ER_Hopeful
Recycles dryer sheets
would like to get info on how to diy a will for my mom. what is a good website or software? i think it needs notarized and two witnesses?
We used Willmaker. I think it is pretty good.
Most Louisianians will tell you that due to the heavy influence of Napoleonic law in Louisiana, it is a terrible idea to rely on will-making software here as opposed to other states. I have no idea. I suspect that a lot of this depends on the state. But, be this as it may, I have never heard anyone at all, ever, express anything positive about using software for a Louisiana will.
Understandable. It took 40 years for Napoleon's will to be completely processed after his death.
NAPOLEON’S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
Last Will & Testament of Napoleon Bonaparte, May 5, 1821
legal documents that would hold up in a common law state often don't hold up here in Louisiana due to the quirks of Napoleonic law. Whatever that means.
Yeah, that sounds like what people here tell me about it! Amazing. And to make it even more interesting, apparently Napoleon even planned to live here in New Orleans (at a big residence that is still here, now called "Napoleon House") back in those days.A little background:
Does Louisiana use the Napoleonic Code?
DM is a resident of TX. I just gave Willmaker a quick try, it only allows you to specify % for each of the beneficiaries, but DM wants to specify each asset, for example, asset A goes me and asset B goes to other, etc.
Most Louisianians will tell you that due to the heavy influence of Napoleonic law in Louisiana, it is a terrible idea to rely on will-making software here as opposed to other states since the wills just will not hold up. I have no idea. ...
The NOLO site does have a LA specific will. Whether it really does cover LA code properly, I can't say.
[...]
-ERD50
Yes, of course NOLO is the first site everyone thinks of when it comes to will software packages. NOLO is also a site that is specifically mentioned in discussions about how one should never use a software package to make a Louisiana will. Apparently there are some real horror stories floating around but I'll leave it at that. Use it if you don't care whether your Louisiana will holds up or not.
OK, I wasn't aware that NOLO had been called out specifically as a bad one, I thought maybe they were different. That's surprising (and disappointing) to me, they strike me as being on top of things, but you are obviously closer to this than I am. Thanks for the clarification.
-ERD50
Just stick to an Illinois will, since that is apparently where you live anyway, and you won't have to deal with the complications inherent in making a Louisiana will.
I'm sorry, I think you are misinterpreting what I said, and/or I just did a lousy job of communicating.
I'm not doubting you in the least that Louisiana rules are different (just like they have 'Parishes' instead of 'Counties'), that's been covered here with the "Napoleonic code" references.
I was just expressing surprise that the NOLO people didn't address this properly, I thought they were better than that.
I apologize if I hit a nerve or something, I never intended for this to upset/offend in any way. I'm kinda confused at the heated response.
Sincerely -ERD50