For the majority of people who have not necessarily gone to law school or become experts in the field of personal injury law, understanding a claim is difficult at best. People typically don’t know the full extent to what is involved in their accident claim, especially in situations where they are involved in an accident that was not their fault.

And so, in not understanding the complexity of these types of cases, too many people try resolving their disputes themselves and end up putting their cases in jeopardy in the process. By moving forward with a claim that you are not entirely sure about, you could easily be putting yourself at an extreme disadvantage.

At the same time, you have insurance companies that are trying to do one thing—and that thing is settle a claim for as little as possible without paying what they are obligated and required to pay.

You have to understand, insurance companies are in business to do one thing, and that is to make money. The way they make money is by collecting as much as possible from premiums and paying out as little as possible to their customers when they have a claim. It’s simple economics. Their only incentive, then, when someone makes a claim, is to pay out as little as possible on that claim.

The bottom line comes down to this: The only way you can have any leverage in the whole process is by having an attorney who knows how insurance companies work and who knows what each person is entitled to in the specific case on your side. In order to equalize the field, or level the playing field, you need to have someone representing you who knows how to obtain fair and equitable compensation in personal injury cases.

Many times, insurance companies will play the good guy role, pretending that they’re on your side to get you to give them a recorded statement. In other scenarios, they might be trying to talk you into turning over valuable documents or evidence to them. The reason they do this is because they know that when a person is not represented by an attorney, he is more likely to immediately hand over any requested documentation or evidence to the insurance company than when they are represented. The only reason an insurance company will play the “good guy” role is to get evidence to hurt the claimant’s case and lessen the amount that they end up paying out.

Without that insider knowledge—along with the experience and training that comes with years of experience as a personal injury attorney—individual consumers who are left to their own devices against the massive insurance companies will always lose. It is that simple, really.

Insurance companies have no incentive to pay the full value of a claim when you are not represented by an attorney because they know that you have no leverage in the case. And without the knowledge, training and experience to back you up, there is little you can do to dispute the verdict that an insurance company hands out.

That in itself is why it is important that individuals hire an attorney when they have been involved in any type of accident. It is not about putting yourself at some type of advantage, it is just about putting yourself on a level playing field with the insurance companies and getting the award settlement that you deserve.

Related Articles

• Maritime Accident Guide (1)
• How to Deal with Medical Malpractice (1)
• Car Accident Checklist: Protecting Yourself After the Crash (0)
• Why You Should Consult a Lawyer if You Sustain a Transit Injury (0)
• Why to Consult a Social Security Lawyer Before You Submit Your Disability Claim (3)

To get the process started, you’ll need to find an attorney who is equipped to deal with the matter at hand. The best way to go about choosing the right person for the job is visit an attorney’s office for an initial consultation. The purpose of the attorney consultation is to provide the lawyer with the facts regarding the charges you’re facing and get an idea as to whether or not he is suited to defend you. Many attorneys like New Jersey’s Elliot Wiesner offer these consultations for free as a courtesy to clients.

In order to ensure that your initial attorney consultation goes smoothly, you’ll need to know exactly how to go about preparing for it. According to Elliot Wiesner, it is crucial that you bring any and all documents that are relevant to the charge at hand with you to the attorney’s office. This includes any notices or reports that you may have gotten from the police department, court papers or hearing date assignments, accident reports where applicable, and the original ticket detailing the moving violation for which you are being charged. Additionally, you should consider the facts of the charge you are facing and bring any other relevant papers or documents along with you. If, for example, part of your charge includes the fact that you left your insurance card at home and were therefore caught driving around without the proper insurance, then you should bring a copy of your insurance information along to the initial meeting. The more information you are able to give the attorney, the better equipped he’ll be to understand the facts and address the situation.

Of course, not all information relating to a moving violation is available in writing or in official document form. Therefore, it is important that you come prepared with as much verbal detail about the incident as possible. You might want to jot down some notes beforehand to ensure that you don’t skip over any crucial details during your initial discussion with the attorney. If you had a witness to the incident, then you might want to run through the scenario with him prior to meeting your attorney as sometimes it takes a second person to remember a detail that might end up becoming a key component of your defense. Remember, this is your chance to tell your side of the story, so you’ll want to tell it as accurately as possible.

