Old Will what happens?

black-saturn

I don't know if I've put this on the right part of the board but please move it if I havn't.

When I was with my ex we made separate legally binding wills out at the same time. Then a few years later the relationship broke up. The last I saw of these wills was that they were shoved in the back of a cupboard in the house my ex still lives in. It said it in that I wanted to leave anything I've got to my children.

I have no contact with the ex anymore so what happens about this will?

Coronation Street has prompted me to ask this question.

wigginsmum

I think you can kiss goodbye to the old will unless you lodged a copy elsewhere; if he can't or won't produce it, in effect you die intestate. Might be a good idea to get another one drawn up to make sure everything's covered.

black-saturn

I seem to remember that the company we drew it up with were keeping a copy too. Does this make any difference?

wigginsmum

Possibly - try contacting them to ask. I'm no expert but I would've thought the issue is whether a valid copy can be presented or not when needed.

Bossyboots

Any new will you make now will be void when you get married, unless it specifically states it is made in anticipation of that marriage. I am not sure how far in advance you can do that. Two years is a bit of a long time to be without a will just in case something happens but otherwise you will have the expense of doing it twice.

Edit: I should also have added that the old will is void as well as soon as you get married.

elliebean_2

Your old Will will still be valid, providing someone can produce the original (not a copy), until you either get married; destroy the old one or write a new one revoking the previous one.

It's generally not considered a good idea to write a Will in contemplation of marriage which is to take place more than 2 years hence. Personally, I think a shorter time span is safer.

pavlovs_dog

you might be interested in the will aid scheme which will be taking place in november, IIRC

the fee you pay to the solicitors is waived, and instead you make a donation to one of the charities that the programme is supporting

black-saturn

Great, thanks for the advice.

jockettuk

pavlovs_dog wrote:

you might be interested in the will aid scheme which will be taking place in november, IIRC

the fee you pay to the solicitors is waived, and instead you make a donation to one of the charities that the programme is supporting

hi ive seen this before and never acted on it.. the website doesnt say when it starts is it the whole of november.. need to ammend our wills as we both moved in together ..

elliebean_2

Yes, the Will Aid scheme runs throughout November.

Jake'sGran

black-saturn wrote:

I don't know if I've put this on the right part of the board but please move it if I havn't.

When I was with my ex we made separate legally binding wills out at the same time. Then a few years later the relationship broke up. The last I saw of these wills was that they were shoved in the back of a cupboard in the house my ex still lives in. It said it in that I wanted to leave anything I've got to my children.

I have no contact with the ex anymore so what happens about this will?

Coronation Street has prompted me to ask this question.

Make a new will. Your old will is then just waste paper. You should let someone close to you know that you have a current will. I am about to make a new one. My last one is at a solicitor's office. They did say "do you want to take it with you" but I declined and there cannot be a charge for them keeping it as they did not mention any. In any case I will phone and ask them to destroy it as they did the first one. The new will I make will be done through a solicitor taking part in the WillAid scheme. I have found one close to where I live.