Online forms and estate-planning software can make it easier to prepare basic documents, and they may be appropriate in some situations. However, estate planning involves more than completing a standard form. The documents must reflect your family and financial circumstances, coordinate with other assets and beneficiary designations, and satisfy Tennessee’s legal requirements.
If you’re deciding whether to use a do-it-yourself service or work with an attorney to create a will or estate plan, it is important to understand the advantages and limitations of each approach.
- Software programs and online apps aren’t lawyers.
Estate planning can involve more than completing a standard form. Tennessee law includes specific requirements for wills and other estate-planning documents, and a plan may also need to account for trusts, beneficiary designations, powers of attorney, family circumstances, and the way particular assets are owned.
Working with an attorney who regularly handles Tennessee estate-planning matters can provide an opportunity to ask questions and address issues that standardized software may not identify. Some online services offer access to attorneys, but the level of legal review and personalized advice can vary considerably from one service to another.
- Software programs and online apps can’t ask the right questions.
Standardized estate-planning programs generally rely on the information and decision paths built into the service. While some tools can adjust their questions based on a user’s answers, they may not identify every legal or financial issue that is relevant to a particular family. A conversation with an attorney may also raise questions about assets, beneficiaries, property ownership, or family circumstances that the client had not initially considered.
- Software programs and online apps can’t give advice.
For some people, preparing basic estate-planning documents may be relatively straightforward. Others may have questions about how Tennessee law applies to their assets, family relationships, beneficiary choices, or long-term goals. Standardized software can provide forms and general information, but it does not replace individualized legal advice from an attorney who has reviewed the client’s particular circumstances.
An estate planning attorney can explain applicable Tennessee law, identify potential issues, discuss different planning options, and draw on experience handling similar estate-planning matters when recommending an approach.
- Software programs and online apps can cost you more money.
Many people are attracted to estate-planning software and online services because of their relatively low upfront cost. For a straightforward situation, that may make a DIY option appealing. However, mistakes or omissions in estate-planning documents can sometimes create additional expenses later.
A document that does not comply with Tennessee law or accurately reflect the person’s intentions may need to be revised or properly re-executed. If a problem is not discovered until after the person’s death, family members may face additional probate expenses or even litigation. In some cases, those costs can outweigh the savings associated with preparing the documents without individualized legal advice.
- Software programs and online apps don’t create easily understood wills.
Clear drafting is an important part of an effective estate plan. A will or other estate-planning document that contains conflicting provisions, omits important information, or uses unclear language can create uncertainty for family members and the people responsible for administering the estate.
Standardized estate-planning software may not identify every ambiguity, conflicting instruction, or missing detail that is specific to a person’s circumstances. An estate planning attorney can review the plan as a whole, clarify the client’s intentions, identify potential inconsistencies, and prepare documents designed to communicate those instructions as clearly as possible.
Contact Our Tennessee Estate Planning Lawyers Today
Because you can’t put a price on peace of mind—especially when protecting your final wishes and your loved ones—the advice, experience, and care you get from an experienced estate planning lawyer is priceless.
Estate planning software and apps are simply no match for attorneys who have helped countless people create their wills and estate plans, and countless more families resolve issues caused by unclear wills and estate plans.
Get your will or estate plan done right the first time and right away. Contact the Tennessee estate planning attorneys at Inman, Stadler & Hill for a consultation. We’ll discuss your needs and tell you exactly how we can help with your estate planning needs.
