Though many people may be more comfortable going about day-to-day business without thinking of such terrible things as a life-costing accident or illness, the truth of the matter is, such a terrible occurrence is entirely possible. In order to ensure that our wishes are carried out exactly as we expect, wills are absolutely necessary.
A variety of factors come into play when the matter of inheritance arises, especially when a death has occurred unexpectedly. Wills clarify any sticky or controversial situations where the family may dispute the rightful ownership of elements of the deceased’s estate.
Such situations are more likely to occur when children from different marriages are involved, for example. The children or spouses from past marriages of the deceased person may feel entitled to inheritance and therefore contest the transfer of certain property or financial assets they do not inherit, greatly complicating the process of settling estate matters. In such situations, the existence of a will eliminates any opacity regarding the intentions of the deceased.
In some locations throughout the country, local or even federal laws may severely impact the transfer of estate assets in cases where no will was in place before the time of death. Laws may require that certain amounts of money or even certain property be subject to different methods of taxation where the deceased had no living will at the time of death.
Estate attorneys are professionals who can establish wills that will cover any situation. Handling an estate on your own, especially in the face of a complicated family situation or larger amounts of money and assets, is a task more wisely done with the aid of someone who has years of experience behind them. Do not leave your last wishes regarding your estate and your family’s and/or loved one’s inheritance to chance.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED ON AS SUCH. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CONSULT WITH A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL.