Once you’ve shared all the details and documents relating to the charge in question, your attorney should be able to evaluate your circumstances and give you a range of possible outcomes based on his proposed defense. A good attorney will offer up the best possible outcome for the scenario, but he will also do his job by preparing you for the worst. Additionally, during the consultation, your attorney will make you aware of the fees involved in your defense and offer you a chance to decide whether or not you wish to – or can afford to – pursue his services.

Of course, the idea of an attorney consultation can be a little bit nerve-wracking, but try to remember that the person you are going to meet with is actually on your side. You can do your part to help him help you by coming equipped with the proper paperwork, the right facts, and, just as importantly, an open mind.

Related Articles

• Insurance Company Disputes: You can Fight Back (0)
• Best Lawyers in Movie History (0)
• Advantages to Filing for Bankruptcy (0)
• Your Guide to Foreclosure (0)
• Your Guide to DUI Crimes and Consequences (0)

Bankruptcy gives people a fresh start. That is the No. 1 advantage it gives consumers. On top of that, I believe that filing for bankruptcy can also give some people a sense of personal closure on that chapter of their lives. But, people should understand that bankruptcy is only an option if they qualify and not everyone qualifies anymore.

Since 2005, the government has drastically changed the rules on how someone can file for bankruptcy. One of the differences it that you are now required to go through what is called a “means test.” That is, after going through a 10-page form, called a B22 form, and undergoing the means testing, it will be determined whether your income is above or below the median income for a family of your size.

This determination is made after looking at a history of your last six month’s salary. And obviously, the size of your family and the number of children you have will influence how much you can make and still qualify to file for bankruptcy. Anyone curious where they would fall in this spectrum can get those figures from the federal government, which publishes them annually.

If the means test determines that you are at or below the median income for a family of your size, then your best option is to do what is called a liquidation or straight bankruptcy. This is what people normally think of as a typical bankruptcy. You lose all of your debt and you lose property that is not protected by law, which would be exempt. This is by far the most popular of the options.

If your income is above the median levels, then you are going to be forced into what is called a Chapter 13 debt reorganization. This will force you to pay back all of your secured creditors and pay back as much of your unsecured debt over a 60-month period as you have in available disposable income.

To better understand what exactly counts as disposable income, we can use an example. Let’s assume you’re making $2,000 a month. If it costs you $1,500 a month to live between your food, your car, and your rent, than that means you have $500 a month in disposable income left over. So that is $500 a month that you will have to pay into the bankruptcy plan to repay your credits. Further, if you are behind in your mortgage, then you may be able to cure you debt in that way, too.

As you can tell, this plan can be difficult. Filing for Chapter 13 means that you are going to be using up all your disposable money over a period of three to five years, so you have got to think about the pain involved in that. You have also got to think about the fact that 85% of these Chapter 13 plans fail, and you could get stuck with the same problems without being able to file again for a number of years. So you can get yourself in a real jam with a Chapter 13 bankruptcy—that is a definite downside.

Now, if you have over $325,000 in secured debt—and you may have actually wracked up that much with some of these larger home loans—then you can’t even use a Chapter 13 bankruptcy anyone. It’s just not an option. Instead, you have got to file for a small business Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which gets to be pricey. In the end, you could spend thousands of dollars trying to file for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. So that is a big problem and a major issue to consider when you have got such a massive amount of debt.

Ideally, if you are a consumer who is going to file for bankruptcy, then you would want to do a Chapter 7. Using a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you can just blow out all the debt at once. You may have to bite the bullet on certain aspects, but at least you are free and clear financially—and certainly able to start fresh in the future.

Related Articles

• The Basics of Bankruptcy (0)
• Lawyers: How to File for Bankruptcy (2)
• How to Prepare For An Attorney Consultation (0)
• Best Lawyers in Movie History (0)
• Your Guide to Foreclosure (0)

According to New Jersey attorney Elliot Wiesner, many people are too quick to assume that they do not need wills for a number of reasons. The fact of the matter is that every adult and his would-be beneficiaries can stand to benefit from having a will. However, the following are some of the more popular reasons for getting started on the process:

Buying property
Property ownership comes with its fair share of responsibilities, and as part of the package, you should take the necessary steps to decide what happens to your home in the event that you are no longer around to run it.

Getting married
For many, marriage involves not only a merging of the souls, but a merging of the assets. However, the act of getting married does not legally entitle a spouse to any assets that aren’t in his name. Only a will can truly grant your spouse the rights to those assets.

