Your Last Will & Testament is what shows your family, friends and the Court (when a Probate is necessary) what your wishes were as to your possessions. It can be as simple as your spouse/ child or someone specific receiving all property, or it can be as specific as you choose.
If you die without a Will, those wishes may not be carried out exactly as you wish and Tennessee Law will dictate how your Estate is distributed.
Having a Will also allows you to name your Executor - the person you wish to oversee your Estate to make sure your wishes are carried out.
Some people think that only the very wealthy or those with complicated assets need wills. However, there are many good reasons to have a will.
This is a very important job and you should only chose someone you trust and that is responsible. The most common choice is a spouse or a child. If these common choices are not available, or you do not think that you particular situation would benefit from your spouse or child, you can always chose a close and trusted friend, other family member or a trusted professional that has agreed to be your Executor.
Another option if you are having a hard time making a decision is to name more than one person to act as Joint-Executors- 2 people to share in the responsibility of administering your Estate.
The online (or even handwritten or self-typed Will) may not meet certain State of Tennessee requirements and could allow a family member or heir to contest the Will. Having your Will prepared by an attorney gives you an additional level of comfort that everything was done properly and also allows for 2 witnesses and a notary be involved in the execution.