Even if you have some or all of these estate planning documents which were either drafted a long time ago or in another state, call the attorneys at Coastal Law, LLC in Myrtle Beach or Charleston to review your current estate plan and make sure you are protected. Different states have different requirements for these documents or the law in South Carolina may have changed.

Some may ask: “Is a Will really necessary?” Without a will, the likelihood of conflicts and after-death disputes between your children and other family members will increase significantly. The court also directs how to distribute your assets in accordance with South Carolina law.

Dying without a Will is called “dying intestate.” Because you may have no Will, you lose the ability to direct the distribution of your estate. The state of South Carolina steps in at your death and makes the decisions for you, according to the distribution schedule set forth in its probate laws. The state’s decisions are designed to pass property to those they think would most benefit. The state’s decisions would not necessarily conform to your plan or to what is best for your family and loved ones. This can cause a multitude of problems and misunderstandings, not to mention tying up your assets in the probate process for a long time.