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Can we talk about choosing between a DIY will kit and a lawyer for my dad's estate in Florida?
Honestly, I went with the $150 online kit to save money, but the probate court in Tampa sent it back twice for missing a specific witness clause, which a local estate attorney told me would have been caught for a $500 flat fee.
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wendy_garcia165mo ago
Ever think those cheap will kits are a total steal? I used to grab them for everything, thinking lawyers were just a pricey extra step. But after seeing a friend's family get stuck in probate for months over a tiny wording issue (similar to your witness clause problem), it totally flipped my view. That upfront legal fee looks way different when you weigh it against the time, stress, and court delays a mistake can cause. Now I see it as paying for peace of mind, not just a piece of paper.
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rayy835mo ago
Honestly though, lawyers mess up paperwork all the time too. Those kits are fine for simple stuff like leaving everything to one person. Probate can drag on with lawyer-drawn wills as well, it's just how the system works. Paying a grand for a basic document feels like getting played when a fifty-dollar kit follows the same state laws.
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