Wills advice

Midnight

Midnight

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Apr 9, 2008
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Evening all,

anyone know anything about making a will. Decided I need to sort one out , is it worth have one done proper i.e. solicitor , or what are peoples exp on the on-line ones which seem to be a lot cheaper ?

Cheers

Midnight...
 
We went the proper solicitor route; not cheap, but when you consider how much you are potentially dealing with, house, car pension, investments then we considered it cheap in comparison to the cost of getting it wrong and it not ending up where we wanted it. To some degree it will depend on your circumstances and where it's going to I suppose.
 
I guess it depends on how complicated it could be and how you need to split your estate. If you only have one named person to include then as long as its signed and witnessed by two people it will be legal and you shouldn't need to fork out any legal fees to a solicitor.
 
Speaking as an ex bank manager who has had to deal with "DIY" wills in the past, I would always say get it done properly
and that means using a solicitor who comes recommended, ask around .


Example is the guy who was named as the main beneficiary also was one of the witnesses,a massive error. had to go to court to get it formalized, cost thousands
 
The Solicitor route, and make sure its one that is recommended. Also, ideally, have a Solicitor as executor. My mum didn't have one when she died. My youngest sister took full advantage - least said...

Mum-in-law had a cast iron Will, with named executors - bliss!
 
My sister used to be a solictor and dealt with wills. DIY wills were frequently a disaster as people knew what they wanted to happen but did not have the skills or know how to put that in the correct terminology. Cue numerous challenges and arguments. People get very bitter and nasty when money comes into it. Unless you are doing a very straightforward leave everything to one person will then pay the money and get a solicitor. It will save a lot of delays and heartache for the people concerned when the time comes to use it.
 
I bank with Barclays, one of the add-ons with my account is a free will service. Might be worth checking to see if you have anything similar.
 
We used a Will Advisor service called Collective Legal Solutions when we bought our house. They will send a rep round to sort it for you. Cost £100 for mirror wills for me and HID. (I go, she gets everything; she goes, I get everything).
 
I really need to do this, my wife and I are directors of a company, have 4 kids, money here, debts there etc etc, its a mess and we have no wills. Bad i know, but toughest thing is deciding what to put about the kids. I joked above about what if you both go, but its a huge point, what happens to our kids if we both go? We have talked about it and have no idea what to do, who we would/could ask to have them. The wife is insistent they dont get split up, so anyone want 4 kids if me and mrs R pop it??
 
Rooter said:
I really need to do this, my wife and I are directors of a company, have 4 kids, money here, debts there etc etc, its a mess and we have no wills. Bad i know, but toughest thing is deciding what to put about the kids. I joked above about what if you both go, but its a huge point, what happens to our kids if we both go? We have talked about it and have no idea what to do, who we would/could ask to have them. The wife is insistent they dont get split up, so anyone want 4 kids if me and mrs R pop it??
Click to expand...

We had a similar dilema, just two kids though, and that delayed us for a while. Reality is, make the will and then add an amendment later when you have decided where the kids should go. What happens in the meantime if the worst occurs? Get the finances and the details sorted, money in a trust etc and add the amendment later.
 
@Rooter. In your circumstances you really do need a Professional to get it right asap.
As for me I have done my own with help from a book on the subject 'Which' Wills and Probate.
Having been a joint executor for my father's straight forward will there is a lot to do but knowing how slow solicitors can be I am glad he did not name one. I was able to deal with it as fast or slowly as I wanted.
An Executor/s can always bring a solicitor on board if things look too complicated.
It is also worth knowing that with ALL of the beneficiaries agreement a Deed of Variation can be created gifting property, cash etc. to persons not included in the will as if the deceased had done so.
 
Rooter said:
I really need to do this, my wife and I are directors of a company, have 4 kids, money here, debts there etc etc, its a mess and we have no wills. Bad i know, but toughest thing is deciding what to put about the kids. I joked above about what if you both go, but its a huge point, what happens to our kids if we both go? We have talked about it and have no idea what to do, who we would/could ask to have them. The wife is insistent they dont get split up, so anyone want 4 kids if me and mrs R pop it??
Click to expand...

Depends on what you have in the bag? ;)
 
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