No matter who you are, if you’re an adult, it’s to you and your family’s benefit to draft and execute a legally valid last will and testament. Indeed, your will is one of the most vital documents in your estate planning arsenal. However, if you don’t create your will in compliance with state laws in Massachusetts, your efforts to draft the document could be wasted.
There are some thing you need to know about will creation in Massachusetts. You must draft your will, which is preferably printed or typed, and sign it. In some cases, if the testator is unable to sign the document, he or she can direct another party to sign it instead.
When you sign your will, you must be at least 18 years of age and of sound mind. The signing of your will should be completed before two witnesses who must also sign the document in the presence of the testator to verify that they witnessed its execution. The witnesses should be “disinterested parties.” In other words, they should not benefit from the will in any way.
These are the basic requirements for a will to be valid. However, there are many other requirements that are too complex to be referenced here. Estate planning lawyers in Massachusetts are well-versed in the various requirements of a will, and they can alter the makeup of a will based on the unique circumstances of the testator and his or her family.
If you’re ready to finalize your last will and testament in a way that will stand up against a legal challenge after you’re gone, our estate planning attorneys are available to help you with all of your will creation and estate preparation needs.