Getting a spousal equivalent or entering a domestic partnership
Your domestic partner or spousal equivalent is probably the most important person in your life. In order to ensure that this person is taken care of in the event that something happens to you, you’ll need something in writing that names your partner as your primary beneficiary.

Having children
As a parent, it is your job to support your children not only emotionally, but financially. You’ll need a will in order to ensure that your children are well protected whether or not you’re around.

Coming into sudden wealth
Whether you win the lottery, receive a sizable inheritance, or suddenly strike it rich on the job, if you find that you’ve rapidly come into money, then you’ll want to take steps to ensure that your newfound assets are well-protected.

Getting divorced
While you might have had loving feelings for your spouse in the past, if you’re getting divorced, then you probably no longer want that person to benefit from your own personal assets. With a will, there will be no confusion as to what your ex is and is not entitled to.

The above-listed scenarios represent a number of common triggers for people getting wills, but this does not mean that you should look into getting a will only if you fall under one of these categories. Once you do decide that it’s time for your will to be drawn up, it is not simply a matter of scribbling down some notes and sealing them up in your desk drawer. You will need to hire an attorney in order to make your will official and legally enforceable. Of course, when some people hear the word “attorney,” they immediately start a frantic number crunch in their heads. However, you can rest assured that under most normal circumstances, the process of having a will drawn up is actually quite affordable. It is only the more substantial and complicated estates that demand extra attorney time and dollars.

If getting a will is something that you have been avoiding until now, then it’s time to acknowledge the importance of having one and do something about it. An attorney like Elliot Wiesner can walk you through the process and draw up a will so that you’ll never have to worry about where your assets might wind up. The idea might be less than pleasant, but chalk it up to being a responsible adult.

Related Articles

• Your Guide to DUI Cases (0)
• Why You Should Consult a Lawyer if You Sustain a Transit Injury (0)
• Why Call a Lawyer after Getting Hurt in an Accident (0)
• When Can I Sue in a Car Accident? (1)
• What to Do If You Are Injured At Work (0)

How do I know if I have a strong personal injury claim? Personal injuries can include physical harm, mental distress, invasion of privacy or intent to harm, whether purposefully or through negligence. Negligence is roughly defined as conduct that does not adequately protect persons from foreseeable harm, or personal injury. At issue here is whether not only the defendant, but also the plaintiff, acted in a “reasonable manner,” a term which is admittedly open to a lot of interpretation.

For instance, if you slip on a banana peel in a supermarket, the owner may claim you were being negligent in not watching where you were going. But there are also fair arguments you could make for negligence on the part of the defendant in the same case. For example, supermarkets spend a lot to get you to look everywhere but down, so how can they blame you for not noticing the banana peel? Now let’s say instead of a banana peel, you slipped on some water instead. If this water spill was on the floor for an extended period of time, you could prove negligence by poor maintenance.

Should I take on my personal injury lawsuit on my own or hire a lawyer? It is possible to represent yourself in a personal injury lawsuit and get a desirable outcome if you do your homework and fight for the compensation you deserve, but the outcome is positive in only a small number of cases. This is partly because of the experience a lawyer brings to the table—an attorney will be familiar with the personal injury lawsuit process and will be able to help you get damages you might not even know you’re entitled to—but also because simply having an attorney represent you and pose the risk of going to trial typically generates more generous settlement offers. A good lawyer should know when to settle, but never take the possibility of going to trial off the table—lawyers who tend to settle personal injury cases embolden insurance companies.

What should I do immediately after suffering a personal injury? If you have suffered a personal injury, seek medical attention. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you not to call an ambulance or the police if you require medical assistance. And if you are able, take a written and photographic record of the scene of the injury and all relevant details, and from as many angles as possible. If there are witnesses, be sure to get statements. As soon as you are able, contact an attorney (many offer free consultations), and do not by any means agree to any settlement or agreement without first speaking to a lawyer.

What’s the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit? The deadline, or statute of limitations, differs from state to state. In some states, you will lose your right to sue after a year, in others you will have up to six years. In either case, there is no reason to put off speaking with an attorney and taking immediate action to secure any damages you deserve. And, again, make sure you don’t put off getting medical attention. Not doing so can hurt your case. And if you see a doctor, be sure to follow all his recommendations, not only for your health, but also to help you build a case no insurance company will be able to poke holes in.

