Wills Attorneys in Alaska
Is Your Family Protected if Something Happens Tomorrow?
A Will ensures that your wishes are clearly documented and legally enforceable. It allows you to name guardians for your children, decide who will receive your home, savings, and other assets, and appoint someone you trust to manage your affairs. With a Will in place, these important decisions remain yours—not left to chance or to the courts.
Too often, Alaskans postpone creating a Will because they believe they are too young, too healthy, or not “wealthy enough” to need one. But the truth is, life changes quickly—and when it does, the absence of a valid Will can lead to confusion, delay, and unintended consequences for the people you care about.
At Foley Pearson Riekkola Iverson, we help individuals and families throughout Alaska create Wills that reflect their values and protect their loved ones. Whether you need a simple Will or one that works alongside a Trust, we’ll help you make legally sound decisions that provide real direction when it matters most.
What Is a Will and Why Do You Need One?
A Last Will and Testament, often referred to simply as a “Will,” is a legal document that directs how your assets should be distributed after your death. It also allows you to:
- Name a personal representative (executor) to oversee and administer your estate
- Appoint guardians for minor children or adult children with special needs
- Make charitable bequests or specific gifts
- Decide who will receive the remaining assets in your estate after specific gifts are distributed
- Clarify any wishes not addressed by other legal tools
Even if you have a Trust in place, a Will is still an essential document. At Foley Pearson Riekkola Iverson, we draft pour-over Wills that help ensure any assets not titled in your Trust are properly transferred through the probate process.
Types of Wills and What They Include
Our firm drafts Wills tailored to your specific needs. IA typical Will includes:
- Appointment of a Personal Representative to manage your estate under Alaska law
- Guardianship and/or Conservatorship nominations for minor children or dependents
- Instructions for distributing personal and real property, including alternate beneficiaries
- Provisions to transfer assets to a Revocable Living Trust, if one is in place
- Directions for handling personal property, such as vehicles, family heirlooms, or digital assets
We also advise clients on aligning their Wills with beneficiary designations, property titling, and overall estate goals to prevent gaps or conflicts.
What Can Go Wrong Without a Will?
If you die without a Will in Alaska, your estate will be subject to Alaska’s laws of intestacy. This means:
- The court—not you—decides who inherits your assets.
- A judge may appoint a guardian for your children without knowing your preferences.
- Unqualified or estranged relatives could be named as Personal Representatives or heirs of your estate.
- Delays, disputes, and additional legal costs could make the process longer and more complicated for your loved ones.
Even small estates can become complicated without clear instructions. A properly drafted Will ensures your wishes are known and legally enforceable, reducing the potential for emotional and financial stress on those left behind.
Why Work with Foley Pearson Riekkola Iverson?
Online Will templates, especially if completed incorrectly, can leave dangerous gaps—or worse, give people a false sense of security. At Foley Pearson Riekkola Iverson, we take a hands-on, client-focused approach based on more than 35 years of estate planning experience:
- We begin with a free, lawyer-led workshop to help you understand your options.
- We use a structured intake and design process to gather the right information up front.
- We tailor every Will to your goals, family structure, and existing assets.
- When appropriate, we draft a Will to work alongside your Living Trust or other planning tools.
Take the First Step Toward Peace of Mind With Foley Pearson Riekkola Iverson
You do not have to go through this process alone. Whether you are starting from scratch or reviewing an old Will that no longer reflects your life, our team is here to help. Foley Pearson Riekkola Iverson has spent decades helping Alaskans put the right plans in place, for today and the future.
We will work to make sure your wishes are clear, your family is protected, and your plan is complete.
Working With Foley Pearson Riekkola Iverson, P.C.
We recommend that anyone beginning the estate planning process start by attending one of our free, lawyer-led workshops. It’s a practical introduction to the process, the key concepts, and how our firm approaches planning. You’ll gain the knowledge you need now—so you can ask the right questions later.
After the workshop, the next step is to complete our intake forms. This helps us understand your goals, your family dynamics, and the assets you want to protect. With the full picture in hand, we can craft a plan that’s tailored to you.
Once we have reviewed the information you provide, you will meet with an attorney to design your estate plan. The attorney will guide you through your options, answer any questions, and help identify the best structure for your goals—whether that involves a Will, a Trust, or a combination of planning tools.
After your documents are signed, we assist with funding your Trust and transferring key assets into it. Then you have the option to enroll in our Generations, which provides ongoing support to help you maintain and update your plan over time, so it continues to reflect your wishes and functions as intended when it matters most.
Do You Need a Will or Trust?
Whether you are just beginning to think about planning for your estate, need to update your existing documents, or have questions after the loss of a loved one, we are here to help.
Are You Unsure About What You Need?
Whether you are just beginning to think about planning for your estate, need to update your existing documents, or have questions after the loss of a loved one, we are here to help.
