Any SD full timers use Legal Zoom?

[RMD3819]

Considering Legal Zoom for our wills etc. now that we have SD residency.

Anyone have experience with them?

[LJowdy]

About 4 years prior to my mothers death which occurred in Sept. of 2009, I prepared a Living trust via Legal Zoom. It proved to be totally valid, legal and accepted by all involved which means I never had any problems with transfer of funds, real estate property, vehicles etc etc.

[Old-Biscuit]

Cut out the 'middle man' and do your own............

South Dakota Will Forms | Last Will and Testament | Living Will Archives - Will Forms : Will Forms

[RMD3819]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Cut out the 'middle man' and do your own............

South Dakota Will Forms | Last Will and Testament | Living Will Archives - Will Forms : Will Forms

Wow!

Thanks!

[Dan McMartin]

We looked into Legal Zoom for our wills but in Texas. We decided to go with Quicken's product. Then we own it and can make changes when we need too.

Texas allows "holographic wills." That just means they are completely hand written and signed. No witnesses, no notary. Easy if that's what you want.

[TXTiger]

Would you perform your own brain surgery or would you insist on a Dr lol lol lol. Do you know the difference between a Living Will, a Durable Power of Attorney or a Durable Health Care Directive. Many states have different laws and different terminology. Legal Zoom is just a program that you fill in the blanks to create legal documents. You still have to know and understand the laws of the state you are in, the legal terminology and which options to click on that are in your best interests. Paying for a lawyer is like buying insurance that it was drafted correctly and can save you thousands in the end if you did it wrong.

[Dan McMartin]

Originally Posted by TXTiger

Would you perform your own brain surgery or would you insist on a Dr lol lol lol. Do you know the difference between a Living Will, a Durable Power of Attorney or a Durable Health Care Directive. Many states have different laws and different terminology. Legal Zoom is just a program that you fill in the blanks to create legal documents. You still have to know and understand the laws of the state you are in, the legal terminology and which options to click on that are in your best interests. Paying for a lawyer is like buying insurance that it was drafted correctly and can save you thousands in the end if you did it wrong.

Really depends on your situation. For instance, I've got a pension that dies with me or my wife. We have no home. We have no significant possessions, only what fits in our motorhome. We've got that too. No estate to speak of and all of it goes to our two boys, split 50/50 when we die. Powers of attorney, directives and all that aren't that big a deal either. Pull the plug. No financial matters to deal with, no estate to run, etc. Simple life, simple legal documents.

We'd be fools to pay a lawyer thousands to draft a two page will.

[oatmeal]

Originally Posted by Dan McMartin

Texas allows "holographic wills." That just means they are completely hand written and signed. No witnesses, no notary. Easy if that's what you want.

When a holographic will is probated in Texas, there must be testimony proving that the handwriting is the decedent's. The ease of writing a holographic will has to be measured against the later hassle, although the decedent won't be the one dealing with the hassle so that might be acceptable to him.

And as long as we're talking about states other than South Dakota, I'll note that Florida, another state popular as a domicile for fulltimers, does not recognize holographic wills, even if it would be valid in the state in which it was executed. So if you're a Texan and have a holographic will and change your domicile to Florida, your holographic will is not recognized and you will be treated as if you have no will at all.

[dons2346]

"When a holographic will is probated in Texas, there must be testimony proving that the handwriting is the decedent's. The ease of writing a holographic will has to be measured against the later hassle, although the decedent won't be the one dealing with the hassle so that might be acceptable to him."

I can attest to this fact. You must to go before a judge with someone that can say under oath that "yes, indeed, that is Joe's or whoevers signature". Been there done that.

[TXTiger]

Dan-McMartin powers of attorney, directives etc are important because if you are incapicated you need someone with the authority to say just pull the plug.

[Sandflea]

I use my Legal Shield membership for all my legal work, my will packet came with my enrollment for free, it only took me 5 years to actually make it out, haha, but I had all the help I needed and then some.