By Lee R. Phillips

Prince William and Kate Middleton are finally engaged.  The engagement ring had been Princess Diana’s ring.  Apparently Prince Harry had inherited it, but he had given it to his brother so the next Princess could wear it.   I was so happy to hear of brothers not fighting over their departed mother’s ring.

In my job as an attorney, specializing in estate planning, I have seen too much fighting over the personal effects of the departed.  The best way to prevent such fighting is to write your last will and testament.

Many people wonder, “Do I need a will?”  The answer is yes you need a will and trust.  Others know they need it, but they avoid making last will and testament documents because they are trying to avoid expensive attorneys.

The good news is that you can write a will without a lawyer.  Writing a will yourself is not only possible, it is a great option, because you probably care about your estate more than anybody else.   I don’t mean that you should just pull out a paper and pen and began writing last will and testament.  You can do it, but I would recommend that you do a little research first.  The resources are available and with a little study, writing your will yourself will bring you peace of mind.  You can distribute your property as you wish and know your heirs will not be fighting over your possessions.