Every family is different. Some parents may choose to leave their children out of their wills, remove them from their wills, or include some children but not others. We understand that every family has a different dynamic, and we want to work with you to fulfill your personal and specific estate planning needs. If you wish to exclude your children from your will, read this blog to learn more about the process.
Do I Have to Include my Children in my Will?
No. But you do have to exclude your children. It will not be enough to simply forgo mentioning your children in the will. In this case, your children can contest the will. They may be able to claim that you simply “forgot” to include them or argue that you were not of sound mind. In order to avoid this, you will want to state that you are not including your child, and you may also want to provide the reason for excluding him or her. The best way to ensure that all goes smoothly is with the help of an estate planning attorney. An experienced estate planning attorney can create your will in a way that will be difficult to contest.
Are There any Stipulations?
Yes. If your children are underage at the time of your passing, you will still need to make arrangements to provide for them. You will need to fund your children’s education among other things.
Can I Modify my Will?
Yes. If your children are currently included in your existing will and you would like to remove them, you can do this with the help of an estate planning attorney. It can be tempting to create or make changes to your will on your own, but it is important to contact an estate planning attorney. A will is an important legal document and going at it alone can leave you vulnerable to mistakes and misunderstandings.
If you are interested in creating or modifying a will, or you have questions about your children and the estate planning process, reach out to our firm today.
Contact our Firm
Working with an experienced estate planning attorney, such as Jaci Feldman of the Woodland Hills, California, Law Office of Yacoba Ann Feldman, will ensure that you are taken care of when you need it most. Do not delay. Estate planning is a more urgent matter than you may think. You never know what the future holds. Contact The Law Offices of Yacoba Ann Feldman to schedule a consultation today.
