After the 2018 passing of the legendary singer Aretha Franklin, her family and lawyer initially thought she had died without a will. But earlier this year, three handwritten wills—two from 2010 that were locked in a cabinet and one from 2014 that was hidden under a couch cushion—were found in Franklin’s home in Detroit.
Franklin’s attorney filed the wills in probate court but was uncertain whether they were legal under Michigan law. One of Franklin’s sons questioned whether she actually wrote the wills and convinced the probate judge to allow a handwriting expert to examine the documents to verify whether the handwriting is Franklin’s. It was likely that the battle over Franklin’s estate, reportedly valued at $80 million, had just begun.
You may have wondered whether it is really necessary to have an attorney draft your will, or if you, like Franklin, can just write out on paper who you would like to receive your property when you pass away. About one-half of the states allow a handwritten or holographic will as long as it meets certain requirements. But even if a handwritten will is legal, is it wise to rely on one?
Typically, a typed-out will is valid if it is :
In contrast, in the states that recognize a handwritten or holographic will, it will be valid if the important or material parts of the will are in the testator’s handwriting (i.e., not typed out) and it is signed by the testator, even if it is not witnessed. Some states also require a handwritten will to be dated, and others require clear and convincing evidence that the testator intended the document to be a will and not just notes about what he or she would have liked to include in a will.
Still, others require witnesses to establish that the handwriting and signature are, in fact, those of the testator. In all instances—for a written or hand-written will—the testator must have testamentary capacity (i.e., the mental capacity to sign the will, including knowledge of what they owned and who their family members and beneficiaries were) and testamentary intent (i.e., the knowledge that what they were signing a document intended to be a will).
At first glance, it may appear that a handwritten will is the easiest and cheapest way to dispose of your money and possessions when you pass away. However, this may not be the case for several reasons:
Like other wills, a handwritten will must be admitted to and accepted by the probate court after death before it takes effect. Although you may save the initial legal fees of having an estate planning attorney draft a will and/or trust, handwritten wills are notorious for resulting in complicated, expensive, and public probate proceedings and legal challenges—just as in the case of Aretha Franklin’s handwritten will.
There may be questions about whether the handwritten document was intended to be a will or if it was just your thoughts about what you ultimately would like to include in a will. Also, although what you write in your will may seem very clear to you, others may not understand what you intended. In addition, some heirs may question whether the handwriting is actually yours—meaning that witnesses or even a handwriting expert must be called to verify it.
This will cost extra money and time. Having an experienced estate planning attorney draft a will that is properly executed (i.e., signed by you and witnessed by others) will facilitate a smoother probate process, avoiding the unnecessary expenses that so often arise when a will is handwritten. Further, the probate process can be avoided altogether if you create a trust.
When you create a revocable living trust, you transfer your money and property to the trust for the benefit of the beneficiaries you choose. Because the trust owns your property at your death, probate is not required to transfer ownership to your beneficiaries when you die. A trustee that you select will manage the property and funds you place in the trust and will transfer them to your beneficiaries in the way you have directed without court involvement or delays.
Many people know who they would like to receive certain items, but they may not know the best way to express them clearly so that they will hold up in the probate proceeding. They also may not think of everything that the will should address:
For example, who will care for your children if something happens to you, or what will happen if the person your will names to receive your property dies at the same time or before you? What will happen to the money or property you have set aside for your children if you die when your children are still minors? These are only a few of the issues that an experienced attorney can help you address in a professionally drafted will or trust.
If there is a chance you may move, it is important to remember that about half of the states do not allow handwritten wills. A few will recognize a handwritten will that is legally valid in the state in which it was made, but most will not. If you relocate to one of these states and do not have a will that is valid in that state, it will be the same as if you had died without a will. Your money and property will go to the heirs specified by the state’s “intestacy” laws—which may not be the people you would have chosen.
A handwritten will may appear to be the easiest and least costly way to make sure the people you want to have your money and property when you pass away receive it. It may indeed be easier and cheaper for you—but not necessarily for your family members and loved ones. Instead, it may result in months or even years of court proceedings, will contests or the legal term caveats, and damage to family relationships.
We can help you draft a will or trust that will ensure that your wishes are fulfilled and prevent unnecessary stress for your grieving family and loved ones. Please contact us today to set up a meeting so we can create an estate plan that will address all of your goals and wishes.
Shane T. Johnson is the CEO and Managing Partner of Johnson Legal, an estate planning and business law firm in Wilmington, NC. With years of experience in estate and business law, he has zealously represented clients in various legal matters, including small business formation and purchasing, estate planning, probate, domestic violence, and other legal cases.
Shane received his Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming and is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association. He has received numerous accolades for her work, including being named among the Best Probate Lawyers in Wilmington by Expertise.com.
