Discussion
I need to update my and my wife's wills, the originals were pre marriage and of course no longer valid. They are very simple and mirrored. I've had a quote from a local solicitors (not talking large city) for £750 + vat the same company that did the originals for £300 inc Vat in 2015). Is it just me that thinks £900 is a bit of a piss take?? I was going to use them for conveyancing on a house I want to move on but I dread to think what that would cost.
We are in the process of getting new wills done as want to add a cash gift to our granddaughter so just checked when we last had them done - 2020.
£230 plus vat so your quote does seem expensive.
We had both lots of LPA’s done at the same time and that was relatively expensive at £800 for all 4.
£230 plus vat so your quote does seem expensive.
We had both lots of LPA’s done at the same time and that was relatively expensive at £800 for all 4.
L1OFF said:
I need to update my and my wife's wills, the originals were pre marriage and of course no longer valid. They are very simple and mirrored. I've had a quote from a local solicitors (not talking large city) for £750 + vat the same company that did the originals for £300 inc Vat in 2015). Is it just me that thinks £900 is a bit of a piss take?? I was going to use them for conveyancing on a house I want to move on but I dread to think what that would cost.
For that I'd need them to be sorting out a very complex will with trusts etc and powers of attorney for both of you. A simple will mirrored should take them about 7 minutes.
As an aside. Why isn't a will written as a simple flow chart..
It's just a set of If statements.
If you really want to reduce the cost, October is Free Wills Month. It only operates in selected locations, though.
https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/
There is an expectation (but not an obligation) to include one or more of the selected charities in your new will.
https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/
There is an expectation (but not an obligation) to include one or more of the selected charities in your new will.
Pit Pony said:
L1OFF said:
I need to update my and my wife's wills, the originals were pre marriage and of course no longer valid. They are very simple and mirrored. I've had a quote from a local solicitors (not talking large city) for £750 + vat the same company that did the originals for £300 inc Vat in 2015). Is it just me that thinks £900 is a bit of a piss take?? I was going to use them for conveyancing on a house I want to move on but I dread to think what that would cost.
For that I'd need them to be sorting out a very complex will with trusts etc and powers of attorney for both of you. A simple will mirrored should take them about 7 minutes.
As an aside. Why isn't a will written as a simple flow chart..
It's just a set of If statements.
L1OFF said:
I need to update my and my wife's wills, the originals were pre marriage and of course no longer valid. They are very simple and mirrored. I've had a quote from a local solicitors (not talking large city) for £750 + vat the same company that did the originals for £300 inc Vat in 2015). Is it just me that thinks £900 is a bit of a piss take?? I was going to use them for conveyancing on a house I want to move on but I dread to think what that would cost.
Presumably the 2015 wills are only "no longer valid" because your wishes have changed - maybe had kids? I would have thought if leaving your estates to each other then the originals would still be OK as you could evidence you are the same people.Asking because our wills were last written 20 years ago. Nothing has changed other than the fact our kids are now adults so the bit that talks about childcare and holding the funds until adulthood is redundant.
I just copied my Mum and Dad's wills. They were mirrored - everything to the survivor and then everything to the kids.
This is exactly what we want to do, and we haven't had any problems at all with theirs.
I've got absolutely no idea what £750 buys you but maybe I'm missing a trick?
I've fretted for months over IHT, and then come to the straightforward conclusion that the easiest and probably most cost effective (for my Wife and me) solution is to just let them pay it when the time comes. I've left written instructions on the best way to achieve this, which I'll update every few years.
This is exactly what we want to do, and we haven't had any problems at all with theirs.
I've got absolutely no idea what £750 buys you but maybe I'm missing a trick?
I've fretted for months over IHT, and then come to the straightforward conclusion that the easiest and probably most cost effective (for my Wife and me) solution is to just let them pay it when the time comes. I've left written instructions on the best way to achieve this, which I'll update every few years.
Halitosis said:
Presumably the 2015 wills are only "no longer valid" because your wishes have changed - maybe had kids? I would have thought if leaving your estates to each other then the originals would still be OK as you could evidence you are the same people.
Asking because our wills were last written 20 years ago. Nothing has changed other than the fact our kids are now adults so the bit that talks about childcare and holding the funds until adulthood is redundant.
We made the original wills when we were not married. (Not sure have kids in my 70's is a good idea Asking because our wills were last written 20 years ago. Nothing has changed other than the fact our kids are now adults so the bit that talks about childcare and holding the funds until adulthood is redundant.
). Marriage makes the originals null and void and as the house is in my name only if I were to pop off it would not automatically go to my wife (survivorship rule wouldn't apply). We also don't have a joint bank account so that would also be an issue. Anyone had experience of DIY wills?
My mum had a DIY will that she bought from WH Smiths or similar, until one day she answered the phone to a cold calling will writing company and paid over the odds for one. Frustratingly after she died we discovered the will company had gone belly up without leaving a trace of paperwork but at least she had the original will - until we discovered that had been stolen when she was burgled a few years before she'd died.
Photocopies of wills aren't accepted by probate so she effectively died intestate,
My mum had a DIY will that she bought from WH Smiths or similar, until one day she answered the phone to a cold calling will writing company and paid over the odds for one. Frustratingly after she died we discovered the will company had gone belly up without leaving a trace of paperwork but at least she had the original will - until we discovered that had been stolen when she was burgled a few years before she'd died.
Photocopies of wills aren't accepted by probate so she effectively died intestate,
Edited by The Gauge on Saturday 12th September 20:40
C69 said:
If you really want to reduce the cost, October is Free Wills Month. It only operates in selected locations, though.
https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/
There is an expectation (but not an obligation) to include one or more of the selected charities in your new will.
I used this service last year and was very impressed. https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/
There is an expectation (but not an obligation) to include one or more of the selected charities in your new will.
It is all done through local solicitors, and with the firm I used at no time did I get the feeling that it was being done as a 'cut price' service and appeared to be no different from the service I would have received if I had paid for it, and even the inclusion of a charity in the will wasn't a hard sell.
It appeared that other than being a good thing for charities, the reason the solicitors were doing it was as an opportunity to sell additional services such as doing an LPA (again no hard sell), or just for advertising for when you would thinking of using a solicitors in the future.
C69 said:
If you really want to reduce the cost, October is Free Wills Month. It only operates in selected locations, though.
https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/
There is an expectation (but not an obligation) to include one or more of the selected charities in your new will.
Just had a look and it says..https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/
There is an expectation (but not an obligation) to include one or more of the selected charities in your new will.
'Members of the public aged 55 and over ..'
Are they strict on the over 55 bit?
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