Tag: online wills

“Oh, We Didn’t Use an Attorney…We Bought It Online”

July 28, 2010 /

Because I regular comment about the risks and dangers of online estate planning documents, I’ll keep this post short.  The words above were heard by a banker friend of mine.  The context of the statement is just to good to not write a post about it.

The customers have a very elderly aunt (in her 90s) for whom they have power of attorney.  They brought the document into the bank because aunt needed to them to get into her safe deposit box.  So the banker sends the power of attorney to the bank’s legal department.  The answer back – “no.”  Why?  Because the power of attorney made a very general statement about financial powers and did not include the ability to access a safe deposit box.  The banker’s suggestion to them was to go back to the attorney who drafted it and have it changed.  They’re response was, “oh, we didn’t use an attorney . . . we bought it online.”  So, they had to go get elderly aunt who lives almost an hour away, bring her into the bank on a different day, and have her authorize drilling the safe deposit box (she had lost the keys).  Were they upset?  You bet they were!  But it was of their own doing.

And they were lucky!  How?  Because if aunt hadn’t been competent, they would have had to go to court to get the authorization.

Almost every attorney I know who specializes in estate planning includes a provision in the power of attorney to cover the above example.  Why?  Because it’s what we do.  We deal with it on a daily basis.  Although not having the one provision is not the point, we know that more and more financial institutions are requiring specific authority for different transactions such as accessing a safe deposit box.

Do you have a similar story?  Email me or share it in the comments below.  I always enjoy hearing from my blog readers.

Michael Lichterman is an attorney specializing in estate planning and helping provide peace of mind to families and businesses throughout Grand Rapids and West Michigan.  He specializes in Whole Family Wealth™ planning for professionals with minor children, doctors/physicians, nurses, lawyers, and the “sandwich generation” (caring for parents and children) – and does so from a Christian perspective.  He takes the “counselor” part of attorney and counselor at law very seriously, and enjoys creating life long relationships with his clients – many of which have become great friends.

Online Wills and Trusts Company Gets Slapped With Class Action Lawsuit

June 7, 2010 /

Pardon the interruption of our regularly scheduled “introduction to estate planning” programming for this breaking news.  I figured it was bound to happen sooner or later and now we know . . . sooner.  According to this article, Legal Zoom recently became the subject of a class action lawsuit.  The suit accuses Legal Zoom of “unfair and deceptive” business practices.  The suit alleges the deception is in Legal Zoom’s claim that “‘. . . virtually anyone'” can create a valid legal document through the site and that the ‘customized’ documents made by nonlawyers would be reviewed for ‘accuracy and reliability,’ [giving] customers a false sense of security.”  What happened in the specific situation that brought about the lawsuit?  They bought a revocable living trust, a will and a durable power of attorney that later had to be fixed by an attorney.  My colleague Candice Aiston wrote about it here.  And to be fair, you can read Legal Zoom’s response to Candice’s post here.  It’s always best to hear both sides of the story so you can form your own opinion.

I’m not making any comment about the validity of the lawsuit, or lack thereof.  However, if you’ve been reading my posts for any period of time you know that I believe online- and software-based will-making software leaves many people with a false sense of security.  The sad part is that most people don’t find out that the security is false until they die, and then it is too late! Their family is left cleaning up the mess.  Think about a child’s toy.  They come with specific pieces that are designed to fit together a certain way and their are directions telling you how to construct it.  Yet somehow, I still find a way to put it together wrong (causing untold frustration) or never getting it put together at all!  What about you?  Think about how unique each individual is . . . and each family.

An estate plan is not a cookie cutter situation and you should run (not walk) away from anyone (lawyers included) who tell you it is.  Each person, each family, is like a snowflake – unique in who they are and in the legacy they want to create and pass along to their family after they’re gone.  And that is just one of the reasons working with an attorney who specializes in estate planning is key to making sure you pass along your “whole family wealth,” and not just a set of documents that distributes your “stuff.”  Call me if you’re interested in learning more about sharing who you are and what’s important to you – making sure your values, insights, stories and experiences will benefit your family for generations to come.  It’s about far more than money.

Michael Lichterman is an attorney specializing in estate planning and helping provide peace of mind to families and businesses in Grand Rapids, Grandville, Cascade, Forest Hills, Ada, Byron Center, Caledonia, and the surrounding areas.  He specializes in the needs of professionals with minor children, doctors, lawyers,  CPAs, and those in the “sandwich generation” (caring for parents and children), and does so from a Christian perspective.  He takes the “counselor” part of attorney and counselor at law very seriously, and enjoys creating life long relationships with his clients – many of which have become great friends.