Lawyer leaving us hanging on wills/POAs

[treeofpain]

It is easy enough to scan your will and have that converted to a Word document. Then send that to a new attorney for revision.

[jollystomper]

This is an interesting thread for us. We also need to update our will. We had it draw up 20 years ago when all of the kids were minor and the major decisions where Executor and guardianship if we both died. Now that all our kids are adult age we want to change our will (in fact it will be much more simple) and were debating if we needed to go back to the original lawyer (who is hard to get hold of), or just draw up one using current software to replace, or as a codicil to the original.

[Souschef]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lsbcal Wouldn't some new lawyer have the software to read in the old will and get it into their system? Then write a codicil if the changes are not massive? Or maybe you could get the old will into Word format if a new lawyer says he can work with that. Probably a stretch. I'd ask around as perhaps some lawyer would like new business.

I have done this- I scanned the documents into a PDF file. If you do not have a scanner, Staples will do it . I then found a free on-line OCR program that will change it to a Word document. From there you can make whatever changes you need.

[SecondCor521]

OP may also want to consider filing a complaint against the old attorney with the state bar association. I nearly did so when my Mom's attorney was being unresponsive in handling her estate. It is easy enough to google how to do it; the phrases I recall were "client abandonment" and something about a lack of communication. I spoke with someone at the bar association who handled these complaints and she said they are actually helpful because attorneys sometimes lose their acumen and need a kick in the rear that the complaints provide. They also can serve as a warning to others who might check on these things.

[Blue Collar Guy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecondCor521 OP may also want to consider filing a complaint against the old attorney with the state bar association. I nearly did so when my Mom's attorney was being unresponsive in handling her estate. It is easy enough to google how to do it; the phrases I recall were "client abandonment" and something about a lack of communication. I spoke with someone at the bar association who handled these complaints and she said they are actually helpful because attorneys sometimes lose their acumen and need a kick in the rear that the complaints provide. They also can serve as a warning to others who might check on these things.

Gee this seems a bit rash, Hahahah, yeah thats what I want, make a complaint against a lawyer and have him do my will. On spite I bet it will be a poorly written one causing my heirs trouble.

[SecondCor521]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Collar Guy Gee this seems a bit rash, Hahahah, yeah thats what I want, make a complaint against a lawyer and have him do my will. On spite I bet it will be a poorly written one causing my heirs trouble.

Err, no, the idea would be file a bar complaint only after giving up on them and going to a second lawyer.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Souschef I have done this- I scanned the documents into a PDF file. If you do not have a scanner, Staples will do it . I then found a free on-line OCR program that will change it to a Word document. From there you can make whatever changes you need.

Check the OCR carefully. If the scan or original isn't great. or the OCR software isn't great, you might end up with some lines that say "my hovercraft is full of eels".

You've been warned. (Monty Python reference, for those who need a hint)

-ERD50