Having a will is an important thing. Unfortunately, not many Americans have a will, advanced health care directive, or a durable power of attorney. According to LegalZoom, only 18% of them over the age of 55 have any of that. If you're deciding to be among that small percentage, you should have a local attorney help you write your will. Here's why!

They Can Create a Technical Will

A will is a far more complex legal document than one that just says, "I want to leave my assets to so-and-so." There are pitfalls that a layperson could easily fall into. Having a local attorney who is versed in this can ensure that the most complex will is written in a way that there is no confusion when it is read.

They Can Keep You From Making Mistakes

Having someone who practices law looking over your will as it's being composed is invaluable. They can make sure that you don't accidentally name the wrong executor, for example. That could lead to possible chaos if not caught. However, they can prevent that from happening.

They Can Help You Update Your Will

People update their will all the time. They may add people or remove them. In either case, a lawyer can help them do that. They just need to make sure that the person doing it is of sound mind, not someone who is trying to pull some strings in the background.

Besides the actual writing of the will, the lawyer can also act as both a buffer and an enforcer. They can keep family members from squabbling with each other and keep any unwanted people out of the reading of the will. This is how they can be a truly valuable ally when it comes to creating a will and everything that happens afterward.

One of the reasons people might not write a will is that they think it's being "morbid" and that they are going to live a long time. Life is full of unexpected turns. By doing this, you will be ensuring less hardship for your family.

Do you live in Rhode Island and need a local attorney to help you write your will? We can do that for you, along with other areas of the law. We have over 25 years of experience. Contact us today at Law Office of Christine D. Patterson for a consultation and ask us about our payment plans.