JUSTIA 10 - Badge
AARP / Real Possibilities - Badge
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. - Badge
Super Lawyers - Badge
People Love us On Yelp / 2017 Award Recipient - Badge

Tailoring a Will & Power of Attorney for Multiple States

Sowards Law Firm

If you own property — whether houses, bank accounts, or vehicles — in more than one state, do you need estate planning documents for each state? The answer is probably no, but you need to do some planning if you want to avoid going through probate in each of the states.

A lawyer can generally draft a will that is generic enough to be probated in any state except Louisiana, which has very specific rules. However, real property in another state is subject to probate in that state even if you don’t live there. If you aren’t careful, your estate may have to go through probate in every state you have property in.

To avoid multiple probate actions, you may want to use probate avoidance techniques for the property that is out of state. If your estate is under the estate tax limit and you don’t have family complications, you may hold your property jointly with your spouse. Joint property will pass to your spouse without going through probate. If holding property jointly won’t work, you can put your property into a revocable trust. Property in a revocable trust will pass to whoever is named in the trust. It does not come under the jurisdiction of the probate court and its distribution won’t be held up by the probate process.

A power of attorney — which allows a person you appoint to act in your place for financial purposes if you ever become incapacitated — is an important estate planning document for anyone, including individuals with property in multiple states. One power of attorney should work in multiple states as long as it is written generally enough, but states may have different rules for what makes a valid power of attorney. State laws usually recognize a valid power of attorney created in another state, but you should check with an attorney in the state to make sure it will be recognized. Even if the power of attorney complies with state law, a bank may not accept it. You should let the bank know about your power of attorney and make sure there are no specific forms that the bank requires.

For more information on estate planning, click here.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out at (408) 371-6000 or info@SowardsLawFirm.com.

Client Reviews

I recently had the pleasure of working with Sowards Law Firm to create my estate plan, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with the experience. My company has a legal help portal where I discovered Sowards Law Firm, and I’m so glad I chose them. From the start, the entire process was incredibly smooth...

Prashant Joshi

They made it pretty easy for us to set up the legal entity we needed. Everyone we talked to was knowledgeable, professional, and considerate. We had to work around a difficult schedule, and the folks at Sowards made it work.

John Brawn

Everyone at Sowards Law Firm was extremely kind, helpful, and professional in helping me manage all of the legal work required after my husband passed away. They explained everything clearly, and focused on what would be the best options for me in the future. I’m grateful for their assistance and...

Lyn Savage

I have been working with Sowards Law Firm for all my estate needs and their service is impeccable, with the upmost professionalism. They walk you through scenarios in detail so that you can make informed decisions. I highly recommend this team.

Debra A

They made it SO EASY! Everything was explained and explored in regards to figuring out how to organize and structure. Very thoughtful and thorough. I will definitely recommend them, and have sent all of my clients their info to get their affairs in order.

Cindy Selleos

I used Sowards for my Estate planning needs. The firm provided excellent advice, and made the process very easy to complete in an expeditious manner. Each person that I interacted with was professional, friendly and competent. I have confidence that this multi-generational law practice is a solid...

Karen Bryant

Contact Us

  1. 1 Free Consultation
  2. 2 Available 24/7
  3. 3 Certified Specialists in Estate Planning

Fill out the contact form or call us at (408) 371-6000 to schedule your free consultation.

Leave Us a Message