According to an article in the April 2011 issue of Money magazine, most Americans do not have a will. Are you one of them? If so, you can either hire an attorney or do it yourself with Quicken’s WillMaker Plus ($42 at nolo.com). Using this bestselling software, you can write your own will, create a power of attorney for finances, a healthcare directive, and executor documents.
There are pros and cons to writing a will on your own vs hiring an attorney. A lawyer knows the ins and outs of estate planning and can ask questions that you might not think of, giving you a more thorough document than you might write on your own.
Money magazine says this software is best for a person with a small estate or someone whose spouse may be their sole heir. You won’t want to attempt to write your own will if your estate is complicated or worth more than $5 million. You’ll also want to go with a lawyer if you think any of your heirs may contest your will later.
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