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20 year old will question

Posted on 9/3/25 at 3:21 am
Posted by WC HICK
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2020
146 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 3:21 am
Wife and I have 20 year old simple Louisiana wills. Do we need to update them if nothings changed? Checked with some lawyers and they want anywhere from $700 to $1000 a piece to review and update.
Posted by dstone12
Texan
Member since Jan 2007
38178 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 5:50 am to
I’d pay it.
Posted by WhiskeyThrottle
Weatherford Tx
Member since Nov 2017
6867 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 6:08 am to
quote:

I’d pay it.


I believe the next question is, why?
Posted by dstone12
Texan
Member since Jan 2007
38178 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 6:16 am to
Because if you saved $1400 to do it yourself and then you pass away, only to find out that your assets weren’t passed on correctly via cash sitting in a checking acct, vs a trust? your kids are pissed.


Plus, you might as well get your advanced directives and beneficiaries.


Too many times I’ve seen siblings torn apart due to discrepancies.

Quell all that now.
Posted by SloaneRanger
Upper Hurstville
Member since Jan 2014
12416 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 6:39 am to
What kind of assets do yall have? Kids? Probably makes sense to pay the money. This is more than just a “will.” You will probably want powers of attorney, health care directives, etc.
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
24434 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 7:00 am to
quote:

Do we need to update them if nothings changed?



The answer is "No". If there have been no life changing events in the past 20 years, and your will makes sense, then there is no reason to pay someone to change it.

Now the question is, has nothing really changed in 20 years? You should have at a minimum -

1. Will
2. Beneficiary Designation (retirement accounts, life insurances, bank accounts, etc.) - These will override your will and you should be able to change free of charge.
3. Durable Power of Attorney
4. Healthcare Power of Attorney
5. Advance Healthcare Directives

This list can go on depending on wealth and complexity of your life (owning a business)

Normally you review and update your end of life planning in a time frame of less than 20 years, but not everyone needs it. When you are younger it may be every 5-10 years, and as you age there is less to update outside of needing to change some designations or power of attorneys.
Posted by WC HICK
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2020
146 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 7:24 am to
Thanks for replying. The will was drawn up by a lawyer and does have healthcare and executor directives. It’s the age that I was questioning.
Posted by KWL85
Member since Mar 2023
2928 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 8:54 am to
Could depend on if you have a comp!icated scenario. Kids from multiple marriage type comp!ications. Otherwise, I don't think it is necessary based on age of the will. Do you have a trust? One advantage is your proceeds bypass probate which can cause long delays with distributing funds.
Posted by Dixie Normus
Earth
Member since Sep 2013
2825 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 9:25 am to
Depends on your situation. Anyone who gives you an answer without knowing your family situation, current will, and general knowledge of assets is full of shite.
Posted by dirtsandwich
AL
Member since May 2016
6331 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 11:04 am to
OP- Darth Rebel gave you the exact same info that I would. If all you have is a will, I would strongly consider consulting with someone about the other documents that he mentions.
Posted by Weekend Warrior79
Member since Aug 2014
20543 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 11:33 am to
quote:

and complexity of your life (owning a business)

What else would you need if you own a business?

I just went through my 2nd life insurance review since I bought my companies, and we need to make some updates to our will. I have a succession plan in place for my wife to follow (basically steps to take to sell the company, and what she needs to do to maintain until sold), but do not have anything in place if she passes before she's able to complete that process (our next step). Just trying to think of other things I may have never considered.
Posted by Joshjrn
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2008
31315 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 11:51 am to
quote:

Thanks for replying. The will was drawn up by a lawyer and does have healthcare and executor directives. It’s the age that I was questioning.

There's nothing inherently wrong with it being old, but there's always the possibility that, since your last will was drafted, there has been some change in the law that would impact what you're trying to accomplish. I wouldn't be neurotic about it, but paying less than $1k every decade or two to have a professional pair of eyes on it seems like a reasonable course of action.
Posted by WC HICK
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2020
146 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 9:27 pm to
Thanks everyone! I went ahead and made an appointment with a lawyer to review our wills to see if they need to be updated!
Posted by geauxpurple
New Orleans
Member since Jul 2014
16076 posts
Posted on 9/3/25 at 11:02 pm to
If no circumstances have changed in the past 20 years then your will is probably still good. There have been no major changes in Louisiana’s inheritance laws since the forced heirship laws changed in 1996. But it is good to get your will reviewed anyway and you should be able to that for less than the price you mentioned.
Posted by DarthRebel
Tier Five is Alive
Member since Feb 2013
24434 posts
Posted on 9/4/25 at 11:38 am to
Depends of business complexity - Is it just you and wife, do you have other partners, and/or employees? If it is just you two, then probably good to go.

We have a business with partners and employees, so two other items just from a company standpoint

1. Buy-Sell agreement
2. Key Person insurance
Posted by el Gaucho
He/They
Member since Dec 2010
58248 posts
Posted on 9/4/25 at 11:49 am to
I’m sure the timeshare company or nursing home would be happy to go over your will to make sure your millenial kids don’t get anything
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