Skip to navigation
PERSONAL ATTENTION & PASSIONATE ADVOCACY PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE TODAY
laptop with pen.

DIY ESTATE PLANNING MAY NOT BE BETTER THAN NOT PLANNING AT ALL

Law Office of Mary Alice Gwynn, PA April 9, 2019

Some Florida residents may believe that they can complete any task without spending money on professional help. While this DIY approach may work in many situations, it is not always wise when it comes to estate planning. An estate plan can be effective at providing instruction for family members when they need it most, but if it is not created correctly, it may only cause complications.

Certainly, there are many DIY options available for creating wills and other estate planning documents, but they are limited in the information they provide. For instance, these sites typically do not guide individuals through the documents that would most suit their planning needs. Instead, they tend to assume that the parties already know what documents they want to use. As a result, it is easy to miss out on beneficial planning tools.

Additionally, each state has its own set of laws regarding estate planning and the enforcement of documents. DIY planning sites commonly used general language in hopes of giving people in numerous states the ability to use their documents. However, if the documents used do not specifically fit the laws of the state, they may not be usable. Unfortunately, documents that family members cannot use leave them in the same position as if a plan was not created at all.

Taking the time to create a comprehensive and legally-enforceable estate plan can be a great gift to surviving loved ones. It may take time, effort, and some money in order to make estate planning work to its fullest capabilities, but it is often worth it. Florida residents ready to get their end-of-life affairs in order may want to consult with legal professionals about their options.