Questions on Wrting a Will?

Question

I just went threw Two family funerals. Both of the family members had wills. My questions are below.

Is there more than One kind of Will?
(if yes can you list them)

Does a Lawyer have to be involved in the writing process?

Are there any sites Online to help me with the writing of a will?
(Free Sites Please)

I am sorry for the misspellings I forgot to hit the spell check button.

I live in the state of Tennessee.

Answer 1

In Tennessee any person older than 18 years of age may write a will. Tennessee Code §32-1-102

Tennessee law provides that you can write your own will (holographic will), and that the signature and dispositive provisions must be in the testator's own writing and proven by two witnesses. Tennessee Code § 32-1-105.

Noncupative (oral) wills are permitted in some circumstances. Because of the possibility of fraud, these are strictly regulated. Read the statute for more information. Tennessee Code §32-1-106.

A will other than an holographic or noncupative will must be signed by the testator and witnessed by two witnesses who were present with each other and the testator when the will was signed. Tennessee Code §32-1-104.

A lawyer does not have to prepare your will, but I would recommend a lawyer because I have seen too many people make mistakes preparing their own documents, even with fill in the blanks documents.

There are sample wills on some internet sites: Will for married adult with children: http://www.ilrg.com/forms/lastwill-married/us/tn

Will for single adult without children: http://www.ilrg.com/forms/lastwill-single/us/tn

Will for single adult with children: http://www.ilrg.com/forms/lastwill-single-mc-tr/us/tn

An earlier answerer to your question mentioned that there is a California statutory will form. If you want to look at that form, click here: http://calbar.ca.gov/calbar/pdfs/publications/Will-Form.pdf

It is generally best to have a will be in a self-proving format (executed in the presence of a notary public and witnesses) to make the probate easier. If a will is not self-proving, the witnesses must appear at the courthouse and sign an affidavit after the testator dies. The self-proving part of the will means that the executor does not have to hunt for the witnesses after the decedent's death or try to find non-subscribing witnesses.

Answer 2

Yes. In California you can make a will in one of three ways:

A HANDWRITTEN OR HOLOGRAPHIC WILL: This will must be completely in your own handwriting. You must date and sign the will. Your handwriting has to be legible, and the will must clearly state what you are leaving and to whom. A handwritten will does not have to be notarized or witnessed. Even so, having the will signed by two witnesses is a good idea. It is also a good idea to retain a qualified lawyer to check the will to be sure that it conforms with California law and is clear with respect to your intentions and directions.
A STATUTORY WILL: California law provides for a "fill-in-the-blanks" will form. The will form is designed for single, married and divorced people with relatively small estates. If there is anything you do not understand or if you are making any provisions which are complicated or unusual, you should ask a qualified lawyer to advise you.
A WILL PREPARED BY A LAWYER: A qualified estate planning lawyer can provide you with the assurance that your will is prepared in accordance with California law. The lawyer can also offer suggestions and help you understand the many ways that property can be transferred to or for the benefit of your beneficiaries. A lawyer can also help you develop a complete estate plan and offer alternative plans which may save taxes. This kind of planning can be extremely helpful and economical in the long run for you and your beneficiaries. Your lawyer will either personally supervise the signing of your will or will provide you with detailed instructions concerning the rules for its execution by you and two witnesses who are not beneficiaries of your estate..

No matter what kind of will you use, the will should be solely your will and not a "joint will" with your spouse or any other person.

There also is a "Living Will." A Living Will is a document which lets you decide whether or not to be kept on artificial life support. Often, these documents also appoint someone to make important health care decisions on your behalf in case you are unable to do so.

See below for some good links!

Answer 3

you can leave it all to me... or try use it to set up a organisation for children that would be genius if they had the means.. just because they are poor... does not mean they cannot be encouraged to be a genius.. for example give apiano to a child with great pianst talent who could not afford a paino.. things like this.......

bali has 138 orphanges and the whole island is 140kms long.. so thats about 1 orphange per kilometer.. sad but true there needs to be an organisation to help support those young mothers who are forced to give up their babies.. to fullfill societys grace.. its not fullfilling anything when familes are split ... families is what builds communities which in turn is society.... without this... its a control thing... the jews have a saying... divide and conquer... conquer what... natural love for your own child

Answer 4

All these questions are different in every state.