Related Articles

• Surprising Personal Injury Law Facts (0)
• Prenuptial Agreements to Have and to Hold (0)
• Personal Injury Definitions (0)
• Different Types of Lawyers for Different Types of Problems (0)
• Why You Should Consult a Lawyer if You Sustain a Transit Injury (0)

Regardless of whether you are representing yourself in a personal injury case or have professional legal aid, it’s important for you to understand as much as you can about the process to help you understand all your options and successfully fight for the damages you deserve. The problem is that terminology in legalese can be hard to understand, and sometimes it purposely complicated by insurance companies to confuse claimants and deter people from even filing personal injury claims in the first place. If you’re filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit, arm yourself with an understanding of some of the more common terms and phrases you’re likely to encounter in the process.

Assumption of risk:
Assumption of risk is a defense used in personal injury cases where the plaintiff was involved in and aware of their involvement in a risky activity. In cases where there is a reasonable assumption of risk on the part of the plaintiff, the defense cannot be held liable for that harm should it occur. The assumption of risk defense is most commonly used when people get injured while participating in extreme or dangerous sports such as skydiving, scuba diving and bungee jumping.

Damages:
As it concerns personal injury law, damages are the award or remedy received by the plaintiff as compensation for injury, pain, suffering or other losses.

Deposition:
After you file a personal injury lawsuit, the defendant has a right to ask you about all the circumstances revolving around your injury. This testimony will be usable in court, and the process of obtaining said testimony is the deposition. It’s important to be accurate about every detail and go over this process with an attorney to help you avoid the stumbling blocks you are likely to encounter. To use an exaggerated example to illustrate how your deposition can be used against you, take a case where a plaintiff says, “I fell off loose scaffolding at my job as a construction worker. Sure, it was nice to get a break after my injury, but I would have never dreamed of injuring myself to sue for damages.” Guess what part of that testimony the defense will play in court? That’s right: “It was nice to get a break after my injury.” This is just one more instance where having an experienced lawyer on your side can help you level the playing field when going against an insurance company.

Negligence:
In the simplest terms, negligence is when one party fails to exercise proper caution. When negligence leads to an injury, there is a foundation for a personal injury claim. Since the term negligence is open to broad interpretation according to this definition, the plaintiff has to establish negligence by proving that the defendant was required to take cautionary action to prevent a certain injury. For instance, many personal injury lawsuits stem from slip and fall accidents when property owners negligently overlook snow or ice-covered sidewalks or other public property.

Strict Liability:
Did you know that it’s not always necessary to prove negligence in order to win a personal injury case? In certain instances, the defendant can be held strictly liable for any harm caused to the plaintiff, even when he or she has taken reasonable precautions to prevent accidents and injuries. This is true with defective or harmful products and with companies that work with explosives, wild animals or other dangers that pose undue risk. The idea behind strict negligence is that some business practices should not be encouraged but also not prohibited. In these cases, it falls upon the business to assume strict liability for any practices that may cause unnecessary harm.

Related Articles

• Surprising Personal Injury Law Facts (0)
• What to Know Before Your Personal Injury Lawsuit (2)
• What is Mediation? (5)
• What is a Personal Injury Lawsuit? (10)
• Personal Injury Lawsuits: How to Value Pain and Suffering (5)

• A common myth about personal injury law is that it is always better to settle out of court than to risk losing in trial. While it is true that risks are involved with taking a personal injury case to court, but the fact that an insurance company is offering a settlement alone is a sign that they consider going to trial a risky proposition. Furthermore, if you choose a lawyer who never goes to trial and typically settles personal injury cases, you can bet that any settlement offer you might receive would be lower than if your lawyer posed the risk of taking the case to trial and winning. However, every case is different. Sometimes it is indeed in the client’s best interest to accept a settlement offer, especially when it is fair or when a client has other reasons for wishing to avoid going to trial.
• In most cases, you need to prove negligence on the part of the defendant in personal injury cases. However, there are certain exceptions that concern the matter of strict liability. Strict liability means that a party can be liable for a personal injury regardless of negligence in certain cases, for instance, if the party is involved in a product malfunction or is conducting dangerous business practices, such as storing explosives or training wild animals.
• According to the National Center for Injury Protection and Control, approximately 25% of American children are injured every year, and car accidents are the biggest cause of personal injury and death in child passengers. To protect your children, correctly installing a quality child safety seat in your car, teach your child to look both ways before crossing the street and keep dangerous substances such as medicine and chemicals locked away. But perhaps most importantly, make sure not to leave young children unattended and always know where your older ones are (well, as much as possible).
• The largest settlement ever awarded for an injury was $15,350,000. The damages were awarded to a mother and son from Aurora, Illinois, in a birth-injury settlement following a malpractice lawsuit against a doctor who allegedly endangered the son’s life during childbirth with an incorrect delivery procedure. According to the plaintiff, the son developed cerebral palsy as a result. The settlement also includes damages for suffering and is being used to fund the boy’s medical care. Now before some of you think this mother and child hit the jackpot, ask yourself what price you would put on your mental health.

