Will Aid: Get a free will in November

moon-pig_2

wend33 wrote:

Also, most couples would not go to the lengths of an additional trust deed setting out the shares unless they had a specific reason to.

Well a good specific reason is that unless there is an agreement setting out the shares that each party owns, the executors have no way of determining what they're dealing with when administering the estate.

sloughflint

Baggysdad wrote: »

When your grief stricken relatives go to the solicitor to reclaim the Will, they'll get a 5 minute chat about how difficult things will be. Unsurprisingly, the solicitor will have a solution - they will take all of the troubles off your distraught relatives hands.

trixybess wrote: »

I thought they hold your will for free you just tell whoever is your executor what solicitor has your will and when your dead they just pick it up and take it from there

It's a nice thought trixybess.

That's exactly what I thought when I called up to arrange to collect a Will that had been stored for free.When I arrived, a solicitor was buzzed to come and 'chat' to me.Admittedly the chat was more than a five minute chat, because it was to explain that there was a problem with the will.( Why did they look?:rolleyes:)

Whilst I was grateful for the information,I decided to do as much of the work as I could myself before contacting a solicitor of my choice for the necessary bits I could not do to rectify the mess.
So what happened? I eventually received a bill for that little chat.

I'm not saying everyone will behave like this but I was certainly caught unawares despite previous involvement with this 'trusted' profession.

It is possible to have wills stored at the High Court of Justice for a one off fee of £15.
More information here:
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1202.htm

Baggysdad

To give you some idea of whats in it for the service provider, this comment has been posted on another Internet forum in relation to Willaid.

We have always participated in this and never did many Wills. However, one of the WillAid clients i drafted for in 2006 just died, and we have a £3k probate to handle. Worth it? oh yes

The £3K is the fees involved, not the size of the estate.

The intriguing thing is that the Internet forum is a forum for Willwriters and the message has been posted by a Willwriter. Does Willaid Press Officer know that their scheme has been infiltrated by at least one Willwriter!!!:j

B

aytch

I just wanted to bump this as it is such a necessity to have a will and this gets you that and a donation to a good cause - Will Aid is only available November

trixybess

All Ok just checked as my bruv did a will through this scheme and yes our solicitor hold them free and will not charge when the executor go and pick it up when I am flying in the sky
lol

sloughflint wrote: »

It's a nice thought trixybess.

That's exactly what I thought when I called up to arrange to collect a Will that had been stored for free.When I arrived, a solicitor was buzzed to come and 'chat' to me.Admittedly the chat was more than a five minute chat, because it was to explain that there was a problem with the will.( Why did they look?:rolleyes:)

Whilst I was grateful for the information,I decided to do as much of the work as I could myself before contacting a solicitor of my choice for the necessary bits I could not do to rectify the mess.
So what happened? I eventually received a bill for that little chat.

I'm not saying everyone will behave like this but I was certainly caught unawares despite previous involvement with this 'trusted' profession.

It is possible to have wills stored at the High Court of Justice for a one off fee of £15.
More information here:
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/1202.htm

carbonmonoxide

I just contacted a solicitor from the Will Aid list in my local area and they told me they would only do it if I paid their standard rate for making a will to Will Aid which was £150 or £175 for a joint will. Surely this defeats the point of Will Aid as I am not going to pay more than the suggested donation. :rolleyes:

I will try a few more and see if I have more luck with them.

sloughflint

carbonmonoxide wrote: »

I just contacted a solicitor from the Will Aid list in my local area and they told me they would only do it if I paid their standard rate for making a will to Will Aid which was £150 or £175 for a joint will. Surely this defeats the point of Will Aid as I am not going to pay more than the suggested donation. :rolleyes:

I will try a few more and see if I have more luck with them.

Perhaps wrongly, my interpretation of the scheme was that the solicitors would do the Will for free if their fee was donated to Willaid.
Fees vary. For example, STEP solicitors ( only solicitors worthwhile considering in my opinion) are much more expensive.

carbonmonoxide

sloughflint wrote: »

Perhaps wrongly, my interpretation of the scheme was that the solicitors would do the Will for free if their fee was donated to Willaid.

you may be right, but then what is the point in having a suggested donation?

Optimist

carbonmonoxide wrote: »

I just contacted a solicitor from the Will Aid list in my local area and they told me they would only do it if I paid their standard rate for making a will to Will Aid which was £150 or £175 for a joint will. Surely this defeats the point of Will Aid as I am not going to pay more than the suggested donation. :rolleyes:

I will try a few more and see if I have more luck with them.

All you need to do is make an appointment with a will aid solicitor mentioning that you want it done on the willaid scheme. Once you have an appointment pay a donation via the web site..The suggested donations are very reasonable and go to good causes

If they ask for more then I suggest you take it up with Willaid

http://www.willaid.org.uk/

carbonmonoxide

Optimist wrote: »

All you need to do is make an appointment with a will aid solicitor mentioning that you want it done on the willaid scheme. Once you have an appointment pay a donation via the web site..The suggested donations are very reasonable and go to good causes

If they ask for more then I suggest you take it up with Willaid

http://www.willaid.org.uk/

I have e-mailed Willaid to let them know. I think I will try another solictor who I know will accept the suggested donation rather than risk them refusing to make my Will because I haven't donated enough