In Louisiana, you can handwrite your own last will and testament (I call it a Testament). A handwritten testament is currently one of the only two valid types allowed by our law. Whether you handwrite it or hire an attorney to help you, you want to know you can depend on it, right? Handwriting your Testament seems easy, convenient, and cheap. It will cost the value of your time and the piece of paper. Handwriting your testament under urgent circumstances may be better than no testament at all. But easy does not always equal effective. The cost of error can be great. There are big advantages to hiring a experienced, skilled, and caring professional to draft your testament for you (see companion article). If you choose to handwrite your testament, be aware of the risks of DIY. There are many details that are important to get right to avoid future problems.