  The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.

Related Articles

• Personal Injury Definitions (0)
• Personal Injury Myths (0)
• How to Find a Divorce Attorney (3)
• Different Types of Lawyers for Different Types of Problems (0)
• Common Questions About Personal Injury Claims (0)

According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, over 5,000 workers die on the job and over 4 million employees suffer occupational injuries and illnesses yearly.

That’s where workers compensation comes in: Workers Compensation is designed to benefit both the employer and employee by providing the employer with an assurance that he won’t be sued and by providing the employee with damages, a legal term for compensation in a personal injury case.

The particulars of Workers Compensation Law differ from state to state—for instance, employers in Florida who have workers compensation insurance are immune from workplace injury lawsuit. But as long as your injury arose out of an accident at work or work-related activity you will be able to seek compensation.

If your employer has Workers Compensation insurance, he will be protected from legal action—in most cases. The exception is when an employer purposely attempts to hurt an employee.

If you have suffered a workplace injury, you may be entitled to Workers Compensation or other forms of remuneration. In order to protect your right to compensation, take the following steps as soon as possible after the injury:

1. Get medical help. Depending on the injury, this can range from getting a first aid kit to calling the police or an ambulance. Not seeking medical attention will make it seem that your injury was not dire.
2. Talk to witnesses. Write down the contact information of relevant witnesses, and in the case of a car accident, also write down all license plate numbers and the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
3. Take photos. Photographs don’t lie, which is why they can be the strongest part of a claim. Take pictures of the injury, the scene of the injury (from all angles), the cause of the injury and any property damage.
4. Cooperate with first responders. If a police officer or EMT arrives at the scene, answer all their questions. This will serve as an additional record of your injury.
5. Call your attorney. Insurance companies are notorious for finding loopholes to refuse claims. As an example, a McDonald’s employee, Nigel Haskett, who was shot on the job, was denied his Workers Compensation claim, leaving him with $300,000 in medical expenses. Nigel was shot in the process of pushing a man out of the store who was attacking a customer. So why was his claim denied? According to McDonald’s Workers Compensation plan, “Mr. Haskett’s injuries did not arise out of or within the course and scope of his employment.” The point of this story is: Don’t expect your Workers Compensation insurer to be compassionate. Call an attorney immediately and level the playing field. Don’t skip this step. Workers Compensation Law is highly complex, making it hard to represent yourself. While it is entirely possible that you are able to effectively represent yourself, the intricacies of Workers Compensation Law are beyond most people’s expertise.
6. Notify your employer about the injury and file a claim. Failure to let your supervisor know about an injury within 30 days of its occurrence can cause you to lose the right to file a compensation claim. If the injury is a disease, the statute of limitations is 2 years. You can file your claim by filling out the appropriate form—these differ from state to state—at a Workers Compensation Board (an advocacy group) in your area.
7. Make sure you don’t apologize for anything to anyone or discuss fault—this can be used against you when you file a claim—and don’t agree to a settlement without first speaking to an attorney.

Related Articles

• Top 5 States with the Weirdest Laws (3)
• Product Liability Lawyers Put Your Health and Safety First (0)
• Prenuptial Agreements to Have and to Hold (0)
• Maritime Accident Lawyers Help Injured Cruise Ship Passengers (5)
• How to Deal with Medical Malpractice (1)

A lot of myths are floating around regarding personal cases, settlements and the parties involved. Sometimes these misconceptions cause people to have unrealistic expectations for what to expect from a personal injury claim, and sometimes they have the opposite effect and cause people to hesitate to file a just claim or rush to accept a settlement. You might not be surprised to learn that many of these myths are perpetrated by insurance companies, since they have the most to gain from discouraging people with legitimate costs and losses from pursuing compensation for a personal injury. The following are some of the more common myths about personal injury law.

