Here's the telling fact for me: 5 separate people in this thread have said they are lawyers and wouldn't do their own, but would go to a specialist.
If these Mustachian people wouldn't do it DIY in a field related to their own, but want a specialist, I'd probably take that as a sign.
Here's the analogy that makes sense to me: most car mechanics would DIY their own car. Most personal finance planners would DIY their own finances.
But a doctor is going to go to a specialist for something outside his/her specific niche. The lawyer, likewise.
If these lawyers would have so much more of an easier time DIYing it (being familiar with a legalese), yet still want the specialist... That should be a clue for the layman.
If a lawyer has a spouse, they cannot do their spouse's will, so of course many married attorneys would use an attorney. IMO, their comments are worthwhile, but may also be self-interested for their profession.
Um, no.
1. In Canada I am aware of no restriction against a lawyer drafting a will for their spouse. If a beneficiary witnesses a will it will void their inheritance.
2. I do not practice in this area, nor do I wish to, and would not benefit from promoting anyone to use a lawyer for this.
3. I said that there are some situations where a ready-made off-the-shelf will works. Here are some reasons to use a lawyer if you don't want your will contested or deemed invalid in part:
•you are separated from your spouse but not divorced
•you are divorced and want to re-marry
•you are divorced and paying for the support of your former spouse and children
•you are living common-law, will be entering a common-law relationship, or leaving an existing one
•you are in a blended family relationship, with children of each spouse from previous relationships
•you have children from a previous relationship and an existing one
•you own your own business or are part-owner with other partners
•your estate is large and you need assistance with estate planning long before your death to reduce or eliminate taxes on your death
•you have a history of emotional or mental problems such that someone could attack the validity of your will on the basis that you did not know what you were doing when you signed the will, or were not capable of understanding the financial matters covered in the will
•you want to live in the U.S. or elsewhere for extended periods of time (the issue of your technical domicile, or permanent residence at the time of your death has legal and tax implications in terms of your will)
•you own or plan to own real estate in the U.S. or elsewhere
•you have a will which was signed outside Canada or plan to do so
•you want to forgive certain people for debts they owe you, or make special arrangements for the repaying of debts or mortgages to your estate should you die before the debt or mortgage is paid back to you
•you want certain events to occur which are complicated and have to be carefully worded, such as having a spouse or friend have a certain income or use of a home until they re-marry or die and at that time the balance of money or house goes to someone else
•you want to set up a trust arrangement to cover various possibilities
•you want to make special arrangements to care for someone who is incapable of looking after themselves, or has shown themselves unable to apply sound financial or other relevant judgement (a child, an immature adolescent, a gambler, an alcoholic, a prodigal child, a spendthrift, or someone who has emotional, physical or mental disabilities or limitations or who is ill)
•you wish to disinherit a spouse, relative, or child for a variety of reasons (For example, you may have lent a lot of money to one child out of several and the money was not repaid and promises were broken and a serious estrangement occurred. The debt substantially reduced your estate. Another more positive reason is that all your children are now independently wealthy and don’t need your money. You may therefore want to give the majority of your estate to charitable causes.)
•you wish to appoint a guardian to look after your children in case you and your spouse die together
•you have several children and you want to provide the opportunity for one specific child to buy, have an option to buy, or receive in the will the house, business, farm or a specific possession or asset of your estate, and want to set up the appropriate procedures and wording to enable your wishes to occur.
I you want to DIY it, fill your boots!