Dallas County Living Well Magazine Winter 2014 | Page 50

The Dangers of

Do-It-Yourself Wills
E

very day I work with clients to prepare their Wills, Estate Plans, Trusts, Disability Planning, QPRTs, etc. I’d like to
think that my clients find my work has value in that more of their wealth is protected from estate taxes, creditors and
lawsuits.
When people ask me what I think about online do-it-yourself Wills, my immediate response is: don’t do it. With my
experience, not only in estate planning but also probate litigation, Will contests and trust
litigation, I have seen how these do-it-yourself Wills go horribly wrong.
I cannot unequivocally say that a do-it-yourself Will does not work. There may be certain
situations it works just fine. But, as the Will won’t take effect until after your death, you won’t
know if it worked. If it does not work, your loved ones will suffer the consequences.
With that said, congratulations! You’re taking the first step and deciding to get your Will done.
What you do next is completely up to you; however there are a few things to consider:

Did you know that in the State of Texas, if your Will does not meet certain
requirements, it may not be valid?
The following reasons explain why it may be better to hire a lawyer rather than
handling your Will yourself.

1. Trusts - Your Will may create trusts, to achieve your goals, protect your
children, and incorporate tax planning and asset protection. These trusts can be
difficult to set up properly without legal guidance to ensure your goals and objectives are actually met.
2. Minors - Your Will should protect your minor children and de