Make your Free
Vermont Last Will and Testament

A Vermont Last Will and Testament (a "Will") is a legal document that sets forth your wishes in relation to property distribution after death, including who will inherit your personal belongings, your money, or your home.

The person making a Will is called the "testator," and the individuals or organizations appointed to oversee the testator's estate after death are known as "executors." Suited for Vermont residents, this Last Will and Testament can be used in Bennington County, Caledonia County, Chittenden County, and in any other part of the state. Each Vermont Will from Rocket Lawyer can be fully personalized to address your particular circumstances. This legal document will provide verification of your preferences.

It's fast and easy to document your wishes with a free Vermont Last Will and Testament template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make your Will - Answer a few general questions, and we will do the rest
2. Send or share - Review your wishes with an attorney, if desired
3. Sign it and make it legal - Optional or not, having two disinterested witnesses is ideal

This route, in many cases, would be notably more affordable and convenient than finding and working with the average lawyer. If necessary, you may start a Last Will and Testament on behalf of an elderly parent, a spouse, or another family member, and then have that person sign once you've drafted it. Keep in mind that for a Will to be accepted as valid, the testator must be an adult who is mentally competent at the time of signing. If the testator is already unable to make their own decisions, a court-appointed conservatorship generally will be necessary. In such a situation, it's important to work with a lawyer.

Every person over 18 years old should have a Last Will and Testament in place. While it's unpleasant to acknowledge, your loved ones will want to know your preferences in relation to guardianship (when applicable), your assets, and/or property when you pass away. Here are a few common situations in which it may be useful to make or update your Will:

• You are getting older or have declining health
• You own real estate property
• Your marital status has changed
• You have new beneficiaries, such as a child

Whether your Vermont Last Will and Testament has been generated as part of a long-term plan or made in response to a recent change in your life, notarization and witnesses are highly recommended as a best practice for protecting your document if someone questions its authenticity.

Writing a Will is typically simple to do; however, you or your executor could still need advice. Finding a legal professional to give feedback on your Vermont Last Will and Testament could be time-consuming and fairly expensive. A more cost-effective alternative is via Rocket Lawyer attorney services. As a Premium member, you can get your document reviewed or ask specific questions. As always, you can rest assured that Rocket Lawyer will be by your side.

The fees associated with finding and working with a traditional attorney to make a Last Will and Testament might range anywhere from $200 to $1,000, depending on where you are located. Unlike the other sites that you may stumble upon, Rocket Lawyer offers much more than a Last Will and Testament template. If you ever need assistance from a lawyer, your membership offers up to 40% in savings when you hire an attorney from our On Call network.

Upon finishing a Last Will on Rocket Lawyer, you'll have the ability to get to it anytime and anywhere. You also can try any or all of the following actions with your document: making edits, saving it in PDF format or as a Word document, printing it, or signing it. Attached alongside each Vermont Will, there's a set of instructions that you will need to finalize the document. Make sure to keep the original signed document in a safe location. It is critical that someone you trust knows where it can be found after you have passed.

The specifications and restrictions governing Wills vary by state; however, in Vermont, your document requires the signatures of two witnesses. As a basic principle, witnesses should be competent individuals who are of sound mind. No witness should also be a beneficiary. Furthermore, it is a best practice that you have your Will signed by a notary public in order to emphasize the credibility of the document.

Legal references for a Will in Vermont: 14 V.S.A. § 5

A Last Will doesn't have to be filed with the county until the testator passes away. In Vermont, the executor must file the Will with the probate court within 30 days of the testator's death. Filing a Will (along with any specific forms needed by the county) allows for probate to start.