The Importance Of Keeping Your Will Up To Date
Nearly everyone understands the need to have a properly drafted and executed will. A comprehensive will ensures that your assets and property are handled according to your wishes in the event of your death. Without a will, your estate will be handled by the courts who will direct its administration and distribution according to law, not according to your instructions or desires. While creating a will is vitally important, keeping your will current and updated is of equal priority. This action ensures that any changes in your assets, property, family, or other pertinent areas are fully reflected in your will, the legal instrument that the courts rely upon concerning the distribution of your property.
In the greater Pittsburg area, you can turn to the Temple & Frayer Law Office for the creation of your will, its updating, and for all your estate planning needs. Our firm has close to four decades of experience in handling estate planning for individuals and their families in this region. As a result of our high level of competence and client service, our founder has earned the highest peer-review rating, AV Preeminent,* from Martindale-Hubbell.
What Changes Can Lead To The Updating Of Your Will?
You can revise and update your will at any time after it has been executed. Many changes and newly arising circumstances could prompt the need for such an update. These can include changes in the dynamics of your family such as a marriage or divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, the death of a child, spouse, sibling, or another heir, the addition of new people whom you wish to make into beneficiaries or a charity or other group upon which you wish to bestow a gift. In the case of newly born or adopted minor children, you may wish to designate a guardian whom you trust to care for them as well.
Other changes which will call for the updating of your will include the acquisition of new assets, property, or businesses as well as the sales, losses, or devaluing of assets. Pension plans and new insurance policies may also come into play which need to be dealt with. If you have moved to the Pittsburgh area from another state, you should also have your will reviewed by our firm to ensure that it meets Pennsylvania requirements. Finally, changing tax laws may affect various aspects of your will; by having our firm review and update, we can ensure that your will reflects these.
Contact A Pittsburgh Estate Planning Attorney
If you have any question about your will, contact our firm to arrange for a free and confidential consultation. Protect the important document which protects your family and heirs. Call us to get started today.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories — legal ability and general ethical standards.