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District of Columbia Last Will and Testament

A District of Columbia Last Will and Testament (a "Will") is a legal document that outlines your preferences related to asset distribution after death, including who will inherit your money, your home, or your personal belongings.

The person making a Will is called the "testator," and the individual or organization appointed to manage the testator's estate after death is known as the "executor." Designed for DC residents, our free Last Will and Testament is made for use throughout the district. Each District of Columbia Will from Rocket Lawyer can be fully customized for your particular scenario. As a result of having this essential legal document, your loved ones will have a record of your preferences.

It's simple and easy to outline your wishes with a free District of Columbia Last Will and Testament template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make your Will - Provide a few basic details, and we will do the rest
2. Send and share - Review the document with a lawyer, if desired
3. Sign and make it legal - Mandatory or not, having two disinterested witnesses is recommended

This solution is often much less expensive and less time-consuming than meeting and hiring a conventional lawyer. If necessary, you can prepare a Last Will and Testament on behalf of your spouse, an elderly parent, or another relative, and then help them sign once you've drafted it. Please keep in mind that for this document to be considered valid, the testator must be mentally competent when they sign. If the testator is already incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions, a conservatorship could be required. When dealing with this situation, it would be a good idea to speak to an attorney.

Every person over 18 ought to have a Last Will and Testament in place. Though it can be unpleasant to acknowledge, your loved ones will need to know your preferences for guardianship (if applicable), your assets, and your property, if you pass away. Common occasions where it might be useful to make or update your Will include:

• You are aging or dealing with ongoing health issues
• You own or recently sold/bought real estate
• You are newly married or divorced
• You have become a parent

Whether your District of Columbia Last Will and Testament is being drafted as part of a long-term plan or made in response to a recent change in your life, witnesses and/or notarization are strongly encouraged as a best practice for protecting your document if its legitimacy is challenged.

Writing a Will is usually straightforward; however, you or your executor(s) could have legal questions. It may depend on whom you reach out to, but often some lawyers will not even agree to review documents that they didn't author. A more favorable approach worth consideration is to request help from attorney services at Rocket Lawyer. If you become a Premium member, you can ask for a document review from an experienced attorney or get answers to additional questions about your Will. As always, Rocket Lawyer is here to help.

The cost of working with an attorney to write a Last Will and Testament could add up to anywhere from $200 to $1,000. Unlike many other sites that you might stumble upon, Rocket Lawyer offers more than a Last Will and Testament template. If you ever require assistance from a lawyer, your Rocket Lawyer membership provides up to 40% in savings when you hire an attorney.

After completing this customized Last Will, you will have the ability to see it anytime, anywhere. Feel free to engage with it in any of these ways: editing it, saving it as a PDF document or Word file, and/or signing it. Your District of Columbia Will comes with its own checklist of tips on what to do next. Be sure to keep your original signed document in a safe place where it can't get wet or otherwise damaged. It is important that someone you trust knows where it can be found after your passing.

The requirements for Wills will vary in each state; however, in the District of Columbia, your Will requires two witnesses. As a basic rule, witnesses will need to be mentally competent individuals. Furthermore, it is strongly recommended that your Last Will and Testament be acknowledged by a notary public in order to emphasize its legitimacy.

Legal references for a Will in Washington DC: § 18–103

A Will does not have to be filed with the court until the testator has passed away. In Washington DC, a Last Will and Testament must be filed for probate within 90 days after the death of the testator. Filing a Last Will (in addition to any specific forms needed by the county) allows for the probate process to start.