Benefits of Using a DIY Will Kit & When to Hire a Lawyer

Creating a will is not something most people enjoy discussing, which is why many put it off and some don’t do it at all. Still, there are a multitude of reasons to create a will. Most importantly, your will helps you plan and decide where your property goes and how it should be dispersed. Today, there’s more than one way to have a will drawn up in your name. The traditional way is to hire a lawyer, but you can also go online and purchase a do-it-yourself will (also known as a DIY will kit).

The latter is usually far cheaper and faster than working directly with a lawyer. The service you purchase your DIY will kit from will simply send you the forms you need to create the document, along with instructions on how to store and use it.

Many people find the ease of DIY will kits superior to working with a lawyer. On the other hand, legal experts usually advise against going with online wills. Is this because it’s not in their best interest to recommend a non-lawyer solution?

That’s certainly possible. And that’s also why knowing the best way to create a will can be confusing for many consumers. Up ahead, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of both lawyer-drawn up wills and online DIY will kits. This should help you make the best decision for you and your family when it comes time to create a will.

Setting Up Your Will with a DIY Will Kit vs. Hiring a Lawyer

Ask any lawyer if having a will drawn up by a legal professional is better than going with a DIY kit, and they will undoubtedly tell you to go with a lawyer.

In part, this is because lawyers naturally see the benefits of their own profession. But there’s also good advice to be had here.

That is, only a lawyer knows how to set up your will in a way that maximizes your benefits. The main problem with DIY will kits is that they are one-size-fits-all. In other words, they assume that everyone has the same basic financial situation and facilitate the creation of wills based on these criteria.

As we all know, however, everyone’s financial situation is different. Some people have worked at the same company their entire lives. Others own their own businesses or have never worked outside the home. There are things like international assets, inheritances, stocks, retirement plans, and life insurance policies to take into consideration. Some people have kids, and others don’t. Some are married while others are single or widowed.

All these factors make a huge difference when it comes to creating a will. Especially if your finances and living situation are a bit more complicated, going with an online DIY will kit will almost certainly ensure that you will not get the outcome you’re hoping for when you pass.

Are There Any Benefits of Using an Online DIY Will Kit?

Yes, there can be. Although it’s generally better to go with a lawyer, in some cases, you may choose to create your will with a DIY kit, and this may be the best choice at the time.

Generally speaking, this is true if you’re in a bind and don’t have a lot of time to create a will. In this case, a DIY will kit will be much faster.

Likewise, if it’s simply too expensive to have your will created by a lawyer, an online kit may be useful as well. It’s certainly better than not creating a will at all.

The same is true when it comes to ease and convenience. If you simply cannot get to your lawyer’s office for the creation of your formal will, online wills offer the next best option.

Finally, if you don’t have a lot of assets and have a relatively small and simple estate, you may choose to go with a DIY will kit as well. In this case, it would be unlikely that anything would be misconfigured, and you could likely guarantee a good outcome.

We hope this information has been useful as you navigate the creation of your own will. It’s certainly an important step toward protecting your assets and ensuring financial stability for you and your family. If you would like more information about Explorer RV Club, please head to our membership page.