wills...like when you die.

[bassmatt72]

Personally I would recommend finding a lawyer that you trust and ask him, maybe Grayson is one judging from his post. In my experience it is important to have a properly written, and executed will. Moose, sorry to hear about your experience, but it sounds like the will did exactly how it was written according to your second post. Perhaps your grandmother thought by having it written the way it was it would keep the heirs from contesting it? I have been the executor of three wills and helped with two others, I've learned that just like medical care you have to be proactive and self motivated in seeing it is done properly. I am currently in the process of probating and closing my SIL will/estate and it is/will not be a simple one to do.

[Bluesman]

Oh geez.....not many posts and already some bad/false information. PM me if you'd like to talk about it.

Can't even have an evening of kicks reading stuff from the arm chair future Supreme Court Justices.

[doghouse]

Never do share and share alike!

[Lawhorn]

Talk to an attorney a get a will drafted. It's never too early. Just make sure and update as children and spouses come into the picture.

[Jtrage]

Go to legalzoom.com. It has all the forms you need to fill out (if it's an easy will). And you can file those without all the attorney fees. Research it before you spend money on an attorney.

[BQ93]

I would never advise someone to use a will they get online. It is a great way to leave your heirs a big mess to deal with.

Uncomplicated wills can be very cheap ( read as "free") and easy - especially in Texas. As Grayson said please PM him or myself so we can at least explain your options.

[elkbowhunter]

So bottom line question:
is the living revocable trust a good way to go instead of a regular will?

[BQ93]

You are going to hate this answer (my students and clients do) - but "it depends".

You really have to speak to an attorney and tell them the specifics of your situation. And no we aren't trained to say that to drum up business for each other.

[DFWPI]

Listen to Grayson. He should get you fixed up.

[41Chevy]

I'm keeping my stuff simple. Spending it all now.

[Grayson]

So bottom line question:
is the living revocable trust a good way to go instead of a regular will?

Bottom line answer: it depends on your individual circumstances. In my opinion, in Texas, the most important reason to use a trust as your primary estate planning vehicle, rather than a Will, is for privacy reasons (because a Will filed for probate is a public document, and a trust is not). Texas probate is in most cases fairly simple, and (again, my opinion) people who are told to do a trust to "avoid probate" are being fed a line by an attorney who wants to charge them more for doing a trust...and then won't help them complete the trust documents, which as burnadell pointed out is the most important part of a trust.

But what do I know? I didn't even stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

[elkbowhunter]

thanks Grayson. So what your saying is it could be a good thing.

[xman59]

do it once, do it right with an attorney,,,, laws and paperwork changes frequently,,,, think far ahead,,,, after some remarks and actions by my older brother over the last three years, my mom had her will re written, although my brother has always been her favorite,,, she made me power of attorney, executor of the will, medical power of attorney, and guardian over her.... put me on her bank account, ..... none of it I asked for,,,, she did not want him making decisions over her in anything,,,,
all of these things need to be looked at closely, with or by an attorney and filed with the county...... it is worth the money it costs to do it!!

[Muygrande]

Listen to Burnadell, Grayson and Xman. Proper planning will always make things go much smoother. A couple of hours with a qualified estate planning attorney is money well spent. Probate law in Texas is very different from other states so advice you get from websites (like Suzie Q) might be way off base if you live here. The Living Trust is a good example. If the heirs fight over grandma's money it is always going to be a mess but a solid iron-clad will is the best medicine.