Writing a Will

[macmanmike6100]

How does one go about writing a will? In my case, I'm trying to avoid going through an attorney because I'm only 21, resident of NY, no property, just liquid and investment accounts.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

[snowy]

Go to your local Barnes and Noble/Borders/what have you, and pick up Nolo's book on will writing. Here's the link on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/141...Fencoding=UTF8

I used this book (well, a similar book, earlier edition) to write my grandfather's will when I was 18. He had mostly liquid assets, some bonds, and some property. The will was contested in court by my grandmother (they were divorced). But thanks to Nolo, I'd written a will without any flaws and the judge upheld it.

Hope that helps.

[ryfo]

in australia we can go to a will specialist for about 200 (around us120) and they will be execetor when u die.other than that if your single your nearest relative would get it all if no will left (as i said, australian law may be different than yours) But it is a good idea,congrats on thinking about it at your young age.

[Rodney]

Originally Posted by ryfo

in australia we can go to a will specialist for about 200 (around us120) and they will be execetor when u die.other than that if your single your nearest relative would get it all if no will left (as i said, australian law may be different than yours) But it is a good idea,congrats on thinking about it at your young age.

In some American states, there are storefront offices staffed by legal aides who will help you fill out legal forms -- like wills -- properly, but will _not_ advise you on law, because they are not lawyers and cannot legally do so. They're an option for a simple will. But I agree, the Nolo book is good, too, and probably cheaper. They used to have a piece of software called Will Writer that would actually walk you through the whole process and prepare the document, ala TurboTax. Go to their site and see if they still have that.

[snowy]

Originally Posted by Rodney

In some American states, there are storefront offices staffed by legal aides who will help you fill out legal forms -- like wills -- properly, but will _not_ advise you on law, because they are not lawyers and cannot legally do so. They're an option for a simple will. But I agree, the Nolo book is good, too, and probably cheaper. They used to have a piece of software called Will Writer that would actually walk you through the whole process and prepare the document, ala TurboTax. Go to their site and see if they still have that.

Quicken makes it now, but yeah, I assume it does the same thing. The Nolo book is cheaper, though, and it comes with forms in it where you basically fill in the blanks. A little lower tech, but anyone with half a brain can figure out how to do it.

[macmanmike6100]

Thanks a lot ... heading to B&N!