• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
    • Attorney and Staff Profiles
    • Communities We Serve
      • Minnesota
        • Bemidji
        • Crookston
        • East Grand Forks
        • Fertile
        • Thief River Falls
      • North Dakota
        • Devils Lake
        • Dickinson
        • Grafton
        • Grand Forks
        • Minot
    • Job Opportunities
    • Speaker Connection
  • Estate Planning
    • Asset Protection
    • Business Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Services
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • Financial Planning Assistance
    • Incapacity Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • Probate
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration
  • Elder Law
    • Are You A Caregiver
    • Conservatorship
    • Coping with Alzheimer’s
    • Hospice Care
    • Life Care Planning Services
    • Medicaid Benefits
    • Nursing Home Planning
    • Veterans Benefits
  • Seminars/Webinars
  • Resources
    • Client Resources
      • Estate Planning Resources for Farmers
      • Elder Law Resources
        • Bemidji
        • Grand Forks Elder Law
        • Minot Elder Law
        • Thief River Falls Elder Law
      • Estate Planning Checklist
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Probate Checklist
      • Probate Resources
        • Bemidji Probate
        • Grand Forks Probate
        • Minot Probate
        • Thief River Falls Probate
      • Relocation Toolkit
      • Top 10 Estate Planning Techniques
    • DocuBank
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Free Medicaid/Long-Term Care Calculator
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Asset Protection
        • Business Planning
        • Business Succession Planning
      • Elder Law
        • Medicaid Planning
        • Veteran’s Benefits
        • Nursing Home Planning
      • Estate Planning
        • Estate Planning & Divorce
        • Estate Planning for Women
        • Job of an Executor
        • Families Without an Estate Plan
        • Gift, Estate, and Inheritance Taxes
        • Including Philanthropy in Your Estate Plan
        • Including Your Pet in Your Estate Plan
        • LGBTQ Estate Planning
        • Power of Attorney
        • Serving as Executor
      • Financial Planning
      • Incapacity Planning
        • Social Security Benefits
        • Understanding SSI and SSDI
      • Trust Administration & Probate
        • Probate
        • Small Estate Probate
        • Trusts
        • Wills
    • Newsletters
    • Probate & Estate Planning Savings Calculator
    • Professional Resources
    • Published Books
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review us
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

GermanLawGroup

Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorneys in Grand Forks , North Dakota

Call us today(800) 774-7576

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
Attend A Free Seminar
Home » Top 5 Reasons to Avoid DIY Wills

Top 5 Reasons to Avoid DIY Wills

September 1, 2016Wills

DIY WillsLike most people, you are probably aware of the importance of having at least a basic Last Will and Testament in place even if you are not yet prepared to create a more comprehensive estate plan. Also like most people, however, you may have yet to actually create and execute your Will. This may be because you haven’t had the time or because you think having an attorney help you with your Will would be cost prohibitive. Unfortunately, both of these explanations for not having a Will in place are very common. They also both frequently lead people to consider using a “Do-It-Yourself” Last Will and Testament they found online. If you are one of those people, consider the following five reasons to avoid DIY Wills:

  • They are not individualized. Estate planning is a highly individualized process. Think about it for a moment. What is more personal, and more unique to you, than your estate? In order for a “Fill-in-the-blank” boilerplate Last Will and Testament form to cover everything you could possibly need to cover relating to your Will it would need to be hundreds of pages long. At best, a DIY Will form will cover the most basic questions and scenarios a Testator might need to cover when creating a Will. If your life includes anything out of the “norm” it will likely not be covered in the Will form you have.
  • You cannot get legal advice.  It is illegal for anyone other than a licensed attorney to dispense legal advice. That means that the form you find on the internet cannot possibly answer questions you might have nor provide you with advice of a legal nature. Even a modest estate typically runs into situations that require legal advice when creating a Will. Not being able to get that advice could be extremely detrimental to the final product.
  • They are plagued with errors and omissions. DIY Wills frequently include out dated, missing, or downright wrong information on them. Wills, trusts, and estates are largely government by state laws, meaning that your Will needs to comply with those laws. Many DIY Will forms also fail to take the state in which the document will be signed into consideration.
  • You may end up with unintended consequences. As a result of the lack of legal advice and the likelihood of errors or omissions on the Will form, you could end up with serious unwanted consequences. The biggest unwanted consequence is that the Will may be declared invalid, causing your estate to become an intestate estate. As an intestate estate, none of the provisions of the Will you signed will matter. Instead, the State of North Dakota’s intestate succession laws will dictate what happens to your estate assets when you die.
  • They Do Not Really Save Money (or time). It sounds great – “create your Last Will and Testament for $99” or something similar. In the end, however, you will spend considerably more and your loved ones may spend a small fortune down the road when it comes time to try and probate the Will you created. First, the advertised price is rarely the end price after all the “extras,” which are really necessities, are added in to the process. More importantly, if the document has errors, and/or is declared invalid, when the time comes to probate your estate, your loved ones will spend far more trying to fix the problems than you saved by using a DIY Will.

