Wills

Author
Discussion

oldagepensioner

Original Poster:

410 posts

35 months

Saturday 13th July
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I am at a point where i am thinking of putting a will in place.Can any one tell me what a solicitor does which cannot be done with a DIY will kit.

Mr E

22,124 posts

266 months

Saturday 13th July
quotequote all
Ensures it’s legally sound. Witnesses it. Stores it.

ferret50

1,579 posts

16 months

Saturday 13th July
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Depends on how complicated your life has been!

Loads of ex wives queuing up with armfulls of kids?

Lots of undeclared income sat in the bank or under the sofa cushions?

A string of girlfriends that you promised to 'see right' in your will?

The Leaper

5,164 posts

213 months

Saturday 13th July
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Ask yourself: can I do this as as good as a solicitor and how do I come to that conclusion? I think all you are really trying to do by posting here is to seek justification for saving a fee...do you want to risk your assets by DIY for that?

R.

Mr E

22,124 posts

266 months

Saturday 13th July
quotequote all
The Leaper said:
Ask yourself: can I do this as as good as a solicitor and how do I come to that conclusion? I think all you are really trying to do by posting here is to seek justification for saving a fee...do you want to risk your assets by DIY for that?

R.
I am aware of absolute clusterfks triggered by an “amateur” will.

If you’re leaving everything to your spouse/children in that order you could probably do that by yourself with a Google.

Given the assets likely involved, and the total fkup if you get it wrong, I’d pay a professional.

DT1975

654 posts

35 months

Saturday 13th July
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Mr E said:
Ensures it’s legally sound. Witnesses it. Stores it.
Also ensures its unmolested and in its original condition (no staples removed etc). Having been through probate and IHT for my father in laws highish value estate (slightly complicated by various investments) his 20 year old will was accepted without question (completed by local solicitor). There are some horror stories elsewhere of home made wills getting refused and contested.

That said we've just been quoted £500 for a joint will by the same solicitor which I thought was a bit steep but may be the going rate.

Edited by DT1975 on Saturday 13th July 19:19

Louis Balfour

27,671 posts

229 months

Saturday 13th July
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Mr E said:
Ensures it’s legally sound. Witnesses it. Stores it.
Are you a pirate?

Mr E

22,124 posts

266 months

Saturday 13th July
quotequote all
Louis Balfour said:
Are you a pirate?
But you *have* heard of me, right?

Vasco

17,354 posts

112 months

Saturday 13th July
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If straightforward just do it yourself.

HBelder

1,587 posts

27 months

Saturday 13th July
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A mirror will for both of us was £430 a couple of years back.

For peace of mind, I was more than happy to pay it.

Louis Balfour

27,671 posts

229 months

Saturday 13th July
quotequote all
Mr E said:
Louis Balfour said:
Are you a pirate?
But you *have* heard of me, right?
Arrrr.

Rick101

7,010 posts

157 months

Saturday 13th July
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I have been meaning to get one sorted for a few years. I'm tempted by a cheaper option initially just to get the base cover and conscious I'll likely need to redo it probably three times over the next few decades. Fairly sure solicitors charge full whack each time.

mario328

148 posts

133 months

Saturday 13th July
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If you’re 55 or over you can use the free wills month see https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/ and select a local solicitor to write it up, witness it, then store it using this organisation to register it, https://www.nationalwillregister.co.uk/ When the time comes any solicitor can extract it off the database. We did ours in March but they usually offer this service in March & October most years. I certainly wouldn’t DIY.

Caddyshack

11,821 posts

213 months

Saturday 13th July
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Rick101 said:
I have been meaning to get one sorted for a few years. I'm tempted by a cheaper option initially just to get the base cover and conscious I'll likely need to redo it probably three times over the next few decades. Fairly sure solicitors charge full whack each time.
Easy to update a will and many don’t need an update, just a change to a memo of wishes.


With Wills, you don’t know what you don’t know, let a professional explain what you don’t know.

P40L VX

131 posts

222 months

Sunday 14th July
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Sign up to Will Aid. An annual event where wills are created for a donation.

https://www.willaid.org.uk/home

DaveH23

3,292 posts

177 months

Sunday 14th July
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Also check with your employer if you receive various other benefits.

Our company offers a free will writing benefit.

bompey

567 posts

242 months

Sunday 14th July
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Whatever you do have a solicitor do it. It’s a false economy to DIY or have a will writing firm do it.

LastPoster

2,713 posts

190 months

Sunday 14th July
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Rick101 said:
I have been meaning to get one sorted for a few years. I'm tempted by a cheaper option initially just to get the base cover and conscious I'll likely need to redo it probably three times over the next few decades. Fairly sure solicitors charge full whack each time.
Just completed my Will using a solicitor. At the moment the executors are my sister and a brother in law as my sons are only just adults and would have no idea of the correct processes. At some point (due to the age of the current executors) I will change this to my sons. I asked the Solicitor and the cost to make this simple change would be £50 at todays rates.

cossy400

3,256 posts

191 months

Sunday 14th July
quotequote all
HBelder said:
A mirror will for both of us was £430 a couple of years back.

For peace of mind, I was more than happy to pay it.
Exactly this, from memory ours was around that figure.

LastPoster

2,713 posts

190 months

Sunday 14th July
quotequote all
cossy400 said:
HBelder said:
A mirror will for both of us was £430 a couple of years back.

For peace of mind, I was more than happy to pay it.
Exactly this, from memory ours was around that figure.
Mine was £240 for one person a couple of weeks ago