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North Carolina Last Will and Testament

A North Carolina Last Will and Testament (a "Will") is a legal document that outlines your preferences related to property distribution after death, such as who will inherit your home, personal belongings, or money.

The person making a Will is known as the "testator," while the people or organizations being appointed to handle the testator's estate after death are called "executors." Suitable for North Carolina residents, this Last Will and Testament can be used in Mecklenburg County, Wake County, Guilford County, and in all other parts of the state. Any North Carolina Will from Rocket Lawyer can be edited to address your unique situation. As a result of having this essential document, your executor(s) will have a record of your decisions.

It is very easy to set forth your wishes with a free North Carolina Last Will and Testament template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make your Will - Provide a few simple details, and we will do the rest
2. Send and share - Look over it with an attorney, if needed
3. Sign it - Mandatory or not, having two disinterested witnesses is ideal

This solution, in many cases, will be notably less expensive and less time-consuming than working with your average provider. If necessary, you may prepare a Last Will and Testament on behalf of an elderly parent, a spouse, or another family member, and then have them sign it when ready. Please note that for this document to be considered valid, the testator must be a mentally competent adult when they sign. If the testator is already unable to make their own decisions, a conservatorship generally will be required. When facing such a situation, it is best for you to connect with an attorney.

Everyone over 18 years old should have a Last Will and Testament in place. Although it can be unpleasant to think about, your loved ones will need to know your wishes for guardianship (when applicable), your assets, and your property, if you pass away. Here are some common circumstances in which it can be useful to make or update your Will:

• You own a home or other property
• You have new beneficiaries, such as a child
• You are getting older or have declining health
• You are newly married or divorced

Whether this North Carolina Last Will and Testament is being produced as a result of a recent change in your life or as part of a long-term plan, witnesses and/or notarization can often help to protect your document if a third party challenges its validity.

Writing a Will is normally simple to do, but you may still need legal advice. Finding a lawyer to double-check your document can take a lot of time if you do it on your own. An alternate approach might be to request help from the On Call network of attorneys. Rocket Lawyer members are able to request guidance from an experienced lawyer or ask additional questions. As always, you can be confident that Rocket Lawyer is here by your side.

The fees associated with hiring and working with a law firm to make a Last Will and Testament could add up to anywhere from two hundred to one thousand dollars, depending on where you are located. Unlike the other sites that you might stumble upon, Rocket Lawyer offers much more than a Last Will and Testament template. If you ever need support from a lawyer, your Premium membership provides up to a 40% discount when you hire an On Call attorney.

With a Premium membership, you will be able to make edits, save it in Word or PDF format, or print it. When you are ready to complete your North Carolina Last Will, it must be signed. Even if you decide to make copies, be sure to store your original signed document in a safe place where it can't get wet or otherwise damaged. It is critical that someone you trust knows where to find it after you pass away.

The guidelines governing Wills will vary in each state; however, in North Carolina, your Will requires two witnesses. As a basic rule, your witnesses should be mentally competent individuals. If one of the two witnesses is also named as a beneficiary of the Will, then any inheritance/gift for that witness is deemed void. If you are able to get a third, disinterested witness to sign the document, then this issue may be resolved. Furthermore, it is recommended that your Will be notarized to reinforce the credibility of the document.

Legal references for a Will in North Carolina: § 31-1

A Will does not need to be filed until the testator has passed away. Filing the document (in addition to any other forms requested by the county) initiates the process of probate.