Are LegalZoom Wills state-specific?

Yes. Our team of experienced attorneys have designed the LegalZoom Last Will to meet the specific laws and requirements of each U.S. state.

What makes a Will legally binding?

Last Wills will be not admitted by a court unless the following criteria are met:

• You must be of sound mind.
• You must be acting of your own free will without undue influence or duress from others.
• The will must be signed and witnessed according to the applicable laws of your state.

What happens if I pass away without a will?

If you do not make a last will, state law will determine who gets your real and personal property (real estate, savings, personal items, etc.) that is required to go through the probate process.

What is probate?

The probate process dictates the distribution of all real and personal property (real estate, bank accounts, personal items, etc.) owned by a person at death. There are some forms of property that are not required to go through probate, such as:

• Joint tenancy – A specific form of joint ownership that typically applies to real property and bank accounts
• Property with beneficiary designation – Includes life insurance, 401k, pension, IRA, and other such accounts
• Trusts – Includes real and personal property transferred into a trust