Do I need an estate planning attorney or am I capable of preparing and executing on my own?

Why hire an attorney when you can prepare the estate planning documents yourself?

I do not hear this question often from prospective clients. After all, they have called an attorney about their legal needs. However, I do hear it once in a while and am surprised when I do. Attorneys are trained and specialize in their areas of law so that the documents prepared are correct and valid. Online websites or TV presenters who tout software or fill-in-the-blank documents do not tell you that those very general documents are marketed to prospective clients in 50 states, not in the state where you live.