Will and living trust setup without a lawyer?

[downtoearth]

Anyone done this? I have researched quite a bit and would like to set-up my own will and living trust (for my children) without paying a lawyer. 

I wish I had extra $ for an attorney and unluckily my work doesn't have that service for me - they have a simple will service (online), but no human support. Any advice?

[farmvillelover]

What state are you in

[RockNVoll]

farmvillelover is the expert but that sounds like a bad idea to me. That's something I'd really want to make sure is done correctly.

Although if the alternative is nothing at all, I suppose you don't have anything to lose.

[scout8]

I used nolo. It was pretty easy, but I have a law degree ( but haven't practiced in many years) and don't have kids. I'm sure it's better to use an attorney, but if you can't afford one, I'd recommend nolo.

[Susie]

H and I are both attorneys who practice in areas other than trusts & estates, and I feel like we know just enough to be really dangerous. There is exactly no chance I'd DIY a trust. Or even a will for that matter.  We are overdue to take care of a lot of this, but mostly because we need to decide who to go with to do the work for us.

[mcsangel2]

Part of setting up a trust correctly is dotting the i's and crossing the t's in getting your assets actually in the name of the trust. You need to retitle your house and cars and bank accounts in order for your beneficiaries to be able to access everything correctly. My parents had a trust and I am so grateful they did, it made liquidating their estate 1000% easier.

[wanderingback]

Jun 12, 2020 21:06:56 GMT -5 Catlawdy said:

This is something you need a lawyer for.

I'm a lawyer who used to have to tell families that the DIY stuff their relatives did was about to cost them a lot of money.

Damn, so that site nolo that was posted above is a scam?
My mom gave me a copy of her will and it looks pretty straightforward that the nolo site seemed like a good option. My partner and I need a will saying we leave our stuff to the other person.

[scout8]

Jun 13, 2020 8:11:33 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Jun 12, 2020 21:06:56 GMT -5 Catlawdy said:

This is something you need a lawyer for.

I'm a lawyer who used to have to tell families that the DIY stuff their relatives did was about to cost them a lot of money.

Damn, so that site nolo that was posted above is a scam?
My mom gave me a copy of her will and it looks pretty straightforward that the nolo site seemed like a good option. My partner and I need a will saying we leave our stuff to the other person.

I hope not since I'm the one that posted about it. LOL. As I mentioned above, it's been a long time since I practiced law and I didn't do estate work, but it seemed fine to me. It was state specific and was clear about needing witnesses and a notary. Ours was so simple that it seemed like something I could handle on my own. I wouldn't have used it if we had kids or our situation was complicated. 

[wanderingback]

Jun 13, 2020 18:15:54 GMT -5 scout8 said:

Jun 13, 2020 8:11:33 GMT -5 wanderingback said:

Damn, so that site nolo that was posted above is a scam?
My mom gave me a copy of her will and it looks pretty straightforward that the nolo site seemed like a good option. My partner and I need a will saying we leave our stuff to the other person.

I hope not since I'm the one that posted about it. LOL. As I mentioned above, it's been a long time since I practiced law and I didn't do estate work, but it seemed fine to me. It was state specific and was clear about needing witnesses and a notary. Ours was so simple that it seemed like something I could handle on my own. I wouldn't have used it if we had kids or our situation was complicated. 

Ok this is good to know.
Yeah I don’t think ours is too difficult, no kids.
We’re just not married so wanted to get something official just in case.