Rock Hill Wills Attorney

Rock Hill Wills Lawyer

A will may be the most well-known part of the estate planning process. When it comes time to draft or update your will, it can feel overwhelming to make sure your wishes are not only documented but also meet all the necessary legal requirements. An experienced Rock Hill wills attorney at Mack & Mack Attorneys can provide comprehensive legal support to help you plan for your family’s future and protect your legacy.

Mack & Mack Attorneys is a family firm that has been providing counsel on wills cases and other estate planning matters to the Rock Hill area since 1960. When you hire a wills attorney from our firm, our team can confidently and effectively assist you with your will.

A recent Caring.com estate planning survey reported that about 50% of the people who responded did not have an official estate plan, and only about a quarter had a will. Moreover, the least likely to have an estate plan were adults aged 35-54. No matter your age or health status, estate planning is vital.

Legal Requirements for a Valid Will in Rock Hill

To make a legally binding will in Rock Hill, South Carolina, it is important to understand and carefully follow all legal requirements:

• The person making the will must be at least 18 years old and have the capacity to make legal decisions for themselves.
• The will must be signed and witnessed by two people, preferably those who will not inherit anything in the will.
• South Carolina does not require notarization; however, having the will notarized can help to prevent contests to the will.
• The state does not allow handwritten wills, also called holographic wills, or digital-only wills.

Estate matters in Rock Hill, such as wills and probate hearings, are handled at the Probate Court in the York County Courthouse at the intersection of Liberty and Congress Streets in York.

Probate, Intestacy, and Tax Considerations

Probate is the process of finalizing a person’s financial and legal estate after their death. A will does not avoid probate, but it does instruct the probate court on how the person wanted their assets to be handled. If you need to avoid probate in Rock Hill, you may be able to do so with other estate planning documents, such as living trusts.

Intestacy or intestate succession is the legal term for how estates are handled for people who do not have a will. There are prescribed rules to determine how surviving spouses, children, parents, and other relatives can inherit when a valid will is not present.

South Carolina does not have an estate tax, but federal tax laws still apply, and inheritance taxes may also apply, depending on the circumstances. Our skilled Rock Hill wills lawyers are well-versed in how taxes apply in estate planning and can also consult other professionals for more complex cases.

Hire a Wills Attorney

The knowledgeable legal team at Mack & Mack Attorneys can devote the time to understand your family’s needs fully, guide you through the decision-making process, and help create the tailored legal documents necessary to ensure your estate will be managed appropriately. Reach out to our offices today to discuss your options and get started on your will so you can have the peace of mind that your family’s future is protected.