Filling in a Form Will
Some office supply stores still carry paper will forms you can buy. These forms allow you to fill in the blanks to create your will. However, it is difficult for such a form to meet everyone's needs. A will that might meet the goals and objectives for one family often is different from a will that meets the needs of another family, even when the two families seem similar. Frankly, it is hard even to find an office supply store that still sells paper forms. Instead, most now sell computer software packages that generate wills, as well as other common estate planning documents.
You may not be comfortable with computers and prefer the old-fashioned method. If you can't locate a paper form, you can use the information you learned in Chapters 6 and 7 and the sample will found in this chapter to help you draft your own will.
You need to be careful when you use any self-help methods of creating a will. The words in a will have very specific meanings and can have surprising results if you don't understand the definitions and the rules.
Generally speaking, it is better in the long run to have a lawyer prepare your will to be sure it is valid in your state. Then, you won't need to wonder if you've made a mistake or left out something important. And your heirs and the court won't have to deal with wondering what you meant.
Internet Forms
There are hundreds of websites where you can find a form will. Some of the websites allow you to download the document free of charge, while others charge a fee for the download. Some documents are in PDF format and cannot be changed, and others are downloaded into a word-processing format. There are also websites that have interactive forms, allowing you to create a will online and download the finished document. Most of the interactive websites charge a fee, sometimes very little, as noted in Appendix B.
The American Bar Association has recommended that state bar associations begin providing self-help legal information on the state bar association websites. The sentiment seems to be that if a state bar association is providing information on its website, it will be accurate and reliable. Visit
Books
There are several books that contain legal forms in text or on CDs and some that are now devoted to will forms. Take time to visit your local library or law school to see whether one of the will samples works for you. You may be surprised by the many varieties of forms a will can take!
The rules you must follow to create a valid will can vary slightly from state to state. If you draft your own will, even with the best form available, it's a good idea to have a lawyer who is licensed in your state review the form you've prepared. He can make sure it is valid and that the will has been signed following the proper formalities.
Many brokerage firms, financial planners, and bank trust departments offer brochures and information about investments and estate planning. If you don't want to get on someone's mailing list by requesting their materials, check your library or bookstore for publications that teach you about wills and estate planning. Some of these books cover topics in such complicated terms that it is difficult to get what is often referred to as “meat and potatoes advice.” But there are more on the market today that offer understandable suggestions.
