Don’t let DIY efforts ruin your estate plan

There are a lot of online self-help resources addressing everything from cooking to budgeting and knitting. A quick search will even turn up templates and guides for how to create an estate plan. While utilizing these do-it-yourself resources may save you time and money, are they safe and effective?

Probably not. The truth of the matter is that DIY estate planning can be extremely risky, putting your assets and you’re your loved ones in danger of an outcome that you never intended. Here are some of the biggest pitfalls of engaging in estate planning with the help of online resources:

• Online templates oftentimes don’t conform to state law, which could lead to the drafting of legally invalid documents.
• Even if your documents are correct, they may not speak as to how to properly execute them, which could lead to litigation and ultimately a finding that your estate plan is legally void.
• Many online resources speak to boilerplate language that don’t give you the nuanced language that you need to address your estate planning needs in the way that you want.
• Internet guides oftentimes only address the basics of estate planning, which means that you could be missing out on more nuanced and specialized approaches that could better suit your and your loved one’s needs while saving money in the long run.
• A lot of online templates and guides lack clarity, which means that your loved ones could end up fighting over your estate once you’re gone, leading to ruined relationships and extensive costs.

Don’t let your desire to save time and money harm your estate and loved ones

We understand the desire to quickly and cheaply put an estate plan together. But moving too quickly and cutting too many corners can be dangerous. And putting together a legally weak or legally invalid estate plan is ultimately a waste of your time. That’s why if you have questions about estate planning we encourage you to discuss them with an attorney who will be able to give you the customized approach that you deserve.