Offices: 2101 Corona Road ~ Suite 201 ~ Columbia ~ Missouri ~ 65203 ~ 573-777-7007

People who die without a will are ruled in testate, meaning that they have made no statement of assets, and how to distribute them, also known as a testament.

The elements of a will are simple:

1. Publication ~ State your name and that the document being executed is your last will and testament.

2. Revocation ~ You must revoke, or not, any prior wills and testaments.

3. Capacity ~ You freely state that you are of right mind and under no duress to execute your will and testament. Two impartial observers must agree that such is the case.

4. Signature ~ Each page must be signed, or initialed, and dated. Two witnesses must authenticate the signature.

5. Closure ~ Your signature on the last page of the will and testament ends the document. Any text following your signature will be ignored.

Missouri law also recognizes an inventory or list of assets complied by the testator as an addendum to a will. Maintaining such an inventory avoids the necessity of changing the will as a person's assets may change over time, and can guide the distribution of those assets if a recipient is assigned by the testator.

Family planning may also include a trust that can be revoked during the life of the granting trustees. The trust may own property as a person may, and offers the advantage of having the estate handled by an successor trustees. While the flexibility of this type of trust aids the management of assets, it may be vulnerable to revocation in certain circumstances.

If you are seeking representation, you are encouraged to complete our Client Contact form, providing any details relevant to your case. This makes it easier to make an initial assessment and schedule the necessary time for a consultation. Thank You for considering the Sullivan Law Firm, and I hope we can be of assistance. Connie M. Sullivan