“The trouble with the law is lawyers.”
“The Sophisticated Country Lawyer” Clarence Darrow was among some of the most notable lawyers of the 20th Century. Besides being involved in some of the most monumental cases, Darrow’s natural eloquence made him a prominent attorney and civil libertarian. The quote above comes from him.
With all his success and dedication to the field, the quote may seem kind of weird coming from him. But the guy knew what he was saying.
It’s not news that some people don’t really like lawyers. But when there is legal trouble, they end up hiring them. Even William Shakespeare hired an attorney to create his lengthy will; despite his contempt for lawyers illustrated in Henry VI where the Bard says “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.”
Expertise, specific insights, and experience all count for something.
Just like Shakespeare, most common people don’t necessarily have the expertise a will attorney in Long Island would provide. Instead of winging it and taking up the challenge to create a will on your own, the better route to take is working with the expert.
The big estate planning no-no: DIY-ing your will
The case against doing your own estate planning is pretty strong already. However, some people assume studying up estate planning in Long Island on the internet will be enough.
But answer this, will you risk performing your own appendectomy after watching YouTube videos explaining the procedure in detail?
The answer is probably no as expertise and proficiency matter.
A will attorney in Long Island will bring their acumen to ensure your will is created properly.
Reason #1
Saves you time and energy
If you have never been involved with estate planning in Long Island, you will be dedicating a significant amount of time to study what it is. Internet research or talking to people who have been through the process will require a lot of energy.
It means giving up free time to understand and handle complex details. A professional attorney in Long Island will alleviate this pressure. They’ll take over the job while you can focus on defining the goals you want to achieve with the will.
Reason #2
It’s simply complicated
The irony of the sentence above is not lost on lawyers. Estate planning Long Island is an entirely separate entity with many laws and agencies defining the rules around it.
These rules are constantly changing. In the United States, both federal and state agencies change the terms for wills, trusts, and other estate planning methods. A will attorney in Long Island will keep up with these shifts.
They’ll ensure the will has complete legal compliance so it has fewer chances of being contested in court. From guiding you through the basics of writing a will to choosing your beneficiaries and putting down specific instructions, they’ll be able to lead a smooth execution.
Reason #3
Properly stated dispositions
Legal jargon is not an easy subject to master. In order to have a valid will, it must clearly indicate your testamentary intent. It describes how you intend to dispose of the assets mentioned in the will.
Without proper dispositions, your will might be considered invalid. Simple instructions or general preferences wouldn’t be enough. Also, precatory language has to be used in the right places. A will attorney in Long Island would be able to advise on what language to use and draft a will that stands valid in court.
Reason #4
Unique considerations to account for
The expertise of a will attorney in Long Island is much-needed in certain cases.
- If you’re naming a special needs person in your will, there are certain limitations and requirements that special needs planning require.
- Estate planning frameworks for same-sex couples and unmarried cohabitants, unfortunately, are still not as solid as for heterosexual spouses. There might be certain limitations that require specialized planning.
- Creating a will that includes property owned in other countries or even outside of the State of New York can be tricky. The laws that govern those properties need to be acknowledged correctly.
Reason #5
Attorneys are more than just legal help
Technical and legal expertise is one part of a will attorney’s job. They also have to counsel their clients.
Estate planning in Long Island is not necessarily the easiest subject to talk about. You will be exposing some of the most intimate wishes while planning for a time when you wouldn’t be in the mortal realm.
Deciding on a guardian for minor children, figuring out whom to include and exclude from the inheritance, solving disagreements between spouses or partners, etc. A will attorney in Long Island will play an important role in helping you make these important decisions.
Final thoughts
When it comes to estate planning, the future of your loved ones along with your own is at stake. You want to make sure everything is compliant with the law and written to protect the people you care for the most. Hiring a will attorney in Long Island is one way to ensure that.
