Wills created with a template are valid so long as they are executed properly. If you have strong reason to believe that one or more members of your family may contest your wishes as described in your will, you should consider seeking professional advice. If you own all or part of a small business, you should also consider getting legal advice on how to pass on your interest once you're gone. If you have a dependent who will need care beyond adulthood, for instance, you might consider special provisions, such as a living trust, that go beyond what a will template can offer. Your estate could also be complicated because of the types of beneficiaries you have. An estate planning attorney can help ensure that your tax owed is as minimal as possible, leaving more of your hard-earned assets to your beneficiaries rather than to the government. On the other hand, if you have a more complex estate, especially if you have concerns about the federal estate and gift tax, a will template probably isn't the way to go.

These are types of property that you wouldn't put in a last will. Many of your assets may already be set up to pass directly to beneficiaries, notably a spouse-life insurance proceeds or bank accounts that are either jointly held or have a listed beneficiary, for example.

If you have a simple estate that includes perhaps a home, bank accounts, vehicles, valuable personal property, and some investments, your situation might be a good candidate for a simple will created with a template. Here are some key considerations when deciding whether you should just write a last will and testament yourself using a template or whether you should consider pursuing a more personalized will-writing experience. Whether a downloaded will form would work for you depends on your circumstances. As the testator, or person writing the will, you will likely only have to fill in the blanks so the final product accurately represents your wishes for the distribution of your property upon your death. A last will and testament template provides simple, easy-to-follow guidelines to create a will.

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