WILL FORMS
Websites that offer free legal forms are usually selling your information. Marketers want lists of people who have assets. They buy lists from the website and market to you. They also keep track of the death certificates that are recorded so they can contact your relatives when you die. Click on the website About tab. Are attorneys running the website? Does it say anywhere that attorneys have reviewed the documents for legality? Does it say that your information will be kept confidential? If not, avoid that website.
A good estate attorney can prepare a will that far superior to anything you can get online. But lacking that, you can download all types of legal forms from the Arizona State Library website. Go to https://azlibrary.gov/dazl/online-reference-resources then scroll down to the section title Legal and click the Gale Legal Forms icon. You may need to enter your zip code to access.
When buying forms be sure to get an Arizona form. Don’t use one that is supposedly good in all states. If you buy a form, you can download the free version of Adobe Acrobat or similar software (such as PDF-XChange Editor) and open that, then select your form. Find the option that says Fill and Sign and then you will be able to fill in your information on the form. Or you can buy a form from an office supply store and fill it in yourself.
POWER OF ATTORNEY AND LIVING WILL FORMS
Health care power of attorney forms and living will forms can be downloaded free at the Arizona Attorney General’s website. https://www.azag.gov Click on Seniors, then Life Care Planning and then select Complete LCP Packet. Read the documents to be sure they meet your needs. The attorney general doesn’t have a financial power of attorney forms. You can find one online, buy one at an office supply store or go to the Arizona State Library website, then to Gale Legal Forms as explained above.
A last will is not the same as a living will. A last will says how you want your asset distributed when you die. A living will is how you want to be treated during your last illness if you can’t speak for yourself. More info is on the FAQ page
IMPORTANT TIPS:
1. Be sure to print all your legal documents single sided. The courts will not accept double sided documents.
2. Be sure the notary language is all on one page. If part of the notary language is on one page and the rest of it is on another page, I can’t use it. I have to add a page with all the notarial language.
3. Don’t have a signature line on a page by itself. Make sure the signatures are on a page that has some text on it.
4. Be sure your ID matches your signature. Many people will put the name on their birth certificate on their will but have no ID to support it. Use the name on your ID.
Sue Simmons is an Arizona Notary Public. Questions? I’m always glad to talk with you. Call 520-373-7715 or email sue@tucsonnotarypro.com FAQ page is at https://www.tucsonnotarypro.com/faq-notarized-documents/