Centennial Wills Attorneys

Expereinced Will Creation and Estate Planning in Denver

Your last will and testament is a crucial piece of your estate plan. The document serves as a guide for your personal representative during the probate process, and the consequences of not drafting and executing one can be enormous. Without a valid will, any property not placed in a trust will be subject to Colorado’s intestate succession rules. You will have no influence over who receives your assets or who will care for your children.

Some people try to draft their wills without guidance from a lawyer, but it can be easy to overlook important details. At Skipton Law, we are committed to helping Coloradans build effective estate plans that work to protect their futures. This starts with the drafting of a comprehensive and enforceable will. Our Centennial wills lawyers have over a decade of experience and offers a high level of personal service. We will help you understand what this document can accomplish as well as what other estate planning tools can assist with asset distribution and protection. Our team is committed to providing you with a sense of relief and can help you make changes to your will throughout your lifetime.

If you are an adult, you should have a will. Call (720) 770-3880 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation.

What are the Benefits of Having a Will in Colorado? 

In Colorado, your will allows you to name:

• A guardian to care for your minor children
• Beneficiaries to your assets
• A personal representative to manage the probate process on behalf of your estate

It is also important to recognize what a will cannot accomplish in Colorado as well as the instrument’s other limitations. Any asset named in a will must go through probate, meaning it cannot be immediately transferred to your chosen beneficiary. What you write in your will also becomes public, meaning anyone can review its contents after it is entered in court.

Any interested party also has the right to contest your will on one of several permitted grounds, such as undue influence or lack of capacity. A will contest will trigger substantial delays and, if successful, could result in the document being discarded altogether.

Despite these shortcomings, writing a will is an essential step in estate planning. Your will can “catch” assets that are not placed in a trust at the time of your death. Additionally, only your will gives you the chance to request a guardian for your minor children.

Guidelines for Drafting a Valid Will in Colorado

To write an enforceable will in Colorado, you must be at least 18 years old and be “of sound mind,” meaning you must have the mental capacity to understand what the document accomplishes when you sign it. Your will must be in writing, but it can consist of a hard copy or electronic copy stored on a computer or some other device. Though handwritten wills are sometimes permitted, it is in your best interest to create a typewritten will.

Your will is not automatically enforceable, even if you meet the basic requirements discussed above. For a will to be valid in Colorado, you and two witnesses must sign the document. The witnesses (who must be “generally competent”) can only sign the will after they see you do so. They must sign within a reasonable timeframe after seeing you sign the document. These witnesses may be called upon to confirm the legitimacy of your will.

Alternatively, you can make your will “self-proving” by signing it in the presence of a notary. Doing so is not required in Colorado, but it can provide you with additional peace of mind. Our Centennial wills lawyers can help ensure your will is properly validated and enforceable.

Updating Your Will

You will almost certainly make changes to your will as you grow older. Your will should be reviewed every three to five years to verify that it is current with your wishes and existing law. You should also update your will whenever you experience a major life event, such as the birth of a child, a marriage, or a divorce.

When looking to make changes to your will, it is generally best to revoke your existing draft by creating a new one. You can technically adjust an existing draft without revoking it through the use of codicils, but writing and validating a new draft tends to be easier. When you validate a new will that contradicts any provision of an older draft, the newer document automatically replaces the older one. You can also revoke your will at any time by destroying the document.

Our Centennial wills lawyers at Skipton Law can help you review and update all of your estate planning documents as your circumstances change. We will advise you of any relevant changes to the law and recommend other adjustments that support your current goals and preferences.

How Our Centennial Wills Attorneys Can Assist You

Our wills attorneys at Skipton Law play a pivotal role in helping individuals safeguard their estate and ensuring their final wishes are respected. By offering comprehensive legal guidance and support, we help our clients navigate the complexities of estate planning, ensuring their assets are protected and distributed according to their wishes. Whether you're looking to draft a new will or update an existing one, our experienced attorneys provide personalized advice tailored to your unique situation, ensuring peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

The services a wills lawyer offers to their clients include:

• Drafting and Reviewing Wills: Creating a new will or analyzing an existing will to ensure it reflects current laws and the client’s wishes.
• Estate Planning Consultation: Offering strategic advice on how to best structure an estate plan, including the use of trusts, to meet the client’s objectives.
• Probate Avoidance Strategies: Advising on techniques to minimize the assets that must go through probate, potentially saving time and money.
• Designation of Guardianship: Assisting in the selection and legal designation of guardians for minor children or dependents.
• Asset Distribution: Providing guidance on the most effective ways to allocate assets to beneficiaries, including specific bequests.
• Updating Wills: Helping clients review and revise their wills in response to life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth of children, or a significant change in financial status.
• Will Validation: Ensuring that a will is properly signed, witnessed, and notarized as required by state law to make it legally enforceable.
• Defense Against Will Contests: Offering legal representation to defend a will against challenges regarding its validity.
• Preparing Advanced Directives: Assisting with the creation of living wills and healthcare power of attorney documents to address medical care preferences and decision-making in case of incapacity.

Secure Your Future with a Tailored Estate Plan 

While a will is an important component of estate planning, it is just one piece of the puzzle. At Skipton Law, LLC, our experienced Centennial wills attorneys can help you create a comprehensive estate plan to protect your assets and ensure your wishes are carried out after you pass away. In addition to drafting and validating a will, we can assist with:

• Trusts
• Power of attorney documents
• Healthcare directives
• Guardianship designations

By working with our skilled estate planning attorneys, you can have peace of mind knowing that your legacy and loved ones are protected. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and start planning for the future.

Ready to secure your legacy? Reach out to our Centennial wills attorneys at (720) 770-3880 for personalized estate planning solutions.