Creating a will is a foundational step in safeguarding your family, reducing uncertainty, and guiding asset distribution. A thoughtful document can reduce probate complications, ensure guardianship for minors, and provide a reliable framework for honoring your preferences even when plans change.
A comprehensive plan reduces probate delays and minimizes opportunities for disputes, providing executors with clear instructions and beneficiaries with predictable outcomes.
Choosing Hatcher Legal, PLLC means working with attorneys who specialize in estate planning, probate, and elder law in North Carolina. We tailor solutions to Ayden families, prioritize clarity, and provide transparent pricing and timelines.
Original documents are stored in a safe location with copies provided to trusted individuals for easy access during probate.
A will directs how assets are distributed after death, names the executor, and can designate guardians for minor children. A trust can control assets during life and after death, may avoid probate, and often requires more planning. In many cases, clients use both for maximum protection.
Yes. Major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth or adoption, relocation, and significant changes in assets typically warrant updates. Regular reviews with an estate planning attorney help ensure your documents reflect current wishes and legal requirements.
Yes. You can name guardians for minor children in a will. This designation guides decisions if you are no longer able to care for them and complements other guardianship provisions in your estate plan.
Typical documents include a will, powers of attorney, and a healthcare directive or living will. Depending on goals, many clients also use a trust, beneficiary designations, and a letter of instruction to accompany formal documents.
North Carolina recognizes formally executed wills. A handwritten will may be valid if it meets the state’s requirements for signature, dating, and witnesses, but formal drafting by an attorney reduces risk of invalidation.
Probate duration in North Carolina varies by complexity, county, and whether all assets pass outside probate. Simple estates may resolve in months, while larger estates with trusts or contested issues can take longer.
If you die without a will, North Carolina intestacy laws determine how your assets are distributed. This may not reflect your wishes, and could impact guardianship decisions. Creating a will helps preserve control over outcomes.
Yes. You can amend or revoke a will at any time, provided you have the required capacity. Changes should be made formally and witnessed to remain valid, and it is wise to re-sign updated documents after major life events.
Bring identification, a list of assets, existing documents, names of guardians and executors, and any questions about goals or family concerns. This helps us tailor a plan efficiently and address key issues from the start.
Store your will in a secure location such as a safe or safe deposit box, and share the location with your executor. Provide copies to trusted individuals and ensure your attorney has a copy for records and updates.
