Q: My dad can't write but he can sign his name. I bought him a Will. Can I fill it out in my hand writing so he can sign?
I bought the Will from an office supply store. He wants to leave me his house. His bad arm and hand prevents him from writing. We are not good with computers and no money for a lawyer.
A:
A Will is a legal document that should only be prepared by either the Testator themselves or by their attorney. The law does not require that the Testator physically write out their own Will but it could raise other issues if a family member prepares a Will leaving property to themselves.
If a Maryland resident meets income level requirements he may possibly find free legal help through a volunteer attorney. Maryland residents who lack the financial means to hire an attorney may wish to call organizations such as Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service, Inc. at 800-510-0050 on Monday - Thursday mornings (9am - 12pm noon) or Maryland's Legal Aid Bureau, Inc. at 410-951-7777
While it is a good idea to have a Will, it may not be the best way to leave property to an adult child. When property is left through a Will it must later go through probate. A planner might want to consider other alternatives such as a life estate deed.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
