Should you pass without a will in place, you leave no legal method of having your wishes carried out. Rather than take the risk, create a will to ensure you and your family have peace of mind knowing your final requests can be fulfilled.

Based in Goshen, NY, experienced attorney John Bach can provide the guidance you need to create a will, aid in the process of creating a living trust, and arrange the power of attorney to handle affairs posthumously. To learn more about the value of creating a will, consider what happens when you die without one in place:

• Intestate Succession: Without a will, there is no formal, legal way to verify and carry out your wishes regarding the distribution of your assets. Intestate succession uses state law to decide how the assets of the individual will be distributed by default, meaning they will decide on everything you own. The process can be complex, depending on your family situation and surviving relatives. By having a will in place, you have control.
  
• Family Disputes: An important reason to create a will is to minimize any chance of conflict following your passing. Everyone has a different situation, and some can be more contentious than others, especially when it involves high-value assets or certain family ties. Lengthy court procedures can exacerbate this. Even a simple will can eliminate a majority of these problems in advance by specifying your directives after discussing the matters with relevant family, friends, and intended beneficiaries.

• Children & Guardianship: A will provides for your children after your death. State law requires that the status of parenthood must be legally verified. For example, adopted children can inherit automatically as a biological child would, but foster and stepchildren require further verification. Depending on your situation, you may want to create a will to specify who is to become the guardian of a child. Creating a living trust can also protect certain assets designated to a child or dependent.

• Medical Directives: Similar to a final will and testament, a living will also allows you to grant power of attorney to an individual who will handle your affairs if you become medically incapacitated. Most importantly, a living will specifies what you want to be done in the event of certain emergency conditions, like the use and duration of life support if in a coma.

Taking proactive steps to create a will can save your family and close peers from unnecessary difficulty. For an experienced attorney who can help simplify the process, depend on John Bach. To schedule your initial consultation, call (845) 294-7941, and visit them online to learn more about his legal services.