Reliable Fort Wayne Attorney Drafts Clear, Valid Wills
Responsive Indiana estate planning lawyer helps clients establish a lasting legacy
A will is an essential element of any estate plan. Unfortunately, too many people resist making a will until some crisis prompts them to. At Patterson Law LLC in Fort Wayne, we understand that end-of-life issues aren’t easy to talk about, but we’ve also seen the downside of failing to plan. When a loved one passes away without a will, state law dictates how assets are distributed. With a will, you make a final statement of affection to your loved ones and spare them stress during the time they are grieving your loss. We believe that executing a will is an act of love. If you’re ready to protect the future of your family and friends, our dedicated attorney is ready to help.
Experienced counselor advises on the importance of having a will
There are many practical and emotional reasons why every adult should have a will:
- Saying goodbye to loved ones and giving them closure
- Providing an inventory of assets so the estate can be dealt with in an orderly, timely fashion
- Distributing assets according to your wishes rather than the state’s laws of intestate succession
- Remembering friends outside the law of succession
- Charitable giving to institutions and causes you care about
- Name a guardian for your minor children
If you have a complex estate, you might want to add other estate planning tools, such as a combination of trusts. But a will is the foundational document you must execute.
Established firm helps you name a guardian for minor children
It’s important to note that when you name a guardian in your will, you are not legally appointing that person to serve — only a court can do that. However, naming a guardian is a strong expression of your preference and your confidence in the individual(s) you select. A court will weigh your choice heavily, especially if your children are too young to express their preference.
Proven adviser assists with drafting and amending your will
It’s important to see an attorney to draft your will professionally and according to state law. Without reliable legal advice, you make yourself vulnerable to errors that could invalidate your will in whole or in part, such as:
- Vagueness — If the instructions in your will are unclear, a court cannot enforce them. Confusion can lead to litigation among your heirs.
- Partial intestacy — If you don’t account for all your assets, anything you leave out passes according to state law.
- Faulty execution — Indiana does not recognize holographic (handwritten) or self-executed wills. You must observe all formalities, including having your signature confirmed by two witnesses.
Our estate planning attorney has the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process and draft the will in language that is clear, concise and actionable.
Once you have executed your will, it’s important to keep it current. You should plan to update your will once every three to five years and whenever there is a significant change in your circumstances. Reasons to amend a will include:
- Sale of assets you were leaving to an heir
- Depletion growth of an asset’s value
- Death of an heir
- Divorce
- Changes in an heir’s life circumstances
Amending and updating your will is easy but must be done according to Indiana law to be valid. Under certain circumstances, revising a will can raise suspicions that it is invalid. Disappointed heirs may attempt to challenge the will in court, causing hard feelings and running up costs for all involved. Our firm can help you avoid such complications.
Contact a knowledgeable Indiana attorney for a consultation on drafting a will
At Patterson Law LLC, we draft effective wills for clients in Fort Wayne and vicinity. To schedule a consultation, please call 260-247-8383 or contact us online.
