• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Unsworth LaPlante is open for in-person meetings! We have taken precautions in our office to ensure the safety and well-being of our clients and staff. To learn more about how Unsworth LaPlante is helping people through the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.

Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC

Vermont Estate Planning Attorneys

Vermont: (802) 879-7133

Attend A Free Webinar
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Our Firm
    • Meet Our Team
  • Services
    • Elder Law
    • Estate And Gift Tax Figures
    • Estate Planning
    • Incapacity Planning
    • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
  • Resources
    • Articles
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Burlington
      • Free Estate Planning Seminars
      • Montpelier
      • Rutland
      • St. Johnsbury
      • White River Junction
    • Free Estate Planning Worksheet
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Estate and Gift Tax
      • Estate Planning
      • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Incapacity Planning
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Legacy Wealth Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicaid
      • Pet Planning
      • Special Needs Planning
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Wills
    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
    • Medicaid Resources
      • Medicaid Analysis Worksheet
      • Medicaid Guide
      • Vermont Medicaid
    • Newsletters
    • Presentations
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Webinars
  • Communities We Serve
    • Burlington
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • BLOG
  • Contact
Home » Common Errors Found in DIY Estate Planning Programs

Common Errors Found in DIY Estate Planning Programs

December 24, 2013 by Stephen Unsworth

You may already be on a tight budget, which means traditional estate planning feels like an excessive expenditure that you cannot afford. But before you turn to DIY estate planning you might want to consider these five huge errors that were discovered in some of the DIY estate planning software available online.

  1. Estate Tax Exclusion – It was noted that the year’s exclusion allowance for estate planning was incorrect, which showed an estate owing estate tax that it normally would not owe.
  2. Ademption – When a person no longer owns a piece of property, but it is listed in the Will, there needs to be ademption terms. Unfortunately, DIY software does not include this.
  3. Guardian – The online software does not force an individual to select a guardian for their minor children. That means that if they do not know to create this portion of the Will, they will leave it out.
  4. Omitting Clauses Regarding Disputes – Online software allows individuals to remove the clause regarding disputes between executors. Though this seems pointless, without this clause the courts will have to make decisions regarding any disputes that arise from your executors listed in the documents.
  5. Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, etc. – The online software does not inform a person that they need to create Powers of Attorney, Living Wills or other important documents. Therefore, if the individual has not done their research, they will omit these documents and could cost their estate a fortune in the end.

DIY estate planning has several pitfalls that have been noted time and time again. Not only can it not help with complex estate issues, but DIY online programs apparently allow individuals to make multiple costly estate planning mistakes.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Stephen Unsworth
Stephen Unsworth
Stephen A. Unsworth is admitted to practice in both Vermont and Maine, and has more than 30 years of experience in estate planning and business law. His mission is to provide quality estate planning services, including assistance with Living Trusts, Wills, Medicaid Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, Powers of Attorney, Special Needs Planning, and Family Limited Partnerships.
Stephen Unsworth
Latest posts by Stephen Unsworth (see all)
  • Genworth Releases 2020 Cost of Long-Term Care Survey - January 18, 2021
  • Will Social Security Go Up in 2021? - December 7, 2020
  • What Is a Step-Up in Basis - November 23, 2020

Filed Under: General

Other Articles You May Find Useful

Burlington Elder Law Attorneys
Estate Planning Considerations for a Second Marriage
Burlington Medicaid Attorneys
How Many People Rely on Medicaid?
durable power of attorney
What if Your Power of Attorney Isn’t Durable?
Vermont inheritance laws
Vermont Inheritance Laws for Minor Children
Asset protection strategies
What are Some of the Top Asset Protection Strategies?
Unsworth LaPlante, PLLC
What’s Behind Soaring Medicare Prescription Costs?

Primary Sidebar

Elder Law and Medicaid Planning Attorneys

Unsworth LaPlante, PLC

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE ESTATE PLANNING WORKSHEET

There's a lot that goes into setting up a comprehensive estate plan, but with our FREE worksheet, you'll be one step closer to getting yourself and your family on the path to a secure and happy future.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Blog Subscription

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Essex Junction, VT

26 Railroad Ave
Essex Junction, VT 05452
United States (US)
Phone: (802) 879-7133
Fax: (802) 879-0408

Map

unsworth_sidbr_map

Office Hours

Monday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Footer

footer-logo
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The information on this Vermont Attorneys & Lawyers / Law Firm website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this or associated pages, documents, comments, answers, emails, or other communications should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information on this website is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing of this information does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Disclaimer | Site Map | Powered by American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

© 2021 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.