Sites to See: Estate Planning
AARP.org:
What Is a Will?
Can’t tell the difference between an executor and a beneficiary?
This in-depth backgrounder in AARP.org’s Legal Solutions section
will have you ready to intelligently discuss your will-making needs
in no time.
AARP.org:
Worksheet for Your Will
Whether you’re hiring a lawyer or using a book or computer program
to make your will, this checklist will help you gather your thoughts—as
well as the specific information you’ll need—to prepare
an accurate will that clearly reflects your intentions.
Nolo.com:
Wills and Estate Planning Law Center
This leading legal do-it-yourself company offers numerous articles on
just about every aspect of wills and estate planning. Check out topics
such as
leaving
property to children and
determining
which partner owns what in a marriage.
AARP.org:
Legal Services Network
This benefit from AARP provides access to attorneys who offer reduced
fees to members and their spouses.
Find
a lawyer who specializes in wills and estate planning by scrolling
down to your state and selecting the locale closest to you.
Lawyer
Locator from the American Bar Association
The ABA's site lets you search a national database of attorneys by location
and area of practice; choose either Wills and Probate or Estates and
Trusts from the drop-down menu to refine your results. You can also
click on your state on the site's
interactive
map to find a list of local lawyer referral services.
American
College of Trust and Estate Counsel
This national professional organization, whose members are nominated
and elected by their peers, offers a database of more than 2,400 lawyers
experienced in will and trust preparation. Click on a state name for
all available listings, or scroll down to do a targeted search.
Wills.com
This site offers a quick and inexpensive way to draft a relatively simple
will with an optional children’s trust provision. Though the site
doesn’t have an extensive reference library, each part of the
will is clearly explained on the help
page. The interface is easy to follow; navigation is a combination
of drop-down menus and text-entry boxes. Pay by credit card, and instantly
receive an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file to save and print. Cost: $29.95.
LegalZoom.com
This comprehensive self-help site uses fill-in boxes and drop-down menus
to guide you through the will-making process. For reference, it offers
a glossary and a guide
to major will-making topics. After you pay by credit card, your
answers are reviewed for consistency (though not by a lawyer), and within
48 hours you’ll receive a hard copy of the document (you can also
choose to receive a PDF or a Microsoft Word file). The site offers free
notification of changes in law that might affect your will after it’s
created. Cost: $55. An additional $40 entitles you to an unlimited number
of revisions for five years.
These links are provided for informational
purposes only. AARP does not endorse, and has no control over, or responsibility
for, the linked sites or the content, advertisements, materials, products,
or services available on or throughout these sites.
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