Giving
Your Will: It Pays for Itself
A thoughtful estate plan will give you peace of mind, along with savings of both time and money in taxes and other fees. Even though an estate plan does come with a price, the process does not have to be overly expensive or time-consuming, and with time, your efforts will pay for themselves.
Timetable
Your personal circumstances will dictate the amount of time it takes to draft your will. A simple will might require little more than an hour-long discussion with an attorney, plus a return visit to sign the finished paperwork. Obviously, more complicated estates will require increasingly careful planning and execution. Regardless of the timetable, the benefits of creating a will far outweigh the emotional pain and financial disarray that can result from not having made the effort.
Cost
The cost of drafting a will depends largely on where you live. People in some parts of the country have created simple wills for a few hundred dollars. For the same services elsewhere you might pay several times that amount. Whatever the going rate in your area, resist the urge to look for a “deal.” Nor should you use do-it-yourself forms. Enlist the services of a qualified estate planning attorney, whose knowledge and experience will ultimately save your estate money and eliminate heartache in the long run.
If you have included St. John's College in your will, please let us know so that we can thank you and, with your permission, give you appropriate recognition.
Please call Barbara Goyette at 410-295-5554, or e-mail us at barbara.goyette@sjca.edu, for more information.
The information on this site is not intended as legal, tax or investment advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney, tax professional or investment professional.