Is it Worth it to Work with a Utah Estate Planning Lawyer?
When many people start to think about planning their estate, it is natural to wonder if it is necessary to work with an attorney. Truthfully, no one is required to work with a lawyer when drafting a will, establishing a trust, or creating any other part of their estate plan. With so many DIY templates found online today, you may be tempted to simply use these forms and fill in basic information. However, this may result in your documents not being executed properly and your family not having the protection you intended.
How Can a Utah Estate Planning Lawyer Help?
There are many ways an estate planning lawyer can help you plan for your future, your property, and your loved ones. When drafting your estate plan, a lawyer can assist with the following:
- Ensuring wills are properly executed
- Establishing trusts and advising on how to fund them
- Creating healthcare directives and powers of attorney
- Using legal strategies to avoid probate
- Minimize estate taxes
- Navigating blending families or other complicated family dynamics
- Ensure assets are protected from lawsuits and creditors
A lawyer will review your entire situation and draft a plan that is customized to you and your specific goals and needs. This is something that uniform templates cannot provide.
DIY Estate Planning is a Costly Mistake
People often use online templates because they can help individuals save money upfront. Unfortunately, they also do not account for personal circumstances or state-specific laws. Even the smallest mistake, such as an outdated beneficiary designation or an improperly signed will, can result in unintended consequences and costly legal battles. An estate lawyer can also help you reduce taxes, avoid probate delays, and make sure that your wishes are respected. Over the long term, the legal fees charged by attorneys are typically much less than the possible costs of disputes and mistakes.
Many DIY templates and packages focus solely on wills, completely leaving out advance directives. Estate planning is not just planning for what happens upon your death, though. It can also help you plan for incapacitation. If you become incapacitated in the future and cannot make decisions for yourself, an advance health directive or power of attorney can ensure that your personal, financial, and legal matters are managed. With these documents, you can also appoint someone you trust to handle these affairs for you.
Call Our Estate Planning Lawyer in Utah Today
If you are thinking about drafting your estate plan, or you need to update your current documents, it is critical that you seek legal advice. At AGS Law, our Utah estate planning lawyer can help you protect your children, the property you own, your business, and ensure that your loved ones do not face unnecessary stress or delays in the future. Call us today at 801-477-6144 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation with our experienced attorney and to learn more about how we can help ensure you, and your legacy, are protected.
Source:
le.utah.gov/xcode/Title75/Chapter2/C75-2-P5_1800010118000101.pdf