Not got a will? Find out where your money'll go now ... its changed

Pee

Jo_R wrote: »

Thanks seven-day-weekend! It's probably obvious I'm not that "up" on how this works. though it has been something that's been playing on my mind since my ex moved out.

Although it is well documented in my health records (long story) that my parents are a massive part of my DDs' lives on a day-today basis and have been very involved in their care, especially DD2, I obviously can't take it for granted that they would be allowed to have them, although it has been discussed informally with my parents and OH.

Although I don't have any objection to my ex and his wife having the girls should anything happen in terms of whether they'd be suitable, he has made it clear that since he moved out, they are not his priority so I shouldn't imagine he would object to my parents caring for them in such circumstances, much as he would make out he is the doting father!

I don't worry about any other relatives or grandparents coming into the picture. His mum would not be able to from a health POV, and his father I would lay money on would not want the commitment - him and my ex are very much alike:rolleyes:

I suppose I just thought it was odd that I could make a will and not specify about assets as I have nothing monetarily in that sense! I'm also still abit confused about appointing a guardian and the issue of parental responsibility as my ex has this for both DDs - what exactly does happen if I specify my parents as guardians, and my ex has the PR - does he ultimately have the say over where they would go?

It would be up to them to reach agreement between themselves and if no agreement could be reached, for the Court to decide.

happymum168

We just finalise our will via Will Aid.
http://www.willaid.org.uk/will_makers
The next campaign will be in Nov, at least the fee/donation will go to charities.

lisamummytoarchieplusbump

ive just spoke to a solicitor about the new law whever it applies to me as my mum died 22 jan but she said no the new law is only for people that die after this date.

before_hollywood

i'll have to speak to the union at work, i'm happy for my parents to have my money (not much but enough to come in useful for a few odds and ends) and then give my friends anything thats left in terms of my gadgets and stuff cos its all nearly new

RRatchet

soco1 wrote: »

Her Maj & the State are welcome to my estate. I have no dependants or spouse/partner so don't care what is done with it all once I'm gone!

Suppose I could say I want certain %ages of my house/car/investments etc to go to various charities etc but have no real affliations to any so don't see any reason to write a will.
Only family I have are distant people that I've never met and don't even know the names of so they wouldn't be in any will if I did have one

State will need all it can get by then!

Hi

That's fair enough. You have thought about it and your inaction will not affect anyone else except the state who frankly should have to expend some effort to get what was your money. Oh, by the way, there are firms out there that chase down the distant (sometimes unbelievably distant) relatives of people who die intestate and offer to help the relative(s) claim it for a %. [There was a programme on satellite tv about it that was morbidly fascinating called "Will Chasers" I think]. So at least you might be providing some one with a living. However I hope that if you do meet some one that you care for or find a cause that does it for you, that you rethink your position and make a will. If I had no family I would still have made a will leaving my vast! estate to my friends and various charities.

Yours

RRatchet

swampduck

When I made a will with my partner - the solicitor we saw said that solicitors make far more money out of someone dying without a will than someone who has made a will.
Even putting a comma in the wrong place can change how a will is interpreted. A simple will can cover so much and for the money it is worth it.
When I was with my now ex-hubbie we had made wills to cover what would happen to our children - ie: guardians etc and how they would financially recompensed if they were to look after our children. In one scenario we were given - we were told to assume that the guardian already had four children of their own - how would they accomodate our children too? Could they use money left in trust to our kids to purchase a larger house? To be reverted back to the trust when they became of age by whatever mechanism would be necessary. What if our kids wanted to go on a school trip but the guardian couldnt afford it? What was ok to draw from the trust fund and what was not?
Now that I am with a new partner and we have 5 adult children between us - we had to consider what was a fair way to distribute any estate we had built up since we got together. But still being able to leave the surviving partner with a home to live in without the deceased partners' children putting pressure on them to sell up so that they could have their share of the spoils so to speak.
Most wills are relatively simple - life becomes complicated when people that are left behind have to deal with the consequences that writing a will would have pre-empted.

Swampy

wendywitch

So how much does it cost to write a will? I don't have any money but I do have two children who'll need someone to look after them.
Can I just use one of those forms from WHSmith or on line?

Pee

Phone around a few solicitors and ask. For just you it should be about £100 plus VAT, for you and OH £200 plus VAT. It would be more if you had a disabled child to provide for, but then you would need a more complicated Will.

I wouldn't try doing it on your own. I saw a very good homemade Will with two witnesses and everything, but the attestation clause wasn't right so the legal costs were about £200 more than they would have been had the person paid £100 for a Will, and that was a good one.

LittleMissAspie

I take it there is no point in me making a will yet? My only asset is my savings account (8k ish) and my classic car, my only debt is my student loan (which I think gets cancelled if I die anyway).

So my parents or sister would get my savings and car. My boyfriend would get nothing but he's self sufficient anyway and I'm sure my family would give him something. If he died I would feel kind of weird getting his money Don't know why.

I bet my dad would sell my car, he's always telling to get a "normal" car :rolleyes: I don't suppose you can put a clause in a will that says x relative has to run, maintain and restore your car!

Me and boyf are buying a house in a few year's time tho, that would be the best time to make a will yes?

supermonkey

Hi all,

Sorry to hi-jack the thread. I've recently had wills drafted, and for now we have chosen not to complete LPAs. My main concern and the reason for the wills is to ensure that my wishes with regard to my daugters welfare & our finances are carried out. To my mind, the LPA gives no info on who would look after my daughter if I was incapicated. Does anyone know what would happen? Would our parents be given the opportunity to look after her? I would not want the state having the option to put her into foster care.