Wills

Author
Discussion

oldagepensioner

Original Poster:

394 posts

33 months

Saturday 13th July
quotequote all
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

22,032 posts

264 months

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

ferret50

1,440 posts

14 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

5,108 posts

211 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

22,032 posts

264 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

594 posts

33 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

27,294 posts

227 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

22,032 posts

264 months

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

Vasco

17,071 posts

110 months

Saturday 13th July
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If straightforward just do it yourself.

HBelder

1,573 posts

25 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

27,294 posts

227 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

6,986 posts

155 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

143 posts

131 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

11,322 posts

211 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

130 posts

220 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

3,273 posts

175 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

563 posts

240 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

2,627 posts

188 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

3,247 posts

189 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

2,627 posts

188 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