With the wife and I about ready to embark on our retirement move to Texas I need to get a will done (I know, I know, should have already have one). I don't have an attorney so I looked into Legal Zoom and they seem legit. We have all our investment/retirement stuff already set up with our investment advisers with a 50/50 split between our two grown sons and I don't have anything very complicated to deal with. So anybody have any experience you'd care to share?
Anybody used Legal Zoom?
- Thread starter tomcatmv
- Start date
I dont know about Legal Zoom, but Im a subscriber to Legal Shield and happy with what Ive gotten from them. Runs about $18 per month. They have a special set of documents set up just for wills at no extra charge, and they will review it for you at no charge.
LegalShield - Official Site
www.legalshield.com
LegalShield - Official Site
www.legalshield.com
If your estate really is simple and you're 100% confident it won't get contested, you can save a decent bit of money using the online type forms. If that doesn't apply, then absolutely consult a probate/estate attorney once you arrive in TX. Cost should be $1k or significantly less depending on the complexity of the estate, many times under $500.
Me, I always consult an attorney for my own peace of mind, even for my NFA trust.
Me, I always consult an attorney for my own peace of mind, even for my NFA trust.
I've used it to set up small LLC's for short term stuff. I assume everything was correct, but luckily I never had any legal issues that would find flaws in the documents.
I'd discuss with your financial planner before completing a will. They may have ideas about how your property / investments can be distributed with less tax issues.
I'd discuss with your financial planner before completing a will. They may have ideas about how your property / investments can be distributed with less tax issues.
Respectfully, you are being penny-wise and pound-foolish. After you are gone, someone will have to sort things out, without you. You don't know what you don't know so how can you determine what is adequate? See a lawyer. Find out in advance what a simple will will cost. It is like insurance. You could easily draft an unenforceable will.
Maybe you already have, but have you also had a four way sit down with your wife and two boys and had a candid conversation about your and your wife's wishes when either one of you aren't here anymore? I know a few people who have had family disagreements about not just the financials, but a lot of the other decisions and things that people don't like to think or talk about.........Food for thought!
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