Myth #1: Punitive damage awards serve no purpose other than to line the pockets of plaintiffs.
Fact: Some people’s immediate reaction to hearing about cases that pay out in the millions is that the injured party can’t possibly deserve that much money. But punitive damages are only awarded in cases where there was intentionally egregious conduct on the defendant’s part. So the purpose of punitive damages is to punish and deter such behavior more than to reward the plaintiff. The occasional windfall a plaintiff may receive from punitive damages, and these windfalls are indeed rare, is actually promoting safe consumerism.

Myth #2: Getting injured is like winning the lottery.
Fact: Insurance companies and others in favor of caps on damages like to make it seem like juries are anxious to give away money to plaintiffs. But the fact is that juries can be quite resistant to awarding large sums of money. And in many cases, members of the jury will believe a plaintiff is trying to “game the system,” regardless of the severity of the injury. It’s important to remember that many people actually do suffer real and sometimes disabling or life-threatening personal injuries, and that’s a losing proposition for any plaintiff regardless of payout.

Myth #3: If your personal injury case is legitimate, you can count on fair treatment from the insurance company.
Fact: Insurance companies are just like any other companies, profit driven, except when insurance companies lower their costs they’re affecting lives. Some people assume that insurance adjusters will do the right thing, but this is all too often not the case. In fact, it is the insurance adjuster’s job to pay out as little as possible, and this is the number one reason you need an attorney that will level the playing field on your side.

Myth #4: If you’re offered a settlement, it’s OK to proceed without legal aid.
Fact: Personal injury is a complex area of law that’s beyond the scope of most laypeople. And while you are not legally required to have legal representation for a personal injury lawsuit, an attorney will be able to ensure that your rights are protected in court, that you are aware of what kind of settlement you expect, and deter insurance companies from taking advantage of you in other ways.

Related Articles

• What to Know Before Your Personal Injury Lawsuit (2)
• What is Mediation? (5)
• Surprising Personal Injury Law Facts (0)
• How to Prove Pain (2)
• How Much is My Personal Injury Case Worth? (8)

A will basically disposes of your property after you die. If you don’t have a will, then the laws of intestacy apply, whereby your property will be disposed of according to the laws of the state. That’s why it’s important to have a will, because you want the power to decide how your property is disposed of after you’re gone.

Protecting Your Children

Wills are also good because you can insert clauses that perhaps protect young children you may have if you die at an early age. A will allows you to create a trust, appointing a guardian for your child. You can even create pet trusts if you have a pet and you worry about what will happen to your little dog when you die. With a will, you can make provisions ensuring that the little doggie will be taken care of when you’re not here to take care of it anymore.

Within the will, you usually appoint an executor. That person is in charge of carrying out your wishes as per the will. When you sign the will, you normally have two to three witnesses when you sign.

When You Have No Will

If you fail to have a will, the state will make decisions for you. Although intestacy laws vary from state to state, no doubt your assets will be split between your spouse and your children, if you have any. If you are single, the state will make decisions about which blood relatives will get your estate, even if you have had no contact with them for the last 45 years. The state can also decide who will be the guardian of your minors if you have left no will.

If you have a trust, a will is also important. A trust allows you to see how your assets will be distributed and minimize taxes after your death. But a will is also needed as a trust only deals with specific assets such as life insurance, not everything.

Reviewing Your Will

Many people think once they have made a will, the deed is done. But it is always a good idea to review your will from time to time to make sure it is up-to-date. You will need to review it in particular if:

• Your marital situation changes
• You have more children, or a child dies
• A spouse dies
• You enter into a new business
• You retire
• Your residence changes
• There is a significant change in your assets

Never underestimate the importance of having a will. It will protect not only your interests, but those of generations to come. The cost of making a will is usually minimal, and it is more than worth it compared to the benefits you and your beneficiaries will devise from having one.

Related Articles

• Retirement Planning, Lawyer (1)
• Prenuptial Agreements: Because There’s No Such Thing As a Fairy Tale Marriage (0)
• How to Write a Will (1)
• When to Consult a Real Estate Lawyer (0)
• Most Popular Reasons to Get a Will (0)