What a Will Does
A Last Will and Testament is the foundation of most Estate Plans. It names who receives your property, who will handle your estate (the personal representative or executor), and - if you have minor children - who you want to raise them. Without a Will, those choices are made by default rules and by the court, not by you.
What Happens Without a Will in Indiana
When someone dies without a Will, Indiana's intestacy laws take over. The state's default rules decide who inherits and in what shares. For a married person, that usually means a spouse and children - but the split may not match what you intended, and the court appoints an administrator of its choosing. If you have minor children, the court also decides who cares for them.
Writing a Will is the simplest way to make sure your family, your property, and your wishes are protected.
Indiana Formalities
Indiana law requires a Will to be in writing, signed by you (or by someone at your direction in your presence), and signed by at least two witnesses. An attorney-prepared Will makes sure every one of those requirements is met, so your wishes are not derailed by a technicality.
A Will generally goes through probate - a court-supervised process where assets are collected, debts are paid, and the remaining property passes to your beneficiaries. Probate is public, and it takes time. Many families pair a Will with a Revocable Living Trust to keep part of their estate out of probate altogether.
Rosswurm Legal does not handle probate or estate administration - when the time comes, Tracey will refer your family to an attorney who does.
How It Works With Rosswurm Legal
Tracey comes to your home, listens to your family situation, and prepares a Will that fits your life - in plain language, for a flat fee, with no hourly billing. If you already have a Will, she can review it and update it to reflect where you are today.
