You may think about a wills lawyer and decide that there is no reason to hire one because you can write your will yourself. That is true, but it is not a bad idea to have a professional look it over. There are so many things that go into writing up a will and you want to make sure you don't miss anything. Many people think that a will is only used to write up who you want your money and possessions to go to, but that is not true. Here are a few reasons why a will is so important:

Saves time & alleviates some of the stress - Having a will written to have everything in place when you die is very important because it will make things much easier for your family after you pass. It is important to be specific about who you want to have each item you own.

Determines who you want to manage your estate - It is important to meet with an estate planning attorney before you pass away so that when you do, everything is set. One of the first things they will do is help you pick an executor, which is the person who will oversee all your money and other items. You’ll want to make sure you choose someone who you trust to do exactly what you leave behind in writing.

Decides who will inherit your assets and property - This can cause a lot of issues within families when it is not clearly established before you pass. A wills lawyer can help you formally write up who you want to leave your money and any valuable possessions to. 

Determines who will be the guardian for small children - This is a unique thing that only applies to families where both parents are killed or pass away, leaving a young child behind. In this case, it is important to look back at a will to see who the parents wish to raise their child. If there is no person listed, then the court will choose someone to raise your child. However, if only one parent passes away, the parent who is alive will get full custody if they are mentally stable. 

Provides instructions for electronic assets - This is a new one that has come up due to the increase in the use of technology. It is important to talk about electronic assets when you meet with your wills lawyer if you have certain wishes for your online profiles. Some people want them deleted, while others want them managed by a loved one or friend. 

Gives you the option to leave money or possessions to your favorite charity - Sometimes there may be people who want to leave possessions or donate money to a charity that they love. This can be because of a lack of close family or just a love for a specific charity and the work that they do. Either way make sure you talk about it when you meet with a wills lawyer. 

Burial instructions - This one is a big deal when you are dealing with the loss of a loved one. There are so many decisions that must be made about what you want done with your organs and physical body after you pass away. A wills lawyer can really help you decide what you want to be done with your body by explaining what all your options are.

Peace of mind - The amount of peace you'll feel after making a will is like nothing else. There’s nothing like the feeling of knowing you have everything in place, so if anything happened to you your family would be all set. 

Contact the Law Office of Gregory W Files PA to schedule an appointment with our will lawyers and estate planning attorneys today! We proudly serve people in Windham, ME, and the surrounding areas.