it has been documents which provide
your Will.the same as , in D.C. as long as to create other her out of
What is a Will?
or withdraw life-sustaining procedures. It is not websites: may be valid • You may wish leave him or doctor to withhold Information obtained from in another state company.even if you document instructing your that property.Not necessarily. A will prepared with the insurance of your estate
If I die without a Will, what will happen to my property?
is a legal or all of changing.beneficiary on file receive a share No. A Living Will up with some laws are constantly named as the domestic partner may Attorney.they will wind specific situation, because the tax person or persons
estate. In other words, your spouse or partner's* share
a Power of relatives, it is likely
attorney for your belongs to the
half of your would do under and you have portability (sharing) between spouses. Check with an the insurance policy
receive up to as an agent without a Will law, D.C. does not allow your estate. Otherwise, the money from
your Will and
during your lifetime
have a Will. If you die
$5,600,000. Unlike the federal
the executor of may elect against
manage your affairs
or not you
its value exceeds
your estate or
or domestic partner, he or she by the Court. Your executor cannot
be distributed whether
estate tax unless
insurance policy is
out your spouse
she is appointed • When you die, your property will
not subject to
beneficiary of your
your Will, if you leave
and he or
Will.of your estate. Generally, an estate is
insurance if the
choose out of
you are dead
properly execute a
upon the value proceeds from your leave anyone you partner*, your property will not begin until to prepare and estate tax depends done with the • Yes. Although you may No. Your executor's job does provide, it is responsible
be any federal is to be carefully considered.appoint someone (often a relative, but not always) as your executor.you wish to tax. Whether there will
only direct what problems, however, and should be not, the Court will dependents for whom D. C. has no inheritance Your Will can upon your sister's death. This sometimes creates Will. If you do
your care or it probated.intent.to your children executor in your minor children in
court to have possible to your to live, but leave it to name an to accomplish that. If you have
apply to the as closely as always has somewhere out. You will need the best way
the Will can distribute the property so that she Will are carried
*Read the next when you die, a Will is an interest in longer exists), the court will
to your sister
What is a domestic partner?
stated in your to be distributed Will is filed, any person having the property (for instance, the charity no
in your home wishes you have your property is probated, but once the attempt to gift
a life estate it that the voice in how Will to be
problem with your a "life estate." For instance, you could leave
What if I am separated from my spouse, but not yet divorced, when I die? Will my spouse still get part of my estate?
and sees to to have a not require the Will. If, after your death, there is a recipient dies. This is called Will for probate • If you want • The law does beneficiary under your after the original who presents your new Will.sentence.charity as a to someone else "personal representative") is the person Wills in the and a jail Yes, by naming the
My spouse and I have a common-law marriage. Will my spouse inherit if I die without a Will?
property will pass The executor (sometimes called a revoke any prior
in a fine Will (for example, jewelry, clothing, furniture).direct that the sound mind.new Will, you should expressly so can result away in your lifetime and then you are of to make a after your death. Failure to do not specifically given his or her
that they believe document. If you decide within 90 days that you have person only for giving their word
How old must I be to make a Will?
physically destroying the proper probate court your personal effects something to a Will, your witnesses are
Does a Will have to be in a particular format?
writing or by Will with the $10,000 worth of • You may leave
Does a Will have to be in writing?
• By witnessing your a Will in must file that claim up to details.mind.You can revoke of a Will
What are the other requirements for a valid Will?
children can also attorney about specific not of sound
settlement.who has possession to $15,000. Your spouse and speak with an or she is is a property that a person
Family Allowance up • Yes, under some circumstances, but you should not mean he Will and there • The law requires up to $15,000, and an additional survivorship.person is elderly, intellectually challenged, or unusual does after signing your your loved ones.Homestead Allowance of with right of • Just because a
What is a Codicil?
at any time give guidance for money includes a with another person are leaving it.• You get divorced close friend to is being administered. The amount of
If I cannot read, can I still make a Will?
not own jointly to whom you Will on purpose, ora relative or while your estate
(everything else) that you do you own and • You revoke your leave them with to support them Real property (land) and personal property can understand what
valid forever unlessfinal arrangements and from your estate for more information."of sound mind," which means you
If I am unable to write my name to sign the Will, can I still make a Will?
Your Will is all of your spouse is deceased, your dependent children) may receive money on Living Wills Will, you must be according to D.C.'s requirements.you to detail your Will says, your spouse (or if your and Testament, or Will. See the article • To make a signed and witnessed an opportunity for • Additionally, no matter what your Last Will reflect that this was done.
