No. There is no legal requirement that a Will be drawn up by a lawyer. Most people can use quality, fill-in-the-blank legal documents to take care of basic concerns such as leaving their property to loved ones and naming a guardian for young children. However, there are a number of situations where it would be highly recommended to work with a lawyer instead of an Online Will:

• If you have significant assets.
• If you have a special needs, disabled, or dependent adult child.
• If you’ve been divorced or re-married.
• If you think one of your heirs might contest your Will.
• If you own a small business.
• If you are concerned about guardianship issues for minor children.
• If you’re raising grandchildren or stepchildren.
• If you or your spouse are citizens of another country.
• If you have questions about your Will or the Online form doesn’t address your situation.

Online Wills aren’t for everyone. In fact, even if you get an Online Will, we would recommend that you consider getting it reviewed by a Christian attorney for added peace of mind.

If you decide to use a lawyer to create or update your Will – or review your Online Will – you’ll want to find an attorney who shares your values and is knowledgeable in estate planning.

There are 2 sources you can check for a referral to a trusted estate planning attorney:

1. Christian Legal Society. You can go online for a referral from the Christian Legal Society, network of attorneys committed to acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with their God (Micah 6:8). 

2. Contact Us. You can contact our office for a referral.

3. Your Pastor. Pastors are connected to a wide network of people which may include an estate planning attorney. Even if your pastor doesn’t already know an attorney, he or she can likely ask others for a trusted referral to send your way.

Most Online Will sites guide you through a simple 3-step process:

1. Answer Questions. You’ll be guided through a series of fill-in-the-blank questions about your wishes regarding your family, your property, who you want to be in charge of making sure your wishes are taken care of. The questionnaire is often provided at no charge, and most people can complete it within about 30 minutes.

2. Review Answers. You’ll have an opportunity to review your own answers for completeness and accuracy. Some sites also provide online tools and “ask a lawyer” features to give you a more in depth review.

3. Finalize documents. The last step is to receive your documents online or in the mail. The Online Will site will also provide instructions for getting signatures to finalize your documents, as well as storage recommendations.

Is an online Will right for you? Below are four reasons people get an Online Will:

1. Affordable. Let’s face it. When it comes to getting a Will, cost is a big concern for many people. A lawyer may charge you $500 for a basic Will (and a lot more if your estate is complicated). But most people can get an Online Will for less than $70.

2. Easy. Online Will sites provide simple questionnaires that the average person can answer in about 30 minutes or less. With an attorney, you may have to schedule a couple of face-to face appointments to review your information and to finalize your documents.

3. Quality. Do-it-yourself online legal documents have been accepted by court and government agencies in all 50 states. Some of the most popular Online Will sites were started by attorneys – and offer high-quality, legally valid, state-specific Wills.

4. Private. Some people are uncomfortable with the idea of discussing their financial and family information with a complete stranger. Although attorneys are required to keep your discussions confidential, many prefer the anonymity of fill-in-the-blank online forms.

Here are the most common ways to significantly increase your charitable impact through your Will:

• Add “Charity” to your family. Some families treat charitable organizations like an additional child. For example, if a family has three children, they might add a fourth child named “Charity” and divide the assets in their Will into four equal parts. Each of their children would receive 25%, and the remaining 25% would be divided among their favorite charitable organizations.

• Percentage. Other families commit a percentage of their estate to the charitable organizations they love, dividing the remainder among their heirs.

• Cap. Others decide to “cap” their children’s inheritance, leaving the rest of their assets to charity. This approach is used when the parents want to provide a modest gift to bless their children and eliminate concerns of creating dependence or giving too much too soon.

• Update an existing Will. An attorney can add, delete, or change an item in your Will with an additional statement called a “codicil.” Here’s an example: “I give, devise, and bequeath twenty- five percent (25%) of my residuary estate to [charity name] whose address is [city, state, zip code]. Like a Will, a codicil must be dated, signed, and witnessed.

Leaving a gift in your Will to a ministry or charity that you love is a great expression of your personal values, and it may be simpler than you think. If you would like to do this, consider including this language in your Estate Plans:

General Support.
If you want to support the overall mission of the charitable organizations dear to your heart, please use the following language: “I give _______ (% or dollar amount) of my estate to (Charity Name of City/State) for its general use.”

Specific Program.
If you want to support a specific program fund of the charitable organizations dear to your heart, use the following language: “I give ____ (% or dollar) of my estate to (Charity Name of City/State) for the (Name of the Project or Fund).”

Legal Name: Pacific Garden Mission

Federal Tax ID Number: 36-2445391