Pleasanton Wills Attorneys

What happens if you don't have a will?

It is a surprising fact that, even in our relatively affluent state, a majority of people do not have a will. Instead, they leave this world without having had a say in how their financial affairs will be resolved and their loved ones supported. The Pleasanton wills attorneys at the law firm of Beverly M. Hoey believes this unfortunate reality comes from common misconceptions—that only the wealthiest people need a will, or that the process of making one is complicated or costly. From 30 years of experience in practice, our wills lawyers have learned in Pleasanton and throughout Northern California that it is a good idea for almost everyone to have a will because it makes the process much easier for their heirs.

Distribution of your assets

Many people believe the government takes their assets if they die without a will. This is almost never true. It usually only happens if you have no living next of kin. However, if you have not specified your wishes in a probate-admissible document, your estate is considered intestate and your assets are distributed according to a legal formula administered by the court.

That means that the state of California determines who receives your assets and how the taxes will be paid. The courts become actively involved in administering your affairs, and they may award property to relatives you would never include, but overlook friends or charities you want to remember. For example, if you die without a will and have no spouse or children, your estate goes first to your parents, if they survived you, and if not, then to your brothers and sisters. This might mean that your assets do not end up with the person you would have chosen. Your personal preferences do not matter in this scenario. By not leaving a valid will, you have forfeited the opportunity to make the final decisions about what will happen to everything you worked so hard to accumulate throughout your life.

Another important point to think about is that if you do not have a will, you have not named an executor to carry out the administration of your estate. The responsibility may fall upon beneficiaries who are unprepared to handle that task, or to people who may act much differently than you would wish.

Take care of those who matter most to you in life

To make sure your loved ones are looked after properly when you are gone, now is the time to work with a wills attorney. In Pleasanton, estate planning attorney Beverly M. Hoey can help you prepare a will that serves those you leave behind appropriately and in accordance with your hopes for them.

Contact the law offices of Pleasanton wills attorney Beverly M. Hoey to get started today.