A last will and testament is a legal instrument that contains the directions of an individual (testator) related to their estate in case of death, made in the format prescribed by law.
Normally, most people can only benefit from having a last will. Even when you do not have too many assets, a last will could actually help your family situation and turn out to be critical to your loved ones upon your death.
In this article, we offer a free downloadable North Carolina last will and testament form and the answers to a lot of common questions you could have regarding this particular document.
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Requirements | State laws | |
Statutes | Chapter 31 – Wills | |
Signing requirement | Two witnesses | § 31-3.3. Attested written will |
Age of testator | 18 or older | § 31-1. Who may make will |
Age of witnesses | 18 or older | § 31-8.1. Who may witness |
Self-proving wills | Allowed | § 31-11.6. How attested wills may be made self-proved |
Handwritten wills | Recognized if meeting certain conditions | § 31-3.3. Attested written will |
Oral wills | Recognized if meeting certain conditions | § 31-3.5. Nuncupative will |
Holographic wills | Recognized if meeting certain conditions | § 31-3.4. Holographic will |
Depositing a will | Possible with the clerk of the superior court in each county of North Carolina A fee is county-specific | § 31-11. Depositories in offices of clerks of superior court where living persons may file wills |
The primary distinction between the two documents is that as soon as you die, the representative you designate through power of attorney loses their legal authority to take care of any matters for you.
You can find several types of power of attorney, the two main ones being:
An executor is a person you rely on and designate to ensure the will’s directions are carried out. Nonetheless, the two roles can be served by the same individual.
In North Carolina, there’s no need to attest your will. But if you would like to add a self-proving affidavit to the last will and testament, you’ll need to notarize it. A self-proving last will makes probate quicker because the court can acknowledge it without getting in touch with the witnesses who signed it.
A holographic will is handwritten. To be effective, this document needs to be fully in the handwriting of the testator, as well as dated and signed by him or her. However, these last wills are usually viewed as a short-term solution. You’d like to substitute this type of last will by making an attested one whenever you can by using an attorney’s services or a fillable template. A suitably detailed will can be better for the future probate process since holographic wills could include unclear conditions that can slow down probate and make it more pricey and/or more difficult to enforce.
An attested will is a typed document that is often based on a fillable form available online or created with the assistance of a law firm. For it to be viewed as valid, it must be signed by the testator and two credible witnesses older than 18 in the testator’s presence, which can also be done in the presence of a notary public. However, the latter isn’t required in North Carolina.
The testator must fulfill testamentary capacity requirements to be able to make and change their last will, including being of sound mind.
In most states, to write a last will, you’ve got to be of sound mind and no less than 18 years old. “Sound mind” signifies that you don’t have any kind of mental illnesses (dementia, senility, insanity, etc.) that don’t allow you to have an understanding of the aftermaths of your actions.
No, in North Carolina, there isn’t such a requirement. Nonetheless, including one may be very beneficial since it removes the need for witnesses testimony in the course of probate, which eases the procedure considerably.
In regards to your marriage partner, it’s important to highlight that North Carolina is not a community property state, which indicates that all of the possessions that were gathered during the marriage or that improved with the capital got while in the mentioned marriage, are not owned by both marriage partners evenly.
North Carolina law allows you to exclude your marriage partner of your last will and testament, but your spouse will have the right to possess a determined minimum amount of your property.
With regard to everyone else, it is legal in North Carolina to disinherit members of the family in the last will. By including corresponding disinheritance sections to your last will and testament, you’ll be able to exclude your adult children or any other family members from receiving any of your belongings.
No, nobody but you is allowed to change your last will. Another person can only sign the will when you are physically unable to do so.
Yes, you can.
A testator is permitted to alter or cancel his or her last will and testament at any time. The only situation that may not let you do so is if this doing is forbidden under the agreement you concluded.
Moreover, it is a wise decision to amend your will whenever you go through a major life event, including:
In case the last will is lost or damaged, as indicated by North Carolina law, the court can accept it. But, just the initial version of the last will and testament can be approved by the probate court.
North Carolina law allows for an assumption that the will’s absence implies it’s repealed. This places the responsibility on the proponent of the last will and testament to provide evidence of the stated will.
Things may get more troublesome when considering a holographic will. In order to prove its legality, the court will require testimony and sword witnesses. Also, you have to prove as to why the will and its elements can’t be provided in a way that will also ensure it wasn’t annulled.
In line with the North Carolina Estate Code, it’ll be possible for a person to sign their last will and testament providing it is your (as a testator) directive and in your presence. The testator can state their wishes orally, by way of answering positively to a query, or with body language.
It is possible to have a notary public to sign the name of a testator that is physically incapable of doing so in case the latter directs the notary public in the presence of a witness. Such a witness is selected much the same way someone could choose an executor – they must have no legal or equitable interest in any property being the issue matter of or influenced by the last will.
Related documents | Cases when you might need to make one |
Codicil | You would like to make a single or a few minor modifications to your will. |
Self-proving affidavit | You want to keep from potential difficulties during the probate. |
Living will | You want to express your wishes regarding the end-of-life medical treatment and life-prolonging procedures. |
Living trust | You would like to consider an alternative to a will. |