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Services currently provided by Stone Law Office, PLLC — transitioning to Liberty Legal on October 1, 2026.

No—while writing your own will is legal in Kentucky, it is rarely worth the risk. A do-it-yourself or handwritten (holographic) will often fails to meet Kentucky's signing and witness requirements, which can cause a court to declare it invalid and send your estate through intestate succession instead.

Even when a DIY will is technically valid, generic templates usually leave out the detailed language needed to handle guardianship for minor children, blended families, business interests, and tax planning. The result is frequently confusion, family disputes, and assets being distributed in ways you never intended.

Working with an experienced Kentucky estate planning attorney helps you avoid these pitfalls. An attorney makes sure your will is legally sound, fully compliant with Kentucky law, and tailored to your specific family and assets. The modest cost of professional drafting is almost always far less than the expense and stress your loved ones would face fixing a flawed will in probate court.

Probate is the court-supervised legal process of validating a deceased person's will, paying their debts, and distributing their remaining assets to the rightful heirs or beneficiaries. In Kentucky, probate is handled through the District Court in the county where the person lived.

Understanding probate matters because it is often slow, costly, and public. A typical Kentucky probate can take six months to a year or more, court and attorney fees reduce what your heirs receive, and the entire process becomes part of the public record. Families without a clear estate plan frequently face added stress, delays, and disputes during an already difficult time.

You can reduce or avoid probate with proper planning. Tools such as a revocable living trust, payable-on-death accounts, and properly titled property can pass assets directly to your loved ones outside of court. At Stone Law Office, PLLC, we build personalized estate plans designed to protect your assets, minimize probate, and save your family time and money. Contact us to schedule a consultation.

Choose a will if you mainly need a simple, affordable way to name guardians for your children and direct who receives your assets; choose a trust (or a will plus a trust) if you want to avoid probate, keep your affairs private, or control how and when assets are distributed.

Choosing between a will and a trust depends on factors like:

• Estate Size: Larger estates generally benefit from the tax advantages and probate avoidance of trusts.

• Privacy Needs: Trusts keep your estate details confidential.

• Family Complexity: Trusts provide flexibility for blended families, minor children, or special-needs beneficiaries.

Estate planning is complex, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. We specialize in helping clients determine the best solutions for their circumstances. Schedule a consultation with Stone Law Office, PLLC, to get expert guidance.

A will (also called a last will and testament) is a legal document that states who should receive your assets after you die, names an executor to carry out your wishes, and lets you appoint guardians for your minor children. You need one because it is the clearest way to keep control over these decisions instead of leaving them to a court.

If you die without a will in Kentucky, state intestate succession laws decide who inherits your property—and the outcome often does not match what you would have chosen. A will is especially important if you have children, own a home or business, are part of a blended family, or want to leave gifts to specific people or charities.

At Stone Law Office, PLLC, we draft clear, legally sound wills that protect your loved ones and make sure your wishes are honored. Contact us to get started on your will.

A trust is a legal arrangement in which a person (the trustee) holds and manages assets on behalf of someone else (the beneficiary), according to the rules you set when you create it. In short, it lets you decide who gets your assets, when, and under what conditions—often without going through probate.

Here is how a trust generally works: you (the grantor) transfer assets such as your home, bank accounts, or investments into the trust, name a trustee to manage them, and name beneficiaries to receive them. A living trust takes effect during your lifetime, while a testamentary trust is created through your will after death. A revocable trust can be changed at any time, and an irrevocable trust offers stronger asset protection and tax benefits in exchange for giving up some control.

People use trusts to avoid probate, keep their estate private, protect assets, and provide for minor children or family members with special needs. At Stone Law Office, PLLC, we help Kentucky families set up the right type of trust for their goals. Schedule a consultation to learn how a trust could benefit you.

The main advantages of a trust are avoiding probate, keeping your estate private, protecting assets, and controlling exactly how and when your beneficiaries receive what you leave them.

Trusts offer unique benefits that make them a powerful estate planning tool:

• Avoiding Probate: Trusts allow for the private, efficient distribution of assets reducing the need for court involvement or eliminating it altogether.

• Flexibility: Tailored solutions for minor children, special needs beneficiaries, and blended families.

• Asset Protection: Certain trusts can shield assets from creditors and legal claims.

At Stone Law Office, PLLC, we’ll help you explore how a trust can address your estate planning needs. Reach out to schedule a consultation.

The cost depends on the complexity of your estate. A basic will for a single person with few assets can cost as little as $100, while wills for married couples, blended families, business owners, or larger estates require more detailed planning and cost more. Trusts generally cost more than a simple will because they involve more drafting and the transfer of assets into the trust.

Several factors affect the price: whether you need just a will or a full estate plan, the size and type of your assets, whether you set up a revocable or irrevocable trust, and whether you add documents such as a power of attorney or living will. Many clients find that the cost of professional planning is far less than the probate fees, taxes, and family disputes a clear plan helps avoid.

At Stone Law Office, PLLC, we offer transparent, flat-fee pricing for most estate planning work. Contact us for a personalized quote based on your specific needs.

The key difference is timing and purpose: a will controls who receives your property after you die, while a living will states your medical wishes if you become unable to speak for yourself while you are still alive. They are two separate documents, and most complete estate plans include both.

A will (or last will and testament) is a legal document that outlines how your assets will be distributed after your death. It also allows you to name guardians for minor children and appoint an executor to manage your estate. A will only takes effect after your passing and must go through the probate process.

A living will, on the other hand, is a healthcare document that provides instructions about your medical care if you become unable to communicate due to illness or injury. It focuses on your preferences for life-sustaining treatments, such as resuscitation, feeding tubes, or mechanical ventilation, ensuring your wishes are followed during critical situations.

Both documents are essential components of a comprehensive estate plan, offering protection for your loved ones and ensuring your wishes are respected in life and after. Our team at Stone Law Office, PLLC can help you draft these documents to meet your specific needs and goals.

If you die without a will in Kentucky, you are said to die "intestate," and state intestate succession laws—not you—decide who inherits your property. The court appoints an administrator to handle your estate, and your assets are distributed according to a fixed legal formula based on your surviving relatives.

In general, your spouse and children share your estate under Kentucky's dower and distribution rules; if you have no spouse or children, your property passes to parents, siblings, or more distant relatives in a set order. This often produces results people would never have chosen—for example, an unmarried partner, stepchildren, or a favorite charity may receive nothing, and the court, rather than you, decides who raises your minor children.

Dying intestate also tends to mean a longer, more expensive probate and a greater chance of family disputes. Creating a valid will lets you keep control over all of these decisions. At Stone Law Office, PLLC, we help Kentucky families put a clear plan in place. Contact us to get started.

Most adults in Kentucky should have at least four core estate planning documents: a will, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare power of attorney (healthcare surrogate designation), and a living will (advance directive). Many people also benefit from adding a revocable living trust.

Here is what each one does: a will directs who receives your property and names guardians for minor children; a durable power of attorney lets someone you trust manage your finances if you become incapacitated; a healthcare power of attorney names someone to make medical decisions for you; and a living will states your wishes about end-of-life care. A revocable living trust can be added to avoid probate, keep your affairs private, and control how and when your beneficiaries inherit.

The right combination depends on your family, your assets, and your goals. At Stone Law Office, PLLC, we build complete Kentucky estate plans so nothing important is left out. Contact us for a consultation to find out which documents you need.