https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:59:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-create-a-will-on-legal-zoom-or-the-like#post-2501170 Sun, 20 Mar 2016 20:21:31 +0000 Mae 2501170@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a lawyer and I still used legal zoom for our wills lol. Don't take this as legal advice but my personal feeling on it was--- although I know a lawyer would do a much better job of drafting a will (I don't know anything about estate planning really so I couldn't do my own), the only thing I cared about was guardianship so the legal zoom was fine. The biggest downside that I'm aware of is that my assets would have to go through probate if I passed which can be sort of pricey and a pain in the butt. But we didn't do anything contrary to the statutory norm (i.e. we don't have any kids outside of marriage, we left everything to each other first, then our daughter second) so I just look at it as sort of having no will + a guardianship designation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-create-a-will-on-legal-zoom-or-the-like#post-2501169 Sun, 20 Mar 2016 20:21:19 +0000 autumnleaves 2501169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started to use legal zoom for our will but cancelled it because of their customer service. They had a question for me before they could finalize the documents but whenever I called them back they were closed or I had to leave a message - it happened at least 3 times and it made me think if I really needed to talk with them how difficult would it be to get a hold of a person there. So I requested to cancel and used an attorney through our credit union instead. I wish they had a chat option but when I tried to use them only email and phone were options. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-create-a-will-on-legal-zoom-or-the-like#post-2501167 Sun, 20 Mar 2016 20:17:12 +0000 MrsSRS 2501167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/anyone-create-a-will-on-legal-zoom-or-the-like#post-2501150 Sun, 20 Mar 2016 20:05:09 +0000 peaches1038 2501150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is four months old and we really want to have a will in place for obvious reasons. We do not have a lot of assets (we rent, have modest savings, including 401ks and that's about it) so I'm not sure if it makes sense to go to a lawyer. The main reason we want to set it up is to name guardians. Looking to hear people's experiences with using an online service. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/writing-a-will-to-ensure-guardianship-wording-help#post-1819014 Sat, 16 Aug 2014 05:32:24 +0000 Ree723 1819014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies! It is sorted for now - I stressed about it most of the night but finally finished writing the will about 1:00 am. I had my two witnesses sign it this morning so we have something in place for the time being! We'll have a more comprehensive one drawn up by a solicitor (lawyer) shortly - we're in the process of buying a house right now and will need a solicitor for that anyway, so we'll just take care of both issues at the same time. </p> <p>@cupquakewalk: you can breathe again! Thanks for validating my feelings of being so upset about this - I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought this was insane, especially when the validation comes from a fellow SW! :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/writing-a-will-to-ensure-guardianship-wording-help#post-1818774 Fri, 15 Aug 2014 20:36:22 +0000 Vegmama 1818774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you for the reminder that we need to do this!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/writing-a-will-to-ensure-guardianship-wording-help#post-1818597 Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:10:29 +0000 Mrs. Lion 1818597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you having your will drawn up by a lawyer? If not, i would consider going that route. He/she can make sure it is worded in a way that be clear legally. We had some weird stuff in ours too, but our lawyer did a great job turning our wishes into legalese. :)</p> <p>Eta, Sorry, I missed a paragraph. Since this is temporary i wouldnt worry about it too much. I would just word it the way you did in your post :) i thought it was perfectly clear what you meant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/writing-a-will-to-ensure-guardianship-wording-help#post-1818586 Fri, 15 Aug 2014 18:05:21 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 1818586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well- my brain is SPINNING at this so I'm really unable to give you any help at all. I applaud you for being so urgent in writing this up. Please update us once it's done so I can breath a sigh of relief! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/writing-a-will-to-ensure-guardianship-wording-help#post-1818509 Fri, 15 Aug 2014 17:09:58 +0000 Arden 1818509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did this same thing, we have temporary guardians appointed to care for her until my parents can fly in from overseas. I'll look up the wording we used. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/writing-a-will-to-ensure-guardianship-wording-help#post-1818492 Fri, 15 Aug 2014 16:53:48 +0000 Ree723 1818492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Writing a will has been on our to do list since DD1 was born, more than two years ago (yes, I'm a bit of a slacker), but I was never too fussed about it as our families knew our plans for guardianship for our child(ren) and everything else was fairly inconsequential.</p> <p>Well, now that we've moved to the UK, the laws are different here and it is suddenly urgent that we get a will in place ASAP. I don't know how I never knew this, especially having worked as a social worker in child protection for three years here, but apparently if both parents die and leave minor children, the court automatically assumes parental responsibility for them and decides where they should live. What this means is that the kids are taken automatically into foster care, even if there are grandparents or family members available to care for them, whilst the court system runs background checks and does all of their safeguarding children checks on family members before they will release the children to their care. From having worked in the system, I know this can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. Can you imagine anything more horrific than your baby losing their parents and then being taken away from the only other people they know and love and put with strangers for an indefinite period of time?!? I'm sick just thinking of it. I know I might be a bit dramatic in the way I am wording it here, but I literally just found this out and am frantically trying to write out a will tonight so that if something happens to DH and I, I know our children won't be taken straight into foster care.</p> <p>Now, the guardians we're appointing for our children are my sister in the US as primary, and my brother, also in the US, as secondary, with DH's sister here in England as our third option. The wording issue I'm having is trying to specify that the girls could stay with SIL, or DH's parents, or DH's aunt and uncle, all in the UK, whilst travel arrangements are made for my family members to arrive from the States. I'm worried if I don't specify that, the girls would be taken into care until my sister or brother arrives from the US, which I most definitely don't want! But I want to make sure I word it in a way that says the care in the UK would only be temporary until my sister or brother could get there - I wouldn't want it to turn into a battle over length of time because I wasn't specific enough in my wording....not that I think that would happen, but you never know.</p> <p>Also, this will writing tonight is just a temporary stop gap until we can get in to see a solicitor where we'll have a proper will drawn up regarding assets etc - I'm just doing an at home will kit to make sure that if DH and I are in a car accident tomorrow, the guardianship arrangements are taken care of and the girls won't have to be taken into foster care.