In order for a will to be enforceable, it not only needs to be prepared correctly, it also needs to be signed and witnessed properly.

Potential Problems With Do-It-Yourself Wills

Many do-it- yourself will packages are generic and not state specific, and therefore may not meet the requirements to be valid under Washington law. Also, those packages that are state specific still require some drafting or filling in the blanks. Doing this yourself may result in unintended consequences after your death.

Having an attorney select the proper will form, draft it to your specific needs, and ensuring that it is signed and witnessed properly is usually not much more expensive than a do-it-yourself kit, and should give you added peace of mind that it is done correctly.

Douglas N. Kiger, Attorney at Law
Blado Kiger Bolan, Tacoma, Wash.