What does 'being of sound mind...' mean?
sign your name, you may do as an "X", then you would Will.states your wishes.of two witnesses, you should affirm the entire document the Will. A codicil must
the Will.as a beneficiary the presence of sign the Will your Will.a "holographic" Will) or type it
Yes. D.C. law requires that Will.lawyer.• If you are you and your to the probate
What is an executor, and do I have to have one?
rules in the inherit from the have signed a are separated, your spouse will YES. If you have the sole domestic at least 18 • They must be government.go to your grandparents to share aunts, uncles, and first cousins with whole-blood siblings).go to your go to your
Can my executor legally handle my affairs now?
between his or go to your NONO1/2 (remaining share to your descendants)YESNOdomestic partner has who do not You leave surviving your estate. If you die
Is a Living Will the same as a Will?
go to the If you die children under the you own only A Will is common questions about the Will may let someone else a mark such you understand your
What can I give away in my Will?
entirety, you understand it, and it correctly • In the presence • Yes. Someone must read Will that changes your execution of you have named
Is it possible for me to leave something to someone in my Will, but keep that person from giving or selling it to someone else?
your Will in someone else to "of sound mind" (see below) when you make handwriting (this is called
be considered valid.a legally binding speak with a married.in each situation, such as whether have to prove • Yes, subject to the your right to and your spouse married, even if you married.• Each must be • They must be Bottom of Formgo to the living grandparents, your property will go to your go to your sisters share equally are both deceased, your property will children, your property will
Do I have to leave my property to my spouse or children?
If I decide to leave my children or spouse out of my Will, can they still get some of what I leave?
be split equally spouse or domestic YESYESNO2/3 (remaining share to parents)NOYour spouse or You have descendants Spouse or domestic who can claim according to D.C. laws. It will not in your Will.when you die. If you have receive your property will.This resource answers
witnesses. A statement in Will. Or, if you normally other documents with their signatures that you in its Will.a Will.supplement to a a witness to sign the Will. A person who • You must execute unable to sign, you may direct • You must be the Will yourself, in your own a Will to older may make law marriage, you should probably people you were on the facts your estate, your spouse will
Can I give all of my estate to a charity, church or school?
dies.each giving up estate unless you are still legally • Neither can be into a contract;a residence;partners.no living relatives, your property will not have any not have aunts, uncles, or first cousins, your property will sisters, your property will
Can I say in my Will what is to be done with the proceeds from my insurance policy?
(half brothers and • If your parents not have any before you, that child's share will not leave a n/aYESNOn/a3/4 (remaining share to adoption) to youor domestic partnerdescendants (children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc.)the following order:a living relative "intestate"), your property (called your "probate estate") will be distributed be their guardian will be divided
Should I leave instructions for my burial in my Will?
about who will to make a About Willspresence of your to sign your options. If you sign then affirm by was read to you sign your same way as an addition or should not be
What if my family doesn't want to probate my Will?
who must also "executing" the Will.your Will or, if you are computer or typewriter.be in writing. You can write is necessary for of age or have a common returns, and told other was a common-law marriage. This question depends • However, to inherit from one of you says you are
all of your Will and you other; andcompetent to enter relationship and share information about domestic • If you have • If you do • If you do no brothers or
Will my heirs have to pay any estate or inheritance tax?
to share equally to share equally.• If you do your children dies • If you do your descendants)n/aYESNOn/anot belong (by blood or adoption) to your spouse You leave surviving your property in as you have (often called dying
I had my Will prepared in another state. Do I have to make another one just because I live in D.C. now?
name someone to and how it outlining your choices will and how Frequently Asked Questions this in the use this mark
What happens if I die here and own real estate (land) or personal property in another state? Will my probated Will give my beneficiaries ownership of that property?
How long is my Will valid?
Yes. You have two • The witnesses will
that your Will to you before
be executed the A Codicil is in your Will two adult witnesses in your presence. This is called • You must sign
How do I revoke a Will?
out on a a valid Will No particular format Anyone 18 years wondering whether you spouse lived together, filed joint tax judge that there chart above.other's estate if separation agreement that
So, do I need a Will?
inherit part or not made a partner of the years old and in a committed question for more closest living relatives.equally.to share equally.• If you have brothers and sisters father and mother her children, if any.children. If one of YES1/2 (remaining share to
your descendants)n/aNONOdescendants who do belong (by blood or parentsintestate, your relatives receive government as long without a Will age of 18, you can also
