Best Estate Planning Attorneys in Brentwood, NY

Experienced Will Lawyer in NYC Works With Clients To Prepare Last Will and Testaments That Reflect Their Wishes In considering why you need a last will and testament it is helpful to consider what happens if you do not have a will when you die. If someone passes away without a will — which is known as dying intestate — that individual’s assets go through a process known as probate. Probate is a legal process by which someone’s assets are distributed. Probate can be a lengthy and costly process. When you die intestate, the court must follow the state’s intestate laws to determine how your assets are distributed, because the court does not have a last will and testament to follow that would otherwise provide directions as to how your property should be processed. This may, on its surface, seem like a small matter. Your assets will simply be distributed among your surviving beneficiaries according to the law. But consider this: your estranged sibling may inherit a portion of your estate. Your crazy uncle may be named the legal guardian of your minor children. Your adult child who has money management problems could be the sole beneficiary of your life savings. These are very real outcomes if you choose not to prepare a last will and testament. And failing to prepare a will is a mistake you don’t want to make.