Do I need a lawyer to get a will?
No.
In Wyoming, a person can write their own will. You do not even need to type it. When you write out your will by hand, it is called a holographic will. This will must be signed by you. The date must also be on it.
- You do not need to have a witness.
- Do not type any where on your will. Do not let another person write on your will. If you do the court may act as if you left no will. For this reason, you may not wish to use fill-in-the-blank or do-it-yourself wills.
- The laws about wills are complex. If you have any concerns, it is best to have a lawyer write it for you. Simple wills may not cost a lot of money.
- If you have a lot of land or other things you want to put in your will it will be worth the cost to have a will done by a good lawyer.
- It is also worth the cost if you have a special situation. For instance, if you want to leave your money to a non-family member and you know your family will be angered by this.
What will lawyers charge for making a will?
The fee charged depends on the will. The simpler it is, the less it will cost. Some lawyers have a flat fee for a simple will. If you have many people you want to give things to, the cost will go up.
A lawyer should be able to give you a good idea of the cost before the will is prepared.
Can a will be changed? Can I take it back?
- Yes, a will can be changed at any time. You have to follow the law in making changes. You can also take the whole thing back at any time. If you take it back it's called "revoking" or "canceling" the will.
- You should ask a lawyer about changes to a will. If the law is not followed your changes may not work.
- A change to a will is called a "codicil." You must have two witnesses to make a change. You must also sign and date it. To make the changes work you have to do everything you did to make the first will work. If the changes don't work, then the court will go by the first will.Can I use my life insurance as my will?
- No. Here, money will only be paid to people (beneficiaries) you name in the insurance policy. Your insurance policy will deal with money or things not included in the policy.
Who can I contact for help with a will?
Contact your lawyer
Call the [Wyoming State Bar Association] for names of lawyers who do wills.
If you are low-income, you can apply to [Wyoming Legal Services] for free legal help.
You can also hand write a will [About Handwritten Wills] [Sample Handwritten Will].
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See:
[What You Should Know About Wills][What Happens After Your Death][Handwritten Wills][Sample Handwritten Wills]
