Important Information about Wills

A will is a very important document that is used to carry out your wishes after your death. This document can be drafted by and for any person who is over the age of majority and is of sound mind. This means that if you are an adult of sound mind, you can draft a will.

It is necessary that a will contain certain information. For instance:

You must clearly identify yourself as the maker of the will, and state that a will is being drafted. This is often accomplished by writing “last will and testament” on the document.

You must revoke all previous wills and codicils in order to prevent the court from reading the wills together. Otherwise, only inconsistencies will be revoked, and confusion may arise.

You must demonstrate that you are capable of disposing of your property freely and willingly.

You must sign and date the will in the presence of at least two witnesses. These witnesses cannot be beneficiaries in the will. In some states, even the spouse of a beneficiary cannot be considered a disinterested witness.

You must sign the end of your will. If your signature is not the last thing on the will, any following text will be invalid. In some cases the entire will may become invalidated if the signature does not come at the end.

Speak with an Austin Probate Lawyer

There are a lot of things that must go into a will. If you are considering drafting a will, contact the Austin family law attorneys of Slater Kennon & Jameson at 512-472-2431.