Published By Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.
A simple will is the best way to manage an estate. The document outlines who will receive what at the time of an individual’s death. There are clauses to this document; however, that must be there to validate the contents.
Necessary Information
We are not talking about the distribution, but essential information used for identification. These include:
- full legal name and date of birth.
- a declaration that the individual is of sound mind and body.
- the name of the estate’s executor.
- the person’s signature and the signature of two witnesses.
- Finally, the list of assets and how these are to be distributed upon death.
The individual must also be at least 18 years of age for the simple will to be valid in the United States.
Wills Can Be Contested
You must be careful when writing a will because anyone can contest a will on various grounds. The most common are:
- The person writing the will may not have the mental capacity to do so due to dementia or cognitive impairment.
- Undue influence. This means that an outside party may have pressured the person writing the will into making certain concessions or distributions. For example, the person has been threatened with harm by someone else unless the second party is awarded certain assets.
- Fraud. Someone else may have tricked the person into signing a bogus will, or they may have forged that person’s signature on a document.
If the will is successfully contested, the original document can be an estate distribution and must follow state law.
The Agony of Intestate
Intestate happens if the person dies without a valid will. The probate court then appoints an administrator and decides how the estate is divided, regardless of the wishes of the deceased. Moreover, the state may take out more inheritance taxes.
State law will govern the distribution in the case of an intestate situation. Spouses and children are the primary beneficiaries, but others may be excluded. It might take months or years before the estate is finally distributed, and there may remain questions about whether that was fair.
Everything we have mentioned is a reason to have a professional write the will. Group legal plans ordinarily provide for this, and Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services the drafting of a simple will as one of our group legal plan benefits. It is the most used service.
We Use the Best Attorneys
We have a nationwide network of attorneys we rely on to perform necessary pre-paid legal services. There is an attorney in every community with a Countrywide client, and our group legal plan members have priority status.
A Countrywide lawyer is not just a legal practitioner. That person is also a teacher. They explain to a group legal plan member the significant clauses in a will and offer advice on matters such as appointing an executor and charitable donations.
Countrywide seriously takes the issue of validation. Our attorneys will write a document consistent with state law and meets all legal requirements. The Countrywide lawyer will also ensure that the final document is appropriately recorded with the state.
Client Input in Our Group Legal Plan
We intend that every client employee can use all benefits in a Countrywide plan. We guarantee this with the input of the decision-makers. Countrywide explains every benefit and points out the value to the employees. Management will then determine what pre-paid legal services will be in the final plan document. Those choices are included, and we supply member services and plan administration. We have a reputation for superior member services, and every plan member is treated courteously.
All our pre-paid legal services benefits provide excellent services for a client. We welcome an opportunity to explain what we can do that employees will greatly appreciate. Please get in touch with us at your earliest convenience, and we can arrange a mutually convenient time to discuss Countrywide with you.