</p> <p>Ugh, this is such a depressing topic and I am feeling sick at the thought of my little girls being put into foster care when there are so many family members who love them and would be able to comfort them should the worst happen.</p> <p>I'm not sure if this is a vent or a question really, but any advice would be welcome! Thanks for reading my random, emotional ramblings! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-382960 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 07:21:45 +0000 Mrs. Lovejoy 382960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@eupenmalmody: We don't have will, yet! We're currently pregnant and I hope we have one before LO comes, but who knows if it will all work out in time. Does anyone know ballpark how much they usually cost? Don't you have to go to a lawyer for it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-382645 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:54:21 +0000 pl0508 382645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we do - we had them drawn up after we found out we were pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-382630 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 21:42:41 +0000 JaclynHershfeld 382630@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is such a surreal thing to talk about, but something my hubs and I need to do asap. Any advice on establishing a will/succession plan would be wonderfully helpful. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-40505 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:13:28 +0000 Clementine 40505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely, something to add to our TO DO LIST! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-40422 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:25:16 +0000 Rosie Girl 40422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No we don't, and I really don't see us doing one anytime soon.... Maybe we should think about that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-40277 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:59:18 +0000 Andrea 40277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we set up a will and bought life insurance before my LO was born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-40274 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:58:27 +0000 tequiero21 40274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we need to get one in place before the babies arrive! eek! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-40075 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:33:10 +0000 eupenmalmody 40075@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like it is something we all know we *should* do, but it is such a pain to actually follow-through with. I've heard some horror stories however about beneficiaries not being changed to the spouse then child, and it having to be fought in Court, along with family members fighting over custody of children - I just want to avoid any mess or problems! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-39987 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:33:36 +0000 heffalump 39987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not yet, but it's on our list of things to do. We had issues deciding who we'd want our lo to go to if something happened to us, and now that we finally decided we have to make that appointment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-39986 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:33:00 +0000 chopsuey 39986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've discussed guardianship. Just need to get it on paper asap! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-39984 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:31:19 +0000 Mrsbells 39984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we dont have one but have discussed it... we will set something up once the baby is born </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will-1#post-39980 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:28:10 +0000 eupenmalmody 39980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With our little one arriving shortly, my husband and I are actively working on getting a will in place. We also want to set up a succession plan for what will happen to our child should something happen to us.</p> <p>So: Do you have a will? Do you have a legal document stating who would become the guardian of your child should something happen to you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will#post-7742 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:45:08 +0000 MaisyMay 7742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We'll probably do DIY style. When I was 16 I wrote out a basic will for my parents so I imagine that I'll write out ours. Also, the community centers in our neighborhood offer a cheap class of those types of forms and show people how to DIY, plus they have a notary available the last session, so we might go that route. I think our plan is to do a living trust and power of attorney for now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will#post-7606 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:26:57 +0000 elouise 7606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We hired a lawyer (that was included with my husband's insurance). It seemed much easier to have a go-to lawyer (as opposed to diy) so that we can update it later on, and not have to worry about filing paperwork, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will#post-7547 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:03:46 +0000 Mrs. Sunglasses 7547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not yet, but it's on our todo list. I know the importance, I just need to do it. </p> <p>For US peeps, I know Dave Ramsey recommends <a href="http://www.uslegalforms.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.uslegalforms.com/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will#post-7527 Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:41:58 +0000 mrsjyw 7527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ditto @BOOGS comment. Living trusts saves time, court costs, etc.</p> <p>Here's a brief overview between Wills &amp; Trusts:</p> <p><a href="http://www.legalzoom.com/planning-your-estate/estate-planning-basics/will-vs-living-trust-whats" rel="nofollow">http://www.legalzoom.com/planning-your-estate/estate-planning-basics/will-vs-living-trust-whats</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will#post-7431 Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:47:18 +0000 chopsuey 7431@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No will yet! Husband has one but needs to get it revised since it was drafted before he got married. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will#post-7387 Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:05:59 +0000 sweetiek 7387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just had one done on Friday. A lawyer my dad knows was able to do it for us. I had thought about doing it online but I was afraid I may do something wrong. Our will lists how our money is to be put into a trust for children to be managed by my dad if we were both to pass away. I still want to know more about how wills and trusts work, and need to do more research. From what I understood from our meeting it seems the will mostly states how you would like things to go but it still has to go through probate/court to be okayed in a way I guess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will#post-7380 Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:49:35 +0000 Boogs 7380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not yet, but we have been talking about it and talking to some people. Apparently, the way to go is with a living trust. From my understanding it is easier so things don't get stuck in the courts for a couple of years. We've also been told that if you can find a good paralegal you can often save money. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-have-a-will#post-7370 Sun, 30 Oct 2011 12:28:48 +0000 mynoahbear 7370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we have a will. Our lawyer friend drew it up for us. We actually have to fix it because we made the will prekids. </p>