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I’ve Made a Last Will. How Long Does it Last?

One of the great things about creating a last will and testament in Greensboro, North Carolina, is that the document has no expiration date. As long as you make a will and ensure that it complies with all North Carolina laws, your will can last as long as you need it to. Here’s what you need to know.

Creation

When you create a last will you create a legal document that states your choices about inheritances, child guardianships, executor appointment, and other issues. As long as you make the will in writing, sign it, and have it signed by two competent witnesses, a court will later accept it as a valid document.

Revocation

Creating a last will is always optional, and as long as you are a mentally competent adult, you can create or change your will whenever you wish. If you want to revoke a will that you made in the past, all you have to do is either create a new will or codicil that expressly revokes the old one, or physically destroy the prior will. Like creating a will, revoking or changing your will is always up to you.

Expiration

Wills are not contracts or documents that have any ticking clock associated with them. Once you create a valid will, it is legally effective as long as it exists. Unless you revoke it later, a court will use it as a legally valid document even if you created it decades ago.

 

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