Monthly Archives: May 2015

…There are many reasons why a person may die without a will. One of the most common is that no one wants to face their mortality and it is hard to avoid that if you are planning what happens with your estate when you die. Another is that you don’t think your estate has enough value to need a will or it would cost more to have one prepared than your estate is worth. 

…A holographic will is a will that has been entirely written and signed in the handwriting of the testator, who is the person who makes the will. While some states consider holographic wills to be valid, Florida does not unless the will meets certain requirements.

Under Florida law, a holographic will is valid if it meets three specific requirements.

…Although estate planning documents may still be valid, they may not meet an individual’s needs beyond a certain date. Those who follow estate planning trends say that if a will was created over 10 to 15 years ago, it may be worthwhile to review and update it. For instance, wills created before April 2003 may not account for new HIPPA laws, which may make it difficult for someone with power of attorney to carry out certain health care wishes.