The Risks Involved With Fill-In-The-Blank Estate Plans

There are many people that would like to try to save money on estate planning with do it yourself fill-in-the-blank forms.  Individuals thinking about this option should consider the risks involved with such an approach.  An estate plan with a Will or living trust that is poorly executed can easily fall apart and lead to a difficult situation for the loved ones that are left behind.  Putting time and effort into estate planning can help to prevent or reduce the chances of a bitter family fight later on down the road.  When setting up a plan people should think about how they want to provide for their children.  Setting up a charitable fund can be one method of keeping families together.  Clients should also base their planning around their own unique circumstances and the laws of the jurisdiction that they live in.  

See Maria C. Schmidlkofer, Fill-in-the-blank estate planning is playing with fire, Statesman Journal, October 2, 2015.