Wills Attorney in Springfield, Ohio
Requirements for Creating a Will in Springfield, Ohio
A will is a document which sets forth how you want your property distributed upon your death, however, to be valid, your will must meet the legal requirements of the state of Ohio. Any person who is 18 or older and is of sound mind (and not being unduly influenced by another person) can make a legal will in Ohio. Barring certain exceptions, your will must be written and must have your signature included. “Written” means the will must be either handwritten or typewritten
There must be two or more competent witnesses who watch you sign your will—or hear you acknowledge that you signed the will. For those who do not have the physical capacity to write out their last will and testament by hand or even sign a will which is drafted by an attorney, Ohio law sets forth special provisions. These provisions include the fact that if you are hospitalized, have an injury which prevents you from signing your will or are simply too weak to sign your will, you are allowed to have someone sign on your behalf.
Your Family's Peace of Mind is Priceless
Read Our Former Clients' Five-Star Reviews
Our compassionate and through approach to Estate Planning makes a real difference in our clients' lives. Read reviews in their own words below.
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"The Best Customer Service"George and his crew provide the best in customer service and have an outstanding work ethic. They have always been there to help us when needed!- Mark S.
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"He Made It Easy"Bill was very friendly, knowledgeable, and kind. He made Estate Planning fun, fast and easy. We both feel relief to know our wishes are spelled out and our assets are protected!- Sherry C.
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"Peace of Mind"He explained each step 100 percent. He takes the time to talk WITH you, not TO you. I am so thankful I went to his seminar and took advantage of the free consultation.- Rosa S.
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"Made It Easy to Understand"George Lovett made our estate planning easy to understand and informative. He used our personal information to create a plan that was tailor-made to us.- Pamela O.
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"Expertise & Attentiveness"We were very pleased with the service, expertise, and attentiveness we received. We are glad that we choose Lovett & House for this.- Pat D.
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"A Pleasure to Work With"George Lovett has helped my family tremendously. He always explained our options and took care of us with the utmost professionalism.- Marlene W.
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"Easy to Understand"They made it easy to update our estate planning needs. All our questions were answered in easy to understand language and we didn't feel overwhelmed.- Rita S.
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"Very Helpful"he Estate Trust planning was easy to do with the Lovett & House. George H. Lovett and William H. House were very knowledgeable and helpful.- Judith A.
Why Do You Need a Will?
According to AARP, only 4 in 10 American adults currently have a will or trust—even though most all adults realize the importance of estate planning. While older adults are more likely to have an estate plan than younger adults, in some ways, younger adults with minor children should feel a sense of urgency to have an estate plan even more than an older adult. A will can provide a guardian for minor children in the event of your death—an extremely important detail. Yet 78 percent of millennials—those between the ages of 18 and 36—do not have a will.
Interestingly, more people are proactive regarding a health care power of attorney than in other aspects of estate planning, such as wills and trusts. A health care power of attorney allows another person to make medical decisions for you should you become incapacitated. If you are wondering why so many people are putting off estate planning, the most common reasons given are “Haven’t gotten around to it,” and “Don’t have sufficient assets to justify an estate plan.”
Neither of these excuses are valid—an estate plan prepared by an experienced Ohio estate planning attorney will take little of your time, and the benefits are innumerable. For those who believe only the wealthy need estate plans—think again. Anyone with any level of assets—a home, a bank account, a car—can benefit from an estate plan. In short, everyone with any real or personal property should have a will—regardless of the value of that property—to ensure the property is distributed the way they want it to be distributed.
Can You Choose Who to Leave Your Assets to in Your Will?
This seems like an easy answer however, it is important to speak to your Ohio estate planning attorney about this issue. The laws of the state of Ohio grants a surviving spouse and minor children certain rights which cannot be negated by a will. Further, property held in the names of two persons may not automatically pass to the survivor when one dies. In fact, property which is held jointly with no right of survivorship requires the decedent’s portion of the property to pass through probate prior to distribution. Again, this is an issue which you should certainly discuss with an experienced Springfield, Ohio estate planning attorney.
Benefits of a Will
A will must go through probate, which is often considered the “downside” to a will. Probate means the contents of your will are available to the public, and that your heirs may have to wait longer to receive their inheritance than they would if your assets are in a revocable living trust. Further, should you die without a will (intestate), your property will be distributed according to Ohio laws—you will have no control over who receives your assets.
When you have a will prepared by a knowledgeable Springfield, Ohio estate planning attorney, you can name the person you want to manage the administration of your estate after your death, as well as a guardian for minor children. The Lovett & House Law Firm can help you prepare a comprehensive estate plan which includes a will. Our attorneys have years of experience helping those in Springfield, Ohio to prepare an estate plan which fits their specific needs.
Contact Lovett & House today to get your estate plan started.
