Crofton Wills Lawyer

Wills Attorney in Crofton, MD

It can be overwhelming and complicated to put together a strong estate plan for your loved ones’ financial protection. If you’ve never seriously considered estate planning before, it can be hard to know exactly what to do and when to do it. There’s a chance that you might not be in good health when you are considering your family’s financial security, so enlisting legal help may be a good option. You should speak with a Crofton wills lawyer to see what your options are.

The legal team at Liberty Legacy Law Group knows how hard a will case can be. Drafting your last will and testament can bring up a lot of complicated feelings. You may struggle with who to designate as a beneficiary and who to leave out. You may be dreading talking to your family about your wishes. Maryland’s will laws require certain elements to be present. Our team can bring years of focused knowledge and experience to your case, as well as the right resources.

Requirements of a Will in Crofton, Maryland

If you are drafting a last will and testament in Crofton, you will want to consider reaching out to the Anne Arundel County Register of Wills to register it with the county. They can also assist in safekeeping. You can find the Office of the Register of Wills on Church Circle in Annapolis. The administration of your estate will be handled by the Anne Arundel County Orphans’ Court.

The average household income in Crofton is $150,177, while the average property value is $519,900. While every family has different assets to account for, and all of them can benefit from having an estate plan, it’s fairly common for individuals with high incomes and substantial assets to draft a will that explains their wishes for their estate’s distribution.

Nationwide, only 32% of Americans actually claimed to have a will. The last thing you want is to pass away without a will in place. Your estate will be distributed in accordance with Maryland’s intestate succession laws, which will likely ignore your wishes entirely. Here are the state’s requirements for drafting a will:

• Capacity. To draft a will in Maryland, you must be at least 18 years old and of sound mind. This means that you are completely in control of your faculties and are wholly aware of the decisions you are making regarding your estate. You are not being coerced or threatened, and this is solely your decision. If it’s later discovered that you were forced to draft the will, it may be rendered null and void.
• Writing. Every legally enforceable will in Maryland must be in writing. Any oral or video will shall not be recognized in the state. The will can be either typed or handwritten.
• Signature. For your last will and testament to be valid, you need to sign it clearly and legibly. If you are unable to sign it for whatever reason, someone that you trust must sign it in your physical presence and at your express direction.
• Witnesses. There must be at least two credible and trustworthy witnesses who can sign the will alongside you, the testator. These witnesses shouldn’t be in the will, as inheriting from the will that they’re witnessing would be a clear conflict of interest. While interested witnesses are not strictly prohibited, it could make things complicated.
• Notarization. It is not legally necessary for a will to be notarized to be valid. However, doing so makes the will self-proving. A self-proving will can move through the probate process faster since witnesses will not need to be located later to prove the will’s validity.
• Guardianship. If you are a parent to a minor child, it’s recommended that you include a clause regarding guardianship of your child. In this clause, you should name a personal guardian who will take care of your child in the event of your death.
• Executor. It’s also very important that you name a personal representative, or executor, of the will. This person will be responsible for managing your estate during probate when the time comes.

FAQs

How Much Does It Usually Cost for a Lawyer to Draft a Will in Maryland?

There’s no telling how much it will cost for a lawyer to draft a will in Maryland. Every case is different, and every will has unique factors that will affect the total cost. Drafting a will can cost anywhere from several hundred to over a thousand dollars, depending on what’s in the will. If you include a power of attorney, a healthcare directive, and trusts, it will likely cost you more.

What Is the Biggest Mistake You Can Make With a Will?

Arguably, the biggest mistake you can make with a will is failing to update it accordingly. If you draft a will but don’t update it, it’s likely that your wishes won’t reflect your current life. It’s recommended that you update your will after any major life event, such as marriages, divorces, births, deaths, and adoptions. Other mistakes include storing the will improperly, not naming an executor, and not drafting a will at all.

What Kind of Lawyer Is Ideal for Wills?

If you want to draft a will, you should hire an estate planning lawyer to help you. They focus on drafting legally binding documents, minimizing your tax liability, and making sure assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes. A good estate planning lawyer can help you avoid the complications of probate and provide tailored advice for your estate, particularly on how to draft your will.

Can I Change My Will?

Yes, you can change your will whenever you want. You should contact your lawyer to help you modify your will using a codicil, or amendment. If you wish, you can scrap the will entirely and draft a new one that reflects the changes in your wishes. You have complete control over your will.

Hire a Crofton, MD Wills Lawyer Today

It’s vital that you hire a wills lawyer to take charge of your case and make sure your will is drafted correctly. It needs to be legally enforceable, or it means nothing. A good lawyer can monitor the drafting process, provide sound advice when necessary, and prevent mistakes. At Liberty Legacy Law Group, we know how to help. Contact us to speak with someone on our team.