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Protect your family with a last will and testament
You can specify your wishes for the disposition of your possessions, money, and house in a legally binding document called a Last Will and Testament.
Create Your Will NowWhy do you need a last will and testament?
When you pass away, you want your assets divided according to your personal preferences.
After your death, you wish to name certain individuals or entities as the beneficiaries of your estate.
You want to choose an individual or organization to carry out the wishes expressed in your will.
In the event that one parent is unable to care for your children, you want to designate the other as the primary caregiver.
You want to make sure that designated entities have access to your digital property, including email accounts, domain names, backup services, social media profiles, saved documents and photos, etc.
Start your last will and testament with Citadel Law
Create your legally valid will in four simple steps
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Create Your Account
Register online in minutes. Secure access to your documents 24/7.
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Complete the Questionnaire
Our step-by-step wizard guides you through questions about your family, assets, and wishes.
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Attorney Review & Consultation
Our attorney prepares your personalized will and consults with you to review and perfect it.
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Sign & Store Safely
Execute your will with proper witnesses and keep it in a safe place with instructions provided.
What are the benefits of a Last Will and Testament?
Asset Distribution
A last will ensures your possessions go to the appropriate entities after you pass away. If you pass away without a will, the court will consider your death an interstate death, which means the law will decide how to divide your assets.
Guarantees Financial Security
Do you have a family member with special needs who would need special financial help in the event that you pass away? If so, a final will may be a lifesaver by giving the bereaved access to extra funds. In the absence of a will, the heirs' share of the estate is typically equal.
Put an End to Legal Difficulties
Having a will in place expedites property settlements. It can also save an enormous amount of money and time by helping the beneficiaries avoid frivolous property disputes.
Protect Your Children
If you have minor children, you can choose who will be their guardians in the event that both parents die. For the sake of providing sufficient support for children, you can also compile a record of the assets and funds you want them to have access to.
How Does a Final Will Work?
If you want certain people to inherit your possessions, money, and home after you pass away, you need to create a legally binding document known as a final will that specifies all of your assets and who you want them to go to.
Will versus a living trust: which one should you create?
Before deciding between a will and a living trust, you should take stock of your priorities, those of your loved ones, and your financial situation.
A will works best if:
- Any of your children are under the age of 18.
- Your desires for your care at the end of life are clear.
- You want to appoint a power of attorney.
A living trust works best if:
- You don't want your assets to go through a probate procedure.
- While you're still alive, you want your beneficiaries to have access to cash, property, or other assets.
- You want to use an irrevocable trust to avoid estate tax.
Because of their respective functions, it may be wise to have a will and a living trust in place if you find yourself in any of these scenarios.
Living trust versus a last will: Understanding the main differences.
Wills
- Activates upon your death
- Proceeds via the court of probate
- Simple to alter
- Legal representation for minors and rapid transfer of assets
- Publicly accessible
- Affordable
Trust
- Stays active even while you're alive
- Avoids the probate process
- Challenging to alter
- Transferring assets could be a lengthy process.
- Remains confidential
- May necessitate costly charges
Frequently asked questions
All adults greatly benefit from having a final will. These legal documents ensure your loved ones receive the assets you want them to inherit in the event you pass away. It's important to keep the documents updated with your latest information and wishes, especially in the following circumstances:
- You have a new child (biologically or adopted).
- You get married or divorced.
- You purchase new property.
Having witnesses and having the document notarized may help safeguard your Final Will in the event that someone challenges its legitimacy.
For a last will to have any force or effect under the law, it must adhere to certain standards. You need to be mentally capable of entering into the agreement, free from coercion or undue influence, and it has to be signed and attested in accordance with your state's legal requirements.
Yes, generally speaking. With a few exceptions, you are free to exclude any individual from your final will. Certain laws protect spouses and children to ensure they receive what is lawfully theirs. To make your wishes known in a last will, you should consult an attorney.
It is possible to declare that all previous final wills are null and void at any point before death by drafting a new last will. Simply tearing up, defacing, burning, or otherwise destroying a last will nullify it.
Codicils are amendments to last wills that allow for alterations to the will without completely canceling it. The process for signing and witnessing a codicil to a final will is identical to that of the original will. To keep your last will current and reduce the likelihood of disputes, you must adhere to the same signing procedures whenever you make changes to it.
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