I need to make a Will - where to start?

fran-o

Hi there

This is my first new thread - hope its not in the wrong place, I'm just after some advice about will making.

My partner and I bought a place together last year and need to make wills - its been on the to-do list too long! It should be pretty simple as we don't have kids or complicated lives and there are no big debts (nor sadly big savings!) to worry about, just the mortgage.

Are the DIY Will kits from WHSmiths any good? Is it necessary to se a solicitor or is there a cheaper alternative?

Hope you can give me some advice! thanks, Fran

localhero

DIY/online is a real no-no - though the lawyers might like you after they've taken a chunk of your estate for trying to sort things out after you've died.

A reasonable starting point is to visit the Institute of Professional Willwriters at www.ipw.org.uk and contact a couple of members in your area.

OK_Sauce

Are you a member of a trades union? Sometimes they offer a free will writing service, mine certainly does - I've used it!

fran-o

thanks for your help! - will avoid the DIY route and look at the ipw website.

homerhotspur

Could someone please resolve a query for me.

Specific gifts and legacies come first in the will and then the residue is dealt with. Then comes the ' rider' regarding " if X pre-deceases in 28 days etc", then XYZ should happen.

In this event, Are the originally stated gifts still valid or do they have to be repeated. My understanding was that the original gifts are left intact and it is only the residue that is affected by this clause?

thank you