Joint or single will???

Murtle

Having read the threads on wills, I thought I'd start my own - hope that's alright?!

I am 30, with a partner (divorced previously but no kids and all finances split at the time), cats, house. My partner is 30+, has me, no property, but has pension. I am planning on getting a will done and have been offered the opportunity of a single or a joint will. I want to get a joint will for both of us, quoted £79. Does this seem reasonable? and is it worth having or would it be better for me to just get one on my own??

They send a person round where they draft it up and take payment there and then so thought I'd check here first!

Thanks

M

Debt_Free_Chick

I don't think there's such a thing as a joint will - it's simply two different wills that are drawn up at the same time. I guess it saves some duplication as the solicitor gets some information, once, which is used for both wills.

£79 for two wills sounds too cheap! And "they send a person round" ... to your house? Is this a solicitor or someone else suitably qualified?

It sounds like a cheap 'n' cheeful basic service - probably a standard template where they just fill in your names :eek:

I think you want much more detail of exactly what they do, who they are and what qualifications they have. Then phone some local solicitors to get comparisons - but compare the actual work they would do as well as the price.

There are too many problems caused by badly drafted or inadequate wills. If it's important that you have a will, it's important that you have the right kind of will. Especially if you're not married as no assets pass automatically from one party to the other (with the exception of jointly owned property).

Having both wills done at once could be advisable if you essentially intend to leave everything (or mostly everything) to eachother. But remember that you will each probably have to discuss your wishes in front of eachother ... depends whether your relationship is at that stage or not

I feel very uncomfortable about the service you are thinking about .... is this a national company? Where did you hear about them?

Bossyboots

I echo everything DFC has said.

bargainaddict

I am worried about you paying there and then. We recently did our wills. It was called a mirror will where our wills both reflected the same wishes. We paid about £120 (inc VAT). We did not have to pay until we were happy with everything and in fact we had to have 2 drafts before the final one was right.

We had 3 quotes and I have to say as there is property involved I would go down the solicitor route. The extra help and information we got was invaluable.

In the previous 2 years my Mother and sister passed away. We had complications with both the wills because they had not been updated, but we were able to get help and advice from the solicitor who drew up the wills and he was able to sort it for us. Your will is such an important document, it's really important it is drawn up by someone who knows what they are doing.

miaxmia

bargainaddict wrote:

I am worried about you paying there and then. We recently did our wills. It was called a mirror will where our wills both reflected the same wishes. We paid about £120 (inc VAT). We did not have to pay until we were happy with everything and in fact we had to have 2 drafts before the final one was right.

We had 3 quotes and I have to say as there is property involved I would go down the solicitor route. The extra help and information we got was invaluable.

That was a bargain - I have just obtained quotes from Solicitors for mirrored wills and the prices I have been quoted are £200 & £220 + VAT for standard wills - discussion regarding tax planning or other complications comes in at £184 per hour pro rata and one of the Solicitors has asked for the money upfront (which I am not happy about hence I am still pondering on what to do). I know someone who has had one of these "cheap" wills where they come to the house and they were very pleased with the service and said it was professionally done - however, I tend to think I would prefer to go down the Solicitor route too, even if it does cost more.

cheerfulcat

Murtle, this sounds like a will-writing company. They don't have the best of reputations. Far better to go to a solicitor to get your wills done.

Debt_Free_Chick

miaxmia wrote:

I know someone who has had one of these "cheap" wills where they come to the house and they were very pleased with the service and said it was professionally done

Problem is, they'll never know! It might "look" professional, but the only way of "testing" a will is to ....errmmm.... well, die.

Bossyboots

miaxmia wrote:

That was a bargain - I have just obtained quotes from Solicitors for mirrored wills and the prices I have been quoted are £200 & £220 + VAT for standard wills - discussion regarding tax planning or other complications comes in at £184 per hour pro rata and one of the Solicitors has asked for the money upfront (which I am not happy about hence I am still pondering on what to do). I know someone who has had one of these "cheap" wills where they come to the house and they were very pleased with the service and said it was professionally done - however, I tend to think I would prefer to go down the Solicitor route too, even if it does cost more.

Those quotes are really high. It is not however unusual to ask for some money up front, but not all. Maybe this firm has had people not return after the drafts have been prepared (it would be simple to create your own will from the professionally drawn draft and not pay the costs) so want payment up front to ensure they get paid. Or they have a lot of bad debts and this is their way again of ensuring they get paid.

As for the "cheap" will, the proof of the pudding will only be seen when one dies. That is when errors in wills come to light most often.

bargainaddict

We were quoted over £200 at one solicitors for mirror wills, exactly the same as we paid £120 for.

Murtle

Many thanks for all the replies,

This is the companies website http://www.pep-wills.co.uk

not sure about their training, as it says a four day training course.....

I was also surprised at being told I'd have to pay for it there and then, something I don't really like being forced to do. Deposit yes, full payment - not convinced.

I think I'll get quotes from solicitors in the area as cost wasn't the reason for it, it was more the convenience of having them come to your house in the evening.

Does anyone know of any reputable firms that use solicitors that come to your house??!

miaxmia

Bossyboots wrote:

Those quotes are really high. It is not however unusual to ask for some money up front, but not all. Maybe this firm has had people not return after the drafts have been prepared (it would be simple to create your own will from the professionally drawn draft and not pay the costs) so want payment up front to ensure they get paid. Or they have a lot of bad debts and this is their way again of ensuring they get paid.

As for the "cheap" will, the proof of the pudding will only be seen when one dies. That is when errors in wills come to light most often.

Yes, I know it isn't unusual to give some money up front, but they want the money up front even before we have made an appointment. I could pay the money up front and then be told there isn't an appointment for a month or be very disappointed with the service, then I am stuffed because they've had their money. Also they have sent a questionnaire to fill out which, although I haven't discussed this with them yet, looks to me like they plan to draft the will from our completion of the questionnaire. I have had two wills prepared in the distant past, but never paid monies up front. As for "ensuring they get paid" , I wouldn't like to play dirty with a Solicitor!!

I understand what everyone on here is saying about the "cheap" wills and I think it would depend how complicated your estate is - after all you can go into WH Smith's and buy a will to complete and this could be just as effective, but I too am apprehensive and would only use a Solicitor. However, the last Solicitor we used (several years ago) made loads of errors in the draft will - some of the names weren't even spelt consistently the same!