You Need a Will!
To be sure your estate will be distributed according to your wishes, whether you are wealthy or of modest means, you should have a Last Will and Testament.
Nearly 60% of all Americans do not have a Last Will and Testament. According to Caring.com, the top reason people give for not having a Will is that they “just never got around to it.”
In PA, if you die without a Will, your estate is considered intestate and your property will be distributed according to PA’s intestacy laws regardless of your wishes. The state will dictate which of your relatives will inherit your estate as well as what percentage they will receive. If the court finds that you have no living relatives by blood or marriage, the state will take your property.
While discussing end-of-life matters can be uncomfortable, crafting a will allows you to make your wishes known and provides peace of mind knowing your affairs are in order.
Keith J. Williams Law makes it easy for you with an affordable Last Will and Testament package that includes your Will, Living Will, and Power of Attorney documents.
To get started now, download and complete these forms:
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To get started on your Will, Living Will and Power of Attorney documents call 215-340-1134 or submit the form below.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Last Will and Testament is a legal document that provides for the distribution of certain property owned by you at the time of your death in any manner you choose. It ensures that your wishes, and not the default laws of the state, will be followed.
- To choose who will receive your property.
- To appoint an Executor, someone to settle your affairs and ensure that your beneficiaries receive their inheritance.
- To decide who you want to raise your children by naming legal guardians to care for them.
- To provide for persons whom the state’s intestacy laws would not otherwise benefit, such as stepchildren, godchildren, friends, or charities.
- To ease the transition for survivors by transferring property quickly and avoiding many tax burdens.
Yes! It’s important to have a will regardless of your age or assets, because not only does it allow you to make the decisions about what you want but it also makes it much easier on the loved ones you leave behind. Furthermore, if they are parents, a will ensures their children will be cared for by the people they choose in the event of their death.
In Pennsylvania, if you die without a Will, your estate is considered intestate and your property will be distributed according to PA’s intestacy laws regardless of your wishes. The state will dictate which of your relatives will inherit your estate and what percentage they will receive beginning with your closest relatives: your spouse and children. If you have neither, your grandchildren or your parents will inherit your property followed by siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and your spouse’s relatives. If the court finds that you have no living relatives by blood or marriage, the state will take your property.
When life events such as marriage, the birth of a child or divorce occur, personal relationships change or interests in charities arise, your Will can and should be changed. Keith J. Williams recommends a periodic review and revision of your Last Will and Testament to reflects these changes.
After you sign your last will, you should keep it in a safe, easily accessible location. Be sure your executor knows exactly where you stored your last will. You do not have to file it with the court or place it in the public record.
In Pennsylvania, you may create a Healthcare Power of Attorney that appoints an agent to make healthcare decisions for you whenever you lack the ability to make them for yourself, such as:
A living will, also known as an advance healthcare directive, personal directive, advance directive, medical directive or advance decision, is a legal document in which a person specifies what actions should be taken for their health if they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness or incapacity.
In Pennsylvania, you have the right to decide whether to accept, reject or discontinue medical care and treatment. However, there may be times when you are unable to tell your doctor what kind of care or treatment you would like to receive or not to receive.
This can be addressed through a Living Will, a written document that you may use, under certain circumstances, to tell others what care you would like to receive or not receive should you become unable to express your wishes in the future.
Call Keith J. Williams Law at 215-340-1134 for your affordable Last Will and Testament, Living Will, and Power of Attorney package today!
