The Risks of DIY Estate Planning

With the internet at our disposal, we have access to an unlimited amount of resources. However, it’s important to know when to draw the line between doing a DIY project and letting the professionals handle the task.

Often, we turn to DIY projects when we’re looking to save on costs, but taking matters into your own hands can sometimes backfire. Our attorneys at Drexler Law have seen DIY estate plans go very wrong, causing our clients to spend even more time and money. Before moving forward with yours, you should be aware of the risks.

3 Dangers of DIY Estate Plans:

1. Your circumstances are unique. Estate planning is not a one-size-fits-all process, but that’s how DIY estate planning services often work. Yours should be customized to your needs, and these services don’t have the same capacity as a lawyer.

2. You may end up paying more. With DIY projects, it can feel like you’re saving money by not having to hire a professional. Many times, these fill-in-the-blank forms are not implemented correctly legally. In the end, you may pay more to fix these mistakes with an attorney, or it may be too late, and your family will have to go through probate.

3. You can’t replace the expertise of an attorney. For many people, their homes are their biggest investment, so they go above and beyond to take care of it. If you discovered a termite infestation, you wouldn’t look up how to exterminate them yourself, but you’d call a professional. That’s because you understand that these bugs can devastate your home’s foundation and that only an expert can fully protect it. Your estate plan is protecting an investment even greater than your home— your family. This is why it’s vital that you consult an estate planning attorney. They will provide you with their legal expertise, customized documents, counseling, and more.

DIY estate planning may seem like a good idea initially, but you’ll soon realize that it’s a bad idea.

To talk to our Colorado estate planning attorney, contact us at (719) 259-0050 and schedule your consultation today.