top of page

How to Write Your Own Last Will and Testament In San Diego

Updated: Oct 19, 2021

A Checklist To Drafting Your Own Will In San Diego, California


You can write your own will with the help of reliable self-help books, apps, or internet resources. However, you must be fully aware of what you're doing and the will's instructions.


Here's an easy checklist to writing your own will, as often advised by San Diego Estate Attorneys.


los angeles estate administration lawyer

If your goals are straightforward, you may not need to spend as much time writing your will. However, here are a few items you could require:

  • Your legal name. This should be your legal name for things like work, voting, and banking.

  • The full legal name of your beneficiary.

  • The full legal names and birthdates of your children.

  • Personal guardians' names. Names of persons who will take care of your little children if you cannot do so yourself.

  • Names and contact information for your pets, as well as the persons who will look after them if you are unable to.

  • An estimated inventory of your possessions (if you're leaving it to one or a few people, you won't need this).

  • Names of those who stand to benefit. Names of people you'd wish to leave your possessions to. If your first-choice beneficiaries died before you, the names of beneficiaries to whom you would leave your land.

los angeles estate planning lawyer

  • The names of the guardians. Provide the names of people who can look after your young children's belongings if you cannot.

  • The name of the trustee. Names of people you'd like to be in charge of the property you're leaving to your heirs when they're young.

  • Some debts that will be forgiven. If you want to forgive debts due to you, you'll need to know the name of the person who owes you money, when the debt was incurred, and how much you owe.

  • Names and alternates of those who will be in charge of completing and processing your will. If you use a DIY form, such as the one you may find online or in a book, you'll have to fill in your personal information and decide which clauses to include.

    • Make sure you have a solid self-help tool to guide you if you're going to use the fill-in-the-blank method.

    • You won't have to work if you use software or an online tool because the program will put the paper together for you.

    • You can, however, double-check that you understand and are following your final material.

  • You and two witnesses will sign your will to make it valid. In addition, you can include a "self-proving affidavit," which is necessary for certain jurisdictions, even if notarization isn't required.

    • Although the affidavit aids your executor in obtaining probate for your will after your death, it is not needed.

    • Instead, a respected will-writing instrument will provide this affidavit and instructions on how to use it.

When you do need help with your Will and Testament, contact an Estate Planning Lawyer in San Diego to help you.


Important Considerations


You may have a range of difficulties and factors to consider as you move forward with inheritance planning, including:

  • Inherited property. The best inheritance planning options for liquid assets differ significantly from those for land, shares, stocks, and other types of assets. Our prescreened Estate Planning Attorneys in California have vast experience assessing inherited properties and finding the finest future solutions for them.

estate administration attorney

  • The beneficiary's financial situation. When planning an inheritance, consider the beneficiary's financial status because it can determine whether the gift is spent or saved. If the beneficiaries have a lot of debt, for example, inheritance planning will focus on paying off debts and putting money aside for retirement.

  • If the beneficiary has already established an estate plan. If the beneficiary does not already have an estate plan in place, the possibility of a large bequest in the future will compel them to do so.

    • Inheritance planning can also entail changing the provisions of people's wills (and other estate planning instruments) to account for the inherited property and/or properties when beneficiaries have estate plans in place.

To recap, there is a lot to think about when it comes to inheritance planning, and having one of our prescreened San Diego Estate Planning Lawyers on your side can help you make the best decisions possible.


Find An Estate Planning Lawyer in California

1000Attorneys.com is a California Bar Association Certified Lawyer Referral Service that can refer you to an Estate Planning Attorney that's fit to handle your unique case. You may contact us via our 24/7 live chat (or fulfill our case submission form) for a free initial consultation.

California State Bar Certified Lawyer Referral And Information Service

Welcome to 1000Attorneys.com, a Lawyer Referral and Information Service certified and approved by the California State Bar.

"Our commitment is to provide you with unbiased and impartial lawyer referrals."

 

Unlike other services, we maintain complete independence from the lawyers receiving these referrals, ensuring transparency and fairness.

While we specialize in California employment law and personal injury claims, we offer our referral services for various other legal areas.

 

At 1000Attorneys.com, we aim to ensure you are connected with best California attorney near you who can provide comprehensive and exceptional representation for your specific legal needs.

 

We understand that every legal situation is unique and are dedicated to finding the best match for you.

 

With our extensive network of attorneys, we strive to deliver outstanding legal support and guidance tailored to your individual requirements.

At 1000Attorneys.com, we hold California attorneys to the highest standards of professional conduct.

 

Your satisfaction and confidence in the legal representation you receive are paramount to us.

 

Rest assured that when you engage in our services, you can expect nothing less than exceptional legal support and guidance.

Why Lawyer Referrals Matter

 

The California State Bar investigates on average 16,000 complaints of professional misconduct by attorneys annually.

We conduct due diligence by researching and recommending the best local attorney for your case. 

 

Our team of experts verifies that attorneys are in good standing and have the required experience in the type of law related to your legal issue. 

Learn more about attorney discipline here.

 

Our History 

 

Since 2005, we have been dedicated to helping individuals find reliable legal representation in California.

 

We understand the challenges people face when trying to locate reputable lawyers, especially when inundated with self-promoting advertisements and biased marketing from law firms.

 

At our service, we strive to cut through the noise and provide a trustworthy and unbiased platform for connecting individuals with reputable California lawyers.

 

Our clients receive quality legal representation without the frustration and uncertainty often associated with legal advertising. ​

 

How the LRS Works 


Anyone seeking competent and honest legal representation in California, can request a FREE lawyer referral. 

Once you submit your case details online, our legal 24-hour legal department will review your claim and reply via email. Most cases are reviewed and answered within 15 minutes. 

 

A free 30 minute consultation with the attorney will be offered to each referred client. 

A representative will follow up a few days later via email with the client after receiving a referral for quality management purposes, or to obtain the status of the case. 

About lawyers from our network


California lawyers in our network are insured, in good standing with the California State Bar, and have substantial experience in their practice area.

 

Attorneys are available in most areas of law throughout Southern California. Every lawyer in or network has been vetted for:

  • Credentials

  • Education

  • Communication skills

  • Performance

  • Client reviews

  • Fair legal fees

  • Continuing education

  • Professional affiliations

Additionally, we conduct criminal  background checks and attorneys are always monitored by our service.  

How to find the best lawyer for your legal case: 

1. The fastest way to have your legal issue reviewed by one of our attorneys is to send your details online.

 

Your information will go directly to our 24 hour legal department bypassing our call center. You will get a reply via email within 15 minutes. 

2. You may also inquire about your legal issue via email. We respond to email inquiries within 24 hours M-F. 

3. By calling our lawyer referral hotline 661-310-7999. However, our agents are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice. Due to high call volumes, it's highly recommended that you use option # 1 above. 

 

Simple Retro Handyman Service Badge Logo-2.png
Best Lawyers Near Los Angeles
bottom of page