LegalZoom's 30 Point Review for Last Wills

• Ensure all required questions have been answered.
• Check for internal consistency throughout.
• Check spelling, grammar and punctuation throughout.
• Correct for capitalization and lower case where required.
• Ensure proper pagination and eliminate blank spaces.
• Spell out common abbreviations or 'symbols' in English.
• Ensure that the entire document is prepared in a professional and consistent font and font size.
• Check for correct residency information. Indicating the proper state is crucial to ensuring the document conforms to your state's requirements.
• Check for conflicting directives regarding property distribution and ensure nominated individuals qualify to serve for specific roles.
• Ensure that your personal directives are located in the appropriate sections of the document.
• Verify that full names are given (first and last) and that all names appear consistently throughout the whole document.
• Check for Joint Wills. Joint wills have significant legal disadvantages. If the document is made out for two people, this will require further consultation.
• Make sure that at least one personal representative (or Executor) has been named.
• Provide additional space for you to indicate your county of residence, if not provided.
• Verify that 100% of the estate is accounted for and distributed amongst the Principal Heir(s). Principal Heir(s) receive the bulk of the estate (or residual amount) in terms of a general percentage. This helps to avoid uncertainty when distributing the estate.
• Verify that the specific bequests sections (if included) do not leave a percentage of the estate that would conflict with the Principal Heir(s). Specific bequests are a second type of property distribution in the Will which deal with specific items such as: My car, My iPod, My home.
• Check for duplicate distributions ensuring that both specific gifts and residual amounts are not given twice to two different heirs.
• Ensure whole amounts are used when distributing the estate to Principal Heir(s). Change amounts to fractions, whenever possible, instead of decimals when listing percentages (i.e. 33 1/3% instead of 33.333% when split equally 3-ways).
• Ensure proper formatting of monetary amounts (when applicable) throughout the documentadding 'dollars' and 'decimals' ($100,000.00). This helps to avoid uncertainty when distributing the estate.
• Check applicable language for equal distribution of property if more than one heir is named.
• Check and correct for appropriate language regarding joint appointments when more than one person has been chosen for specific roles (for example, Joint Executors, Joint Guardians, Joint Trustees).
• Ensure that trust beneficiaries are also listed as an heir or alternate heir when a Testame ntary Trust Clause has been included. In order for the Trust to properly function, the trust beneficiary must be entitled to some part of the estate.
• Ensure lump sum amounts are used for any Pet Trust provisions. In order for the Pet Trust to properly function, it must be funded with a set dollar amount, rather than a percentage of the overall estate or stipends.
• Ensure proper handling of 'Self Proving Affidavit' and 'Statement of Interment' pages (if applicable) as standalone attachments, since these are not considered part of the core Will document.
• Ensure stringent state requirements are metSome examples include:
• California Wills do not have a 'Self Proving Affidavit'. California Wills cannot be self-proved.
• California Wills do not have notary references. In California, a Will does not need to be notarized in order to be legal.
• A 'Self Proving Affidavit' for those states which allow Wills to be self-provednotary acknowledgments will also be provided.
• Texas Wills include specific language relating to independent executors.
• Louisiana Wills include specific language which conforms to state law.
• Special instructions for signature and notary acknowledgments are provided for Louisiana Wills.
• Washington DC Wills include specific language which conforms to applicable law within the District of Columbia.
• Provide additional Witness Signature Lines to further protect your Will.
• Verify shipping addresses and email addresses are valid to ensure timely delivery.
• Check the spell checker. We do not rely on software spell checkers aloneevery inch of the document is scanned for typos by a real person.
• Identify references within the Will to legal matters that require different documentation (such as health care, life support, etc.) and send notifications about the appropriate document.
Provide 100% completeness in service, initiating contact by phone and email for additional clarification when neededand much more!