When you create an estate plan, you may think your responsibilities have finished. However, it’s vital to understand that you’ll need to make updates to reflect the changes in your life. Unfortunately, many people are unfamiliar with how to update a Will, so they procrastinate making the necessary revisions. As such, this means you may pass away without your estate plan reflecting your true wishes. Understanding how to revise these documents is crucial. The following blog explores how a Medina County, Ohio Will preparation lawyer can assist you through these challenging times.

Why Might I Need to Update a Will?

When you create a Will, it will reflect your life at the time of it’s creation. However, as your life changes, your estate plan should be updated to ensure your wishes are met. Common reasons you may want to update your Will include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Births
  • Deaths
  • Marriages
  • Divorces
  • Acquiring or selling property
  • Legislation passes that impact estate taxes
  • Inheriting assets and funds
  • You lose your Will
  • You move to a new state

If any of these situations apply to you, updating your Will is likely the best course of action to ensure your wishes are met.

How Can I Make Changes?

In the event you want to make changes to your Will, knowing how to proceed is vital. Unfortunately, many believe they can simply cross out the area they wish to revise and attach a note with the updated terms. However, this is far from the truth.

In reality, if you wish to update your Will, you’ll need to create a Codicil, or amendment, to the terms and conditions of the document. When creating a Codicil, you’ll need to ensure that you put it in writing, have it signed by the Testator, and have two witnesses present while it is being added to your Will.

If you do not wish to create a Codicil because you need to update a considerable portion of your Will, it is possible to completely revoke and re-write your Will. However, this process can be lengthy, as you must destroy your original Will, explicitly state that you revoke any other copy of a Will in your name, and re-write the document.

Do I Need an Attorney for This Process?

If you need to make changes to your Will, whether major or minor, it is in your best interest to enlist the assistance of an experienced lawyer. Unfortunately, making an error when amending your Will, may invalidate the entire document, leaving your estate “intestate.” Essentially, this means your estate will be left in the hands of Ohio to distribute your assets.

As such, it’s in your best interest to contact an experienced estate planning attorney as soon as possible. Not only can this ensure your wishes are accurately reflected, but it can help make sure any amendments you want to include are legally binding. Luckily, Krause Law is ready to assist. Our dedicated legal team will work with you to ensure your wishes are met. Contact us today to learn how we can help.