How can I revoke or change my will in Oregon?

Oregon residents who are concerned about their loved ones and how their property will be distributed should think about having a will, a trust, medical directives and a power of attorney. Even if there is an estate plan, it does not necessarily mean that it should remain the same for the duration. Circumstances can change. That might include marriage, a divorce, having children, grandchildren, changing jobs, facing a different financial situation and more. With that, there might need to be a new will written or the old will could need to be updated. Knowing how to do this according to the law is vital. Revoking or altering a will To completely revoke a will, the person can simply write a new one. The latest version is the one that is in effect after it is completed and all the required steps are taken to ensure its validity. It is also possible to revoke a will by destroying it. That can be done by tearing it apart, burning it, canceling it or using other methods to eliminate it from existence. This can be done by the person who wrote the will – the testator – or it can be done by a person who is doing so at the behest of the testator while in their presence. There must be two competent witnesses if the document is destroyed by someone other than the testator. A newly created will can also be used to alter an existing will. It is important to remember that partially revoking a part of the will by destroying a specific area of it in the above-listed ways does not constitute a valid revocation. For example, destroying part of the will that says an heir would receive a specific property but leaving the rest of the will intact is not enough to legally change it. Still, there may be evidence shown that the testator intended to revoke the entire will through its destruction. This, however, puts the foundation in place for an extended back and forth over a person’s true intentions. Creating, updating or destroying a will should be done with professional guidance People will have their own reasons their estate planning decisions. Regardless of why a person wants to revoke or alter a will, it is imperative to do so according to the law to avoid allegations of multiple wills, disputes over its contents and more. The news is rife with these complex cases and they can lead to extended delays with great personal and financial costs. Consulting with professionals who have a vast knowledge of these issues and other areas of estate planning can be crucial.  The post How can I revoke or change my will in Oregon? first appeared on Mastanduno Law Group.