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How to Write a Last Will and Testament

Grand Rapids & Ionia Attorneys

Last Will And Testament Estate Attorneys Grand Rapids Ionia

Emotions run high after a death in the family. That’s why it’s important that you hire one of our estate attorneys in Grand Rapids and Ionia, MI. They’ll help you create an ironclad last will and testament that will stand up in court.

Keep in mind that the advice in this blog is meant to be general. For detailed advice that pertains to your unique situation, please schedule a legal consultation with one of our estate planning attorneys.

Don’t Wait to Write Your Will

Hollywood often shows people writing their last will and testament on their deathbed. But you’ll want to speak with our legal team a lot sooner than that. You want to write your will when you’re in good mental health and in the presence of an estate attorney.

Related: What is the Estate Planning Process? →

Receive Mental Health Validation

We may recommend meeting with a psychiatrist. That way, you’ll be able to verify that you’re in good mental health and in full control of your faculties.

A mental health validation will help prevent people from contesting your will. This is because they won’t be able to claim that you weren’t of sound mind.

To be clear, no one wants to think of their loved ones fighting in court once they leave this earth. But it’s important that you help prevent this outcome by writing a proper will.

Our estate planning attorneys are ready to help you every step of the way during this process. They also bring their expertise in probate avoidance so you can help prevent inheritance disputes.

Have a No-Contest Clause

Do you suspect that a beneficiary may challenge your will? If so, our attorneys may recommend that you add a no-contest clause. This forces a beneficiary to give up their inheritance if they contest your will and lose.

A no-contest clause helps ensure that your loved ones honor your final wishes. As you can imagine, it greatly reduces the likelihood of someone challenging your will.

Hire an Estate Planning Attorney

Even if you want to write a simple will, we still recommend hiring an attorney to help you through the process. Regardless of the size of your estate, we recommend reaching out to Peterson Paletta Balice for estate planning.

Writing a last will and testament requires legal expertise. Otherwise, you may create unintentional loopholes, inconsistencies, or exclusions. An attorney will help ensure that your assets go to their intended loved ones.

Request an Estate Planning Consultation

Ready to get started? There is no better time to put together your estate plan. Writing your last will and testament will help give you peace of mind, so why not call us today? During your consultation, we’ll listen to your concerns and help you plan out your next steps. A good estate plan will safely and securely ensure your wishes are followed.

Our estate attorneys in Grand Rapids and Ionia, MI, are ready to help. To request a legal consultation, please call Peterson Paletta Balice or fill out our online contact form.

This blog post has been updated.

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