Lamar wants to leave his home to his girlfriend
Lamar: I have a question. I'm not married, single, no kids. My house is paid for. It's property-owned, it's paid for. How would I leave that in the event something happens to me? How would I leave that to my girlfriend or my nieces?
Attorney Tom Olsen: Lamar, in the most basic sense you would have a will. That will would dictate what happens to your assets when you pass away, whether it's your girlfriend or your nieces, or both of them. Lamar, this is a situation where you certainly want to have a will. Remember that your girlfriend has no legal ability right now to make health care decisions for you either. If we do a will for you, Lamar, we're going to also talk to you about doing a health care surrogate form, where you appoint her to decide what doctors, what hospitals, what medications. We'd be doing a living will, where you ask that you not be kept alive by machines. That's what I call a pull the plug.
Lamar, there's a package of documents, and you need them all. We'd be pleased to assist you here at the Olsen Law Group.
Lamar: Now, you talking about probate in the event of that will, would I have to go to probate at that time?
Tom Olsen: Lamar, whenever we're doing wills for people, we automatically talk to them about avoiding probate as well. Yes, we would go through all the tools we need to avoid probate. For example, for your home, we have a tool called a lady bird deed. It's a deed that states as long as you're alive, it is your home to do with as you please, but when you pass away, your home would automatically go to your girlfriend or your nieces or all of them, no headaches, no hassle, no probate.
Lamar, even when we do the tools to avoid probate like a lady bird deed, we're still doing a living will, health care surrogate, and financial power of attorney.
Lamar: Even the property can be done with the lady bird deed?
Tom Olsen: Absolutely. You got it.
Lamar: All right, I'll be in touch. Thank you very much.
Tom Olsen: You're very welcome, Lamar. By the way, we do offer a free initial consultation to talk about your estate planning. We can do that initial consultation in-person, over the phone, via Zoom, whatever you prefer, and we also do Saturday appointments.
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