Most estate planning attorneys have some sort of horror story that he or she can share, if they are so inclined. An all too common one is that someone’s property was left in a Will or Trust to people that the deceased did not even know. The spouses and children of the deceased then go to the estate planning attorney and ask for a way to fix the problem. This can happen when the deceased went to a non-specialist to get an estate plan.
Non-specialists often have some form Wills and Trusts that they use for their clients. Unfortunately, when copying and pasting any particular client’s information into the forms, it is possible to make mistakes. Trusting their attorneys, people do not read the finished documents before signing them. That’s how assets can be left in a Will or Trust to unknown persons.
The simple solution to this problem is to go to an experienced attorney who specializes in estate planning. The best solution, no matter what attorney you go to, is to read legal documents before signing them. Every one makes mistakes, including attorneys. Read your estate plan to make sure that you are happy with how your property will be distributed.
Stephen A. Mendel, Estate Planning Attorney
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