Your Last Will and Testament will likely be one of the most important documents you create and sign during the course of your life. Given that fact, does it really make sense to try and cut corners by using a DIY Will form? After you give that some thought, your answer will likely be “no.” Spending just a little bit more time and money now will ensure that your wishes are honored when you are gone and your loved ones do not get saddled with an enormous cost, both in terms of time and money, during the probate process.

Contact Us

For more information, please join us for an upcoming FREE seminar. If you have additional questions about DIY Wills in the State of North Dakota contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at German Law by calling 701-738-0060 to schedule an appointment.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
0f881a099b083f2d25c0acd3d4ea9b93?s=250&d=mm&r=g
Leigia Rosales
0f881a099b083f2d25c0acd3d4ea9b93?s=250&d=mm&r=g
Latest posts by Leigia Rosales (see all)
  • Estate Planning for Parents of Young Children - May 14, 2020
  • Estate Planning Terms You Need to Know - April 23, 2020
  • Steps You Can Take to Decrease the Odds of a Challenge to Your Will - February 7, 2019

Other Articles You May Find Useful

What Is a “No-Contest” Clause in a Will?
What Is a “No-Contest” Clause in a Will?
Can I Prevent a Challenge to My Will?
Can I Prevent a Challenge to My Will?
Can I Do Anything to Prevent a Will Contest?
Can I Do Anything to Prevent a Will Contest?
Things to Consider When Creating Your Will
Things to Consider When Creating Your Will
Do Not Make These Mistakes in Your Will
Do Not Make These Mistakes in Your Will
Why Do I Need a Will?
Why Do I Need a Will?

Primary Sidebar

TESTIMONIALS

Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Needed to come in to get specific advice for our needs. The attorney spoke to us in terms we could understand, coming to our level and did not make up feel uncomfortable. They were very considerate and caring. We didn’t feel rushed. We felt like they cared and knew what they were doing.

C.P., Minnesota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

We were wonderfully satisfied. Wayne did an outstanding job of explaining, diagramming and answering questions and concerns.

JW & CD, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

They were courteous, efficient, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.

D.T., Minnesota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Very helpful. Our children and us are are confident in your group.

-Anonymous, Fargo, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

"Very professional, covered all, expertise, friendly, peace of mind now."

- Anonymous, North Dakota
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

So much of a client's high or low opinion of an organization depends on their welcomed feeling. I felt that every time I visited the office, every person I talked with listened and took action on my concern or questions! They were also very friendly.

~J.R., Grand Forks, ND
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

From phone calls to signing the final documents I was treated with respect, kindness, and understanding by Wayne & Jenn. Every business that wants their business represented well should have someone like Jenn & Wayne. They both made me feel relaxed and assured I was at the right place at the right time at this time in my life. 

~ Deborah Rucinksi, North Dakota 
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

All of the paperwork was completed in a timely matter. Wayne was very good in explaining the trust to us. 

~Anonymous
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Thank you for taking care of my finances after I am gone. I worried about probate once; hopefully this has been solved. Everyone was very polite and helpful. Thank you Katie for answering my questions, and also Jenn.

- Anonymous
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

This Avvo rating is killer and so deserved! You are the best brother! The only thing is I think the 10 rating is too low, in my book you go to 11! Congratulations on the award, you should be very very proud. See you at your Holiday party, thx for the invite.

Anthony G., Los Angeles, CA
Client Review
August 24, 2020
    

Everyone at German Law was helpful and pleasant. I felt good about my decision, I thought I was doing the right thing for myself & my family. Wayne took his time and didn't rush, which is good because a lot of this can be over people's heads.

A.W., Red Lake Falls, MN
Client Review
April 15, 2021
    

Excellent

Very interesting, informative and valuable information and ideas.

Valuable information.

RP
Client Review
April 15, 2021
    

5 STARS! Thanks for allowing this to be on a webinar! Very interested in this topic.

Great Estate Planning Guide

SD
November 25, 2022
    

John provided very short turn-around time that we needed. He built an amortization schedule that really met our needs. He was responsive and very easy to work with! Quick and easy!

 

Cammy was also very helpful and professional!

November 25, 2022
    

Really Liked it.
Assisted by John Oelke

November 25, 2022
    

Excellent!

<
>

Subscribe to Our Blog

Subscribe to our blog to get the latest estate planning news and updates!
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Where We Are

German Law
2650 32nd Avenue South, Suite O
Grand Forks, ND 58201
Phone: (701) 738-0060
Fax: (701) 738-0064

See Larger Map Get Directions

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 PM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Map

Footer

  • Speaker Connection
  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect to Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
footer-logo

© 2023 German Law
All Right Reseved.

Attorney Advertisement