Would this DIY Will pack work?

NannyV

Hi, are these DIY Wills work? http://www.lawpack.co.uk/wills/product702.asp or do I need to go through a solicitor?

CLAPTON

it depends upon what your circumstances are and how knowledgeable you are

save-a-holic

When I did A Level Law at College the lecturer told us that "a Will is legally-binding even if it is written on toilet paper" (that phrase always stuck with me for obvious reasons - he was a stuffy, pigeon-breasted old-style lecturer and it was like seeing a giraffe quack! :rotfl:)

NannyV wrote: »

Hi, are these DIY Wills work? http://www.lawpack.co.uk/wills/product702.asp or do I need to go through a solicitor?

dzug1

save-a-holic wrote: »

When I did A Level Law at College the lecturer told us that "a Will is legally-binding even if it is written on toilet paper" (that phrase always stuck with me for obvious reasons - he was a stuffy, pigeon-breasted old-style lecturer and it was like seeing a giraffe quack! :rotfl:)

But it might be legally binding and say something that you didn't think it said because you didn't understand what you were doing

NannyV

Oh ok, Ill look into it. Our circumstances arent complicated at the moment, jointly owned property, not married, 2 children, all to be shared between children, or to other partner if one of us dies. I think maybe in a few years time once our family is complete we will do a proper solicitor one, but maybe while finances are tight, this one will do.
My cousin is becoming a solicitor so maybe I could get her to look over it

Mojisola

If you are going to do it yourself, read around the subject a bit first. Not being married does complicate things so you need to make sure the wills are water-tight. If the wills fail and the estate is distributed according to the intestacy rules, you and your OH will not be able to inherit from each other.

You need to think about what would happen if you and your OH died together. What happens to the children and the money they will inherit from you?

One of the ways that home-made wills fail is that the signing is not done properly. The will must be signed by the testator in front of the two witnesses who then must both sign. The witnesses don't need to read the will - they just witness the signature. If the witnesses or their spouses are left anything in the will, they will not be allowed to inherit.

NannyV

Time to nip down the registry office then lol

tyllwyd

And remember that if you get married that the marriage will revoke the will unless it is written with that in mind.

If you have children, make sure it makes provision for what should happen if you both pass away.

NannyV

We plan to get married but in 5 years time once our family is complete, which is why we thought of doing a cheap DIY one for now, then through a solicitor after we are married

CLAPTON

NannyV wrote: »

We plan to get married but in 5 years time once our family is complete, which is why we thought of doing a cheap DIY one for now, then through a solicitor after we are married

why ever do you think your affairs are less complicated now when you are not married and your family is incomplete than they will be once you are married and family complete


the issue is ; if you die tomorrow will the 'right' things happen to your estate (like your wife may get nothing)

rather than if you die once married without a will then at least your wife get something )


having said that it's quite easy to write simple matching wills but do read up about it before deciding

NannyV

Its not about when things are less complicated, its more about if we were to spend over a hundred pounds now on getting a solicitor to do a Will, then in 2 years time we would have to pay out more money to change it when another child comes along, then maybe one more, and then we will get married and have to pay out again to change the Will. Which is why we thought about doing a DIY one now, then once we are married and have had all our children, do a final one through a solicitor.

I will def. read up about it. I have a cousin who has just graduated as a Solicitor but in Family Law I think, but will ask her for advice or see if she knows of any other Solicitors who can advise on the matter. Def. want to get it right!