’t know can end up hurting your loved ones later down the road while you’re none the wiser.
Here are some common pitfalls of DIY estate plans:
1. Outdated or Incomplete Documents
Laws change, and so do your family circumstances. A form you download today may not be legally effective next year. Can you tell the difference between a proposed bill and an enacted law? As attorneys, we keep up to date with proposed and enacted changes to the law. Without proper updates, your estate plan may fail to reflect your current wishes, leading to confusion and disputes.
2. Unintended Financial Consequences
Proper estate planning helps minimize taxes and expenses for your heirs. DIY plans often overlook critical strategies to protect your assets from unnecessary taxation or other financial pitfalls. For example, leaving an inheritance outright to a loved one with special needs who receives public benefits could jeopardize their eligibility for those very same benefits.
3. Invalid Legal Documents
A simple mistake—like an unsigned document or improperly witnessed will—can render your entire plan invalid. When that happens, Arizona’s intestate laws determine who inherits your property, which may not align with your wishes. We guide our clients through signing their estate plans with our notary and witness team to ensure everything is properly executed.
4. No Tailored Advice
Online legal document preparation services can’t provide personalized legal advice. They may not consider unique family dynamics, blended families, or specific concerns like protecting assets from creditors. When you hire an attorney, you are paying for professional insight tailored to your specific circumstances.
5. Risk of Probate
A poorly drafted estate plan can lead to a lengthy and expensive probate process. For example, if there’s ambiguity in the language of your will, a beneficiary may try to contest it. Avoiding probate requires precise language and proper asset titling, which is difficult to achieve without legal guidance.
Why Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney Is Worth It
Working with a licensed attorney ensures your estate plan is legally sound, up-to-date, and tailored to your specific needs. At Windrose Law Center, we don’t just prepare documents—we guide you through important decisions to protect your family’s future and give you peace of mind today.
If you’re ready to take the guesswork out of estate planning, contact us to schedule a consultation. Let’s build a plan that works when your family needs it most.