Will Aid: Get a free will in November

ValB_3

If you belong to certain trade unions, such as UNISON, an additional member benefit may be a free will writing service through the union's solicitors.

nico13ba

Canaani wrote: »

I've always thought you don't have to employ a solicitor to make a Will. Is that incorrect?
I thought that if you follow the format and wording of a Will and put in your own wishes, signed by 2 witnessess, then it is legal. Do I have to go to a solicitor?

I think you are correct. No solictor should be required. So you can save yourself time and do it at home. However, where would you get the wording and format of a will from?

pinkfluffybabe

Just to say that I used the scheme the last time it was running. Three of us in the family went to the one solicitor and she suggested we just donate £50 each as there were three of us and the wills were fairly simple. We were all very happy with the service we received.

seilbahn

I once needed changes made to my will, simple alterations can be done with a codicil but the solicitor decided that a complete re-write was required. He took my original will written in plain English by another solicitor and produced a load of utter legal gibberish that I couldn't understand. I'm sure that my executors would not be able to understand it either and would have felt compelled to use a solicitor to execute my wishes. Since then I have had another will drafted but beforehand I told the solicitor that I wanted it in plain English and that's what I got. A will needs to be unambiguous but not unintelligible.

vix2000

what if your arrangements arent totally straightforward and you need some advice?

FlyingDutchman

I misread the title of this thread as Wii Aid and thought "oo, they are donating games consoles!". LOL!

Ahem! I'll get me coat...

sloughflint

Having seen badly solicitor drafted Wills,if you are interested in this scheme, I would suggest you check if the participating solicitor is STEP qualified.

As for wanting to do it yourself from a freebie/cheap form...if a solicitor can get it wrong, what hope do we have?

Savvy_Sue

vix2000 wrote: »

what if your arrangements arent totally straightforward and you need some advice?

Be prepared to pay for it? I know you won't be there to see the results if it all goes pear-shaped for lack of it, but it would be money well spent IMO.

antheawad

MSE_Archna wrote: »

What is WillAid?

This isn't forced and there's no fixed price, but £75 is suggested for a single will or £110 for a pair of wills. If afford it then this is a very good price, and charities benefit so do donate. Yet if you can't, pay what you can... there is NO requirement to donate.

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I made an enquiry through the website, and had my call back this morning. The lady was very certain that we would need to make the full suggested donation and take a cheque with us for the appointment rather than donating on the website.

I think I would feel very embarrassed if I now made a lower donation on the website prior to the appointment, even though there would be a very good reason for me doing this.

penedawn

:cool: The website says quite clearly that you pay online and take the receipt with you when going to the solicitor and do not say anything to them about how much you are giving. If they look at the receipt and make comment that really should be none of their business. If you are not comfortable on first communication try another solititor involved in the scheme. Alterntively, yes, you can write you own will and add a codicil on a napkin if you want, there are often forms in places like Tesco or try www.tenminutewill.co.uk who charge £29.99 for singles or £49.99 doubles or www.wills.org.uk £39.99. The money doesn't go to charity and you do it online but it is another option as well as a learning curve possibly. If you don't use a computer use this opportunity to go to a library and start! The only reasons to get this done officially is to try and ensure your wishes are followed through because they keep a copy of your will and it is useful to have 'your own' solicitor as they will often write letters on your behalf and not charge, and validate things such as passports (I cannot guarantee this, but mine does). Things can get very complicated without a will of some kind and it is a difficult time for all so make things clear and don't forget smaller items that you might wish to give to a loved small friend or relative. Make a list of those separately and keep it with the copy of your will and best to make sure everyone knows what you intend, or pass them on now. I have myself contacted one of these solicitors as I need to update mine and my solicitor 9 years ago charged £60 for just updating mine (same template, nothing much changed!) and I would prefer to give to charity and experience another solicitor. I was called back within the hour. She was very friendly and made a point of saying that it applied to straighforward wills only and that the diary was getting full quite quickly.