We had a basic will done, including a child, for $200-300. Uh, since our second child is now 5, it might be a good time to update that will...

You have lots of time for things to change.

I'm an overweight smoker. According to all the handwringing literature, I died 5 years ago.

you might even be able to get a paralegal to do the will for way under $1K.

Uh, no. Not unless the paralegal wants to open themselves up to criminal and civil liability for practicing law without a license.

Connie, LegalZoom is a good choice. Or shop rates for an attorney. Get powers of attorney, durable medical powers of attorney, and living wills prepared too. Trust me on this. Rob died without a will, and I don't have a power of attorney. It's been a mess. He does not have a ridiculously complicated estate, but it's going to cost me $1,000+ to get through intestate probate. I have an attorney doing the hard stuff, but I'm handling a lot of things on my own. If he handled everything, I'd be paying double.

Oh, and without a will, people will end up in the line of inheritance regardless of the individual's wishes. I am entitled to the first $15,000 of his estate, but only half of the remainder. Because he had no children, but his parents survived him, they are entitled to the remaining 50% above $15,000. I don't begrudge them this, but it was not expected.

Second degree murder: [link]

oops! well then. thanks for the clarification.

No worries, le n. Even though paralegals have legal training, everything they do must be supervised by a licensed attorney. The same goes for law students.

I'm just a fanatic about this right now. Outside of Rob's actual death, his dying without a will is the absolute most stressful thing to me right now. It causes no small amount of anger, even though I *know* he didn't intend for it to be this way.

I'm an overweight smoker. According to all the handwringing literature, I died 5 years ago.

You're an awfully pretty zombie.

President Barack Obama injected himself into the debate, urging Americans to "do some soul-searching." `'If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon," Obama said March 23.

If he answered the question asked at a press conference, has he really injected himself into a debate?

Maria, thank you for mentioning the living will and medical power of attorney portions, I forgot that that is something I may well have to have in the future. He has a daughter from a previous marriage who has kids. There is very rare communication, but she is there and has a legal impact. At the very, very least "Everything to my wife" should do to go on. I think there may actually be papers at the hospital that say I get to say what happens.

I'm an overweight smoker. According to all the handwringing literature, I died 5 years ago.

Not accepting this, since you are, in fact, all alive and stuff.