Moms-Did you make a will?

k&d2006

I want to know the most effective (cheapest/easiest) way to go about making a will to cover our butts in case we would leave Kelsie without parents for some awful reason. Did you make a will? How did you do it? How much did it cost? Did it include guardianship type stuff?
I suppose I should have already done this, but I haven't and need to.

RieTea

we went to a lawyer and it cost about $200 for the will (including gaurdianship) and things like a durable power of attorney and living will and stuff like that too. She also did some other minor paperwork for us (related to our house)...i felt more confident having a professional do it rather than the stress of figuring it out for ourselves (like with a computer program).

dmsn

We haven't had our baby yet, but plan to make a will with an attorney.

Temp655608750006792

Please please please do this ASAP.  You are so smart to be thinking about this.  I believe Suze Orman has step by step instructions if you get confused.  She has all the paperwork on her website and you just need to signed and notarized (I think).  She is a great resource.  Try and make it a new years resolution to get it done by the new year.  I have been on my sister and her husband about not getting this done for their two kids.  It's so frustrating!  Why they won't do it is beyond me.  

Best of Luck!

aleeandbry

We are in the process of looking into this.  You can get a simple will done with a lawyer for $150-200.  If you or your family knows a lawyer personally, they will probably give you a deal. 

You can also go on legalzoom.com and do it yourself (kind of like TurboTax) for about $60.  Some of the radio talk shows (like O'Rieley) give discount codes on the air.

Mrs*Pink

This post rattled me so much that I spilled my cereal on my laptop - LOL.  No harm, just a bit of milk.

We'll definitely do it right after the baby's born, but UGH - we're having such a hard time deciding guardianship.  We literally have no good option.

BuksFan

Please please please do not use a computer program or anything similar to make your will. No matter how good the program, it is not the same as having an attorney make sure all your bases are covered and that your children are fully protected. The above posters are correct, you can have a will drafted for about $200 and it's so worth it to avoid any potential problems that might pop up if you do it any other way or don't do it at all. I practice estate planning so I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have (free of charge) if you want to email me (michelle at yourohiolawyer dot com).

Jody81

We are getting this done before baby gets here. I just think, heaven forbid we get in a accident on the way home from the hospital or something. Mostly, we don't want the family fighting over who gets the little one and thought it best to have it done before he gets here.

missingjason

I agree with Buksfan.  There are so many different things that a lawyer will think to ask you based on your individual circumstances that a computer program will not.  For example, if a child would have any special needs, a trust needs to be set up completely different so that the child can still use benefits that they get from he state.  It's definitely worth it to pay a little more and work with a lawyer.

k&d2006

Michelle,

YGM!

BuksFan

YGM back!