TotallyFreeWills discussion

Former_MSE_Wendy

As part of the Free and Cheap Wills guide we mention a website called TotallyFreeWills. If you've used its free will service let us know why you think.

allyjb

Quick facts of wills focus page on MSE states its for everyone everywhere - although looks like it may be England and Wales only? No freebies for a poor Scotsman!

Toreador

"Coming soon"

http://www.totallyfreewills.co.uk/page/index.aspx?pid=167

interesting_person

:TI have just recently used totallyfreewills and successfully received my new free will absolutely free. The website is very easy to use. You can do a bit at a time, and it will save your information for later on. I like the feature whereby you can easily choose charities that you want to leave any money. When you have completely finished, you submit it and a few days later you get a letter from your local solicitor keeping you informed. Another few days later you get the will to sign and witness. The witnesses must not be one of your beneficiaries. Finally, after you have returned the original document you get the final document for you to keep. The solicitors also keep a copy.

Do not make totallyfreewills solicitor your executor to save money - instead use two of your loved ones (who may even be your beneficiaries). Later, the website will also be offering an additional free service called 'All my wishes', which does not form part of the legal will document, but allow you to specify requests that would not be appopriate in a will, for example you funeral arrangements. Remember this free online will service is only suitable if you have a straight forward will to create. Good luck and save over £100 per will!:T

Errata

The solicitors also keep a copy.

Why ? A copy of a will has no legal standing; what would a solicitor gain from keeping a copy ?

HanSpan

Errata wrote: »

Why ? A copy of a will has no legal standing; what would a solicitor gain from keeping a copy ?

I've just been and done it, I read it as they keep the original and you get a copy.

Errata

Why would you leave the original with them, rather than putting it in the Probate Office secure store for a one off payment of £15 ?

HanSpan

Errata wrote: »

Why would you leave the original with them, rather than putting it in the Probate Office secure store for a one off payment of £15 ?

I'm not saying them keeping it is the best thing, or what I want, just that it is how the service works. I hope that afterwards I can ask them to send it to the probate service (or to me so I can do it).
I decided that having something somewhere was better than nothing anywhere for now. I'm a bit of a prevaricator so have been *thinking* about doing a will for years. At least this way I've got around to doing something!

I suppose if they don't want to release it after I can just use the same format to write my own, with the necessary witnesses and no solicitor involved, and send that to the probate service. Will wait and see and report back!

Errata

You've been sensible in making a will, it's surprising how many people don't.
The Will is your property, and no service or person can insist that they keep it.
It's worth bearing in mind that solicitors, and will making services, can come and go and documents can sometimes be mislaid. This won't happen with the Probate Office.

ISAmad

If I use this free will writing service do I have to return the document to that company? Once I've received it through the post can't I just store it the way I want to store it?

Errata

ISAmad wrote: »

If I use this free will writing service do I have to return the document to that company? Once I've received it through the post can't I just store it the way I want to store it?

It's your property. You can keep it or send it to Santa if you choose. Or lodge it with the Probate Office secure store for a one off payment of £15.

BTW - have you by any chance appointed the will writing service as your executor ?