A Last Will and Testament are one of the most critical documents you will ever have to draft. So critical, in fact, that it has been the subject of many nasty legal battles since the establishment of the judicial system. Among other things, a Will dictates the final wishes of the deceased regarding the property he/she leaves behind upon death. Unfortunately, there are certain expectations about the Last Will and Testament that most people believe to be true but are actually false. Take a look at these 3 things that your Will does NOT accomplish.
- Control Certain Types of Property
Generally, you cannot include the following property in your Will:
- Any Trusts, insurance policies, or retirement plans that clearly show a beneficiary
- Any property that is held in joint tenancy or with the right of survivorship (i.e. has two equal owners). This kind of property will pass automatically to the other owner upon your death, regardless of what you put in your Will.
- Stocks or bonds that already have a specified beneficiary, and will transfer to that party upon death
- Pay-on-death bank accounts: The beneficiary listed in a pay-on-death bank account receives any money left upon death. However, it can name an executor who will be in charge of collecting and distributing the funds during the probate process.
- Provide Funeral Instructions
This is more of a SHOULD NOT scenario than a CANNOT one, as it is technically not illegal to put your burial plans in a Will. However, your body is not considered “property” when it comes to estate planning and, therefore, putting your funeral instructions in your Will may not go according to your plans. Even more, the estate and probate proceedings do not usually happen until after the funeral, meaning that it will already be too late when your funeral wishes are discovered. There are other ways you can do this, though, including:
- Talking to your loved ones: let them know your burial plans beforehand, so they know what to do
- Creating a “Final Arrangements” document: You can put everything you want concerning your funeral arrangements in a “Final Arrangements” document, including whether to bury or cremate, burial location, casket choice, cemetery marker, etc.
- Avoid Probate
Generally, probate is a must for property that was:
- Owned solely by the deceased person – e.g. real estate or a house titled in that individual’s name only
- A share of property held as “tenants in common” – e.g. a business investment with a brother or other people
This property is referred to as the probate estate. However, there are many types of assets that do not have to go through the probate process when transferring ownership. Typically, transferring assets without probate can save a lot of time and money, and help the beneficiaries avoid several years of legal hassle. You can avoid the probate system by passing on your property as:
- Gifts
- Joint Property
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Death Beneficiaries
The importance of consulting an experienced estate planning lawyer when drafting a Will cannot be overemphasized. The Amsberry Law Firm has a team of highly trained professionals who can help you pass on your property in a smooth and seamless process, without all the legal hassle. Call us today at (210) 354-2244.
Attorney Russell J.G. Amsberry
Attorney Russell J.G. Amsberry founded the Amsberry Law Firm in 1995 with the goal of providing clients with exceptional, focused representation on their issues. His success as a legal advocate has been reflected in the numerous professional honors he has received, such as speaking engagements and inclusion in Scene in SA magazine’s listing of the best lawyers in San Antonio, a Distinguished rating from Martindale-Hubble, and an amazing rating from Avvo. [ Attorney Bio ]
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