A Will That Protects Your Family and Honors Your Wishes
Your wishes deserve more than a template. A properly drafted will puts your intentions in writing with the legal force to back them up — naming who receives your assets, who raises your children, and who speaks for your estate when you no longer can.
What a Will Actually Does for Your Family
A last will and testament is the legal document that controls what happens to your estate after you pass. Without one, your state's default inheritance laws decide — regardless of what you would have wanted. With one, you decide.
A will attorney at Peterson Estate Planning drafts each document to reflect your specific family structure, asset picture, and intentions. That means:
- Designating beneficiaries for your property and personal assets
- Naming a guardian for minor children — one of the most important decisions a parent can make
- Appointing an executor you trust to carry out your instructions
- Directing how specific assets, sentimental property, or financial accounts should be distributed
- Reducing the ambiguity that turns grief into family conflict
A will doesn't eliminate all estate administration, but it eliminates the guesswork. Your family follows a document — they don't have to guess.
Basic Wills and Pour-Over Wills: What's the Difference?
Not every will serves the same purpose, and the right type depends on how your overall estate plan is structured.
Simple Will
A simple will — also called a testamentary will — is a standalone document that directs asset distribution, names guardians, and appoints an executor. It is the right starting point for individuals and families whose assets will pass directly to named beneficiaries without a trust structure.
Pour-Over Will
A pour-over will works alongside a living trust. Rather than distributing assets directly, it "pours" any assets held outside the trust at the time of death into the trust, where they are then distributed according to the trust's terms. If you have or are considering a living trust, a pour-over will is an essential companion document — it closes the gap between what you titled into the trust during your lifetime and everything else.
At Peterson Estate Planning, most comprehensive estate plans include both. If you're weighing which structure fits your situation, our guide on the difference between a will and a living trust walks through the decision in plain language.
Why an Online Will Isn't the Same Thing
This is one of the most common questions we hear, and it deserves a direct answer.
Online will platforms generate a document from a template. They do not know your state's current execution requirements, they cannot advise you on proper signing and witnessing, and they are not equipped to handle anything outside a standard fact pattern. If your family situation involves a blended household, a child with special needs, a business interest, or assets in multiple states, a template is not built for you.
Will validity requirements differ meaningfully across the four states we serve. The number of witnesses required, whether the document must be notarized, and how signing must be conducted all vary by state — and getting any of it wrong can render a will unenforceable. Our attorneys draft your will to meet the specific requirements of your state and walk you through exactly how to execute it correctly so your document holds up when it matters most.
Direct Attorney Service, From First Conversation to Final Signature
Every will we draft is handled directly by a licensed attorney — not a paralegal, not an intake form routed to a document processor. You speak with an attorney, your document is drafted by an attorney, and your signing is supervised by an attorney.
Our flat-fee package model means you know the cost before we begin. No hourly billing. No surprise invoices. And because ongoing support is included in our packages, you're not charged separately when your circumstances change and your will needs to reflect that.
Frequently Asked Questions About Wills
What makes a will legally valid?
A valid will generally requires that you be of legal age and sound mind at the time of signing, that the document be signed in the presence of the required number of witnesses, and that those witnesses also sign the document. The specific requirements — number of witnesses, whether notarization is needed, and whether a self-proving affidavit is recommended — vary by state. An attorney licensed in your state ensures your will meets every requirement for where you live.Does a will avoid probate?
A will does not avoid probate — it directs what happens during probate. When you pass, your will is submitted to the probate court, which oversees the distribution of your estate according to its terms. If avoiding probate is a priority, a living trust is typically the more effective tool. Many clients use both: a trust to hold primary assets outside of probate, and a will to capture anything that wasn't titled into the trust. Our guide on how to avoid probate covers this in more detail.
What is the difference between a will and a living trust?
A will takes effect at death and passes through probate. A living trust takes effect when you create it, holds assets during your lifetime, and distributes them at death without court involvement. Wills are simpler and less expensive to create; trusts offer greater privacy, probate avoidance, and control over how and when assets are distributed. For many families, the right answer is both — a trust as the primary vehicle and a will to handle anything outside it.Do I need a will if I already have a trust?
Yes. Even with a fully funded living trust, a will serves two important functions. First, it captures any assets that weren't transferred into the trust during your lifetime — a pour-over will ensures those assets are directed into the trust at death rather than passing under state default rules. Second, a will is the only document where you can name a guardian for minor children. No trust can do that. If you have children, a will is not optional. How long does it take to get a will drafted? For most clients, the process begins with a single 20-minute consultation where we gather the information needed to draft your documents. From there, most wills are completed within one to two weeks. The process is straightforward, and our flat-fee model means everything is defined before we start. The hardest part is usually deciding to begin.
One Conversation Is All It Takes to Get Started
Most people put off drafting a will because they expect it to be complicated, expensive, or emotionally difficult. In practice, it takes one conversation to gather what we need, and a predictable flat-fee package to get it done. Your family is worth that hour.
Peterson Estate Planning serves clients in California, Kansas, Utah, and Washington — in person at our Lindon, Utah and Oceanside, California offices, or fully remotely from anywhere in our licensed states.
