All good intentions with handwritten wishes can become complicated when the unexpected happens. Weston Hurd partner Jay Nabors explains in “The Cost of Distancing:”
With nearly everyone avoiding contact over the last year or so, people got creative with the ways they accomplished tasks typically handled in person. Zoom meetings replaced face-to-face interaction, and Door Dash became the conduit for eating out at home.
Unfortunately, when it came to estate matters, many people decided to take matters into their own hands, either skipping estate planning altogether, or, like one couple did, hand-writing a last will and testament.
“He didn’t name an executor, so the wife ended up having to go to court to have herself appointed,” Jay explains. “She had to jump through a lot of hoops to have both the document recognized and herself appointed, which was costly.”
Jay says anyone who is still leery about meeting in person can schedule a consultation by Zoom. He’ll send you all of your documentation to review. Final paperwork does have to be signed in person with two witnesses, but that can be handled with proper distance in a short amount of time. “Life is so unpredictable, it’s a good idea to get your affairs in order right now,” he suggests.
The full article can be viewing by clicking this link: The Cost of Social Distancing
