Before you travel this summer...

It’s officially summer and people all over are making plans for a well-deserved vacation. Before you take off on your exciting adventure or relaxing escape be sure you’re prepared. It seems like whenever or wherever you go, somebody somewhere is going to forget that necessary item—whether it’s sunscreen, your camera or that favorite pair of sunglasses. People will remember to renew their passports, get a house-sitter and trust someone to watch their pets, but who thinks about making sure their will is in order?

Accidents do happen and while they aren’t always as dramatic as the recent blockbuster Taken, it’s amazing how fast traveling can get out of hand. Don’t buy into the fallacy that proclaims ‘It won’t happen to me.’ Accidents can happen and sometimes they can be fatal. The fact is that without a will you’re unprepared.

Why is a Will Important?

Legalactionworkshoplaw.com <linkto: http://www.legalactionworkshoplaw.com/> explains a will as, “a legal document that describes how the assets of a person should be distributed upon death.  Wills can be used to name guardians over minor children and to give guidance as to where the children will live and how their assets will be controlled.”

Some people use the excuse that they don’t have any assets to be distributed. In reality everything you own is yours to give away. The failure to prepare the necessary legal documents may mean that your assets do not get distributed the way you would have chosen. More importantly, if you have children, there may be confusion or in-fighting with regard to who will take care of them in your place.

What about ‘Do it Yourself’ Wills?

Today, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a lawyer to create your will. There are plenty of online sites that will guide you in a step-by-step process ensuring legality and security, but beware: most people’s lives are too complicated to be pasted into a cut-and-dry premade form. Alan Rothschild, vice chairman of the trust and estate division of the American Bar Association and an estate-planning lawyer in Columbus, Ga. says, "In a plain-vanilla situation, an intelligent person with no tax issues can go online and do a reasonable document that would be better than having no will at all. In the more complicated situations that require legal judgment, there was too much of trying to be one size fits all for me to be comfortable recommending the online or computer programs. There is a lot of art in lawyering. I am not sure these online programs have mastered the art part of a safe landing."

The Best of Both Worlds: Inexpensive Wills Prepared by an Attorney:

At Legal Action Workshop we offer a Will for $200 which is inexpensive and prepared by an experienced lawyer! Enjoy your summer and be confident that your family is protected by a will.

Legal Action Workshop's Estate Planning Attorneys specialize in Wills and Trusts in Los Angeles, Ca.