• 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    • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?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 » Don’t Want a Will? Then Let the Courts Decide!

Don’t Want a Will? Then Let the Courts Decide!

January 16, 2014 by Stephen Unsworth

A lot of individuals do not think they need a Will, but what they do not realize is that if they do not go through with estate planning, a judge will decide where their assets go. Why? Because a Will is a legal document that outlines where your assets go and how they are distributed. Without this legal document on file, a judge is left to pick and choose who gets what and how much of that asset they receive.

The Automatic Split

Typically, without a Will your assets will automatically be distributed to your surviving spouse and children. If you are not married and do not have children, a judge will determine who of your blood relatives will receive your assets after that.

Guardianship

A Will outlines who will receive guardianship of your minor children. This is especially important for single parents who want their children to be raised by a specific family member or even a friend. Without outlining this information, children will be given to the next suitable guardian a judge finds.

Amend Anytime

What people assume during estate planning is that a Will cannot be changed once it is written. This is untrue. You can actually update and amend your Will throughout the year, which means if something changes, you can change your Will along with it.

  • 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)
  • These Estate Plan Details Are Often Overlooked - January 27, 2021
  • Genworth Releases 2020 Cost of Long-Term Care Survey - January 18, 2021
  • Will Social Security Go Up in 2021? - December 7, 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.