Making a Will - What is the most affordable/best way?

WelshBurty

Can any one give advice on the most afforadable/best way to write a will?

A solicitor seems a very expense way to say I want to leave everything to the cat, but does anyone have advice on whether there are any pros/cons with online DIY wills?

Please post links to good sites.

Thanks

begbeer

As cats do not live as long as humans you had better make sure that you still haev a cat when the time comes!!

kinglewis

Post office??

zygurat789

Let's face it if you make a mistake you won't be able to correct it once it's discovered. If you are at all complex ie more than all to my [STRIKE]cat[/STRIKE] wife then it may cost more but what price peace of mind.
Solictors may charge what you think is a lot but you are paying for all those years of learning what can go wrong and all those years of experiencing it.
Also try your bank.

Baggysdad

Also try your bank.

Noooooooooooooooooooo

Do not, repeat, do not, use a bank for a Will. They will fill in a form, ship it off to a processing centre - and then appoint the bank as your executors - and then they will charge you thousands to do that job when you are gone.


No doubt you have found out that in life, the best way is never the affordable way. You need to decide which is more important to you - doing the job the best way (pay a professional) or doing it the affordable way (bodge something together using a form or online).

BTW, you can't leave everything to the cat, so don't try.

dzug1

kinglewis wrote: »

Post office??

Would you care to expand on that? The Post Office are most certainly NOT in the wills business.

A few postmasters may as a private money making venture sell wills packs much as they might sell birthday and christmas cards - but that's no different to buying the same thing from W H Smith or Rymans or any other stationer or bookshop. They are of no official status.

maryotuam

The post office have (well at least until recently) a will form that you can buy for a quid or so. If you think you are smart enough to write things so clearly that noone can dispute what you say, then you are entitled to wtite your own.

You must state who is/are the executors the person you chose to be in charge of making sure your wishes are carried out. (They can be someone who who you have chosen to give something to in your will)

You also need 2 witnesses (who cannot get anything from the will) who will sign to the fact that they watched you sign and you were of sound mind at the time. They don't have to see the contents, just you adding your signature.

Of course you need to date it and and addresses etc. And put it somewhere safe but where it can be found.

The most inportant point is being specific and clear.

As you can see, even a simple will is complicated but there is loads of info on the internet or your local library. It's up to you. Naybe give it a try yourself and ask a trusted friend to try and pick holes in it.

I have done and updated my own and my husbands wills even though it includes grown up children and step children.

lemma1968

Various charities have links with solicitors so that there are some firms who will draft your will for free but you have to give a donation (about £50 or so) to the charity.

I think if you do a google search you may find something. My parents did theirs this way.

also this is one of Martin's articles that may help.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/free-cheap-wills

Hope that helps.

SailorSam

If it's a simple will, do it yourself.
Go to the library and get a help book there are plenty of examples there.
A Will writer doesn't need any qualifications so be careful if you take that route. Better to use a qualified solicitor.
Places like Age Concern or local hospices often have arrangements with solicitors whereby if you make a donation to their charity you can get a will done.

kinglewis

Would you care to expand on that? The Post Office are most certainly NOT in the wills business.

A few postmasters may as a private money making venture sell wills packs much as they might sell birthday and christmas cards - but that's no different to buying the same thing from W H Smith or Rymans or any other stationer or bookshop. They are of no official status.

Hence the question marks

localhero

SailorSam wrote:

A Will writer doesn't need any qualifications so be careful if you take that route. Better to use a qualified solicitor.

Solicitors are not required to demonstrate their expertise by passing exams in the subject either - so be careful if you take this route as well.