Will Week

AUSTIN_3

I don't  know if I'm talking a load of old rubbish but I have been told that I can get a will done(and my husband) and I won't pay the legal team any money just make a donation to a charity of my choosing....can anybody tell if firstly if I am talking crap or that this will week is a real thing, and if it is, when is it???????????

Insert From Martin

This is quite true.  November is WillAid month.  It's a fantastic scheme.

Why do you need a will?  If you die without one, your money, assets, property will automatically pass in a way directed by law, not your choice.  This can mean the wrong thing going to the wrong person and much more going to the tax man.  (see Inheritence Tax MoneySaving Article)

What is WillAid  During the month of November, many solicitors across the country will draft you a will at no charge.   If that happens, then they will ask you to make a donation to charity.  This isn't forced and there's no fixed price, but £65 is suggested.  However if you cannot afford that there is no need to pay it or anything at all

What are the Charities There's a whole host of them who get the money shared, including Action Aid, the British Red Cross, Save the Children and Site Savers

Why would a solicitor do it for free First and formost like many other indiduals, to support charity.  However it's also a good way of encouraging people who ahve never been before to walk into a solicitors office, and they may well gain new clients in the long run because of it.

How do i find a solicitor near me doing it  That's easy, at this point I pass you over to the official website.  https://www.willaid.co.uk which has all the info.  Once there simply tell it your postcode and it will find you the nearest solicitor.

https://www.willaid.co.uk

GCooper

The Law Society (Governing body for Soliciotrs) often organises a Will Week for the purposes of encouraging people to make a will. I am not aware of any plans for one of these in the near future. However, the Law Society in Scotland might be organising something.

At present, there are a lot of companies producing packs so that you can right your own wills. Tesco even produce one on line. The surprising thing is that Solicitors will often charge very little for preparing a will as the real benefit to them comes when you die as they hope to be called upon to administer the estate. Indeed, many will suggest that they should be appointed as executors and will include what is known as a "charging clause" so that they can be paid for the time involved. This may not be such a bad thing if your estate is sufficiently large that you will need professional assistance to wind it up. Solicitor's legal fees on winding up an estate may be more reasonable than banks and others who are moving into this market. Their fees are subject to being overseen by the Law Society and you can often get them reduced if you ask for a "remuneration certificate".

Most companies offering a will-writing service or write your own wills rely upon your fears of incurring legal fees and most people's fear of solicitors. Whilst standard form and simple wills may be perfectly alright in many cases, it is wise to have them professionally drawn, particularly if you have assets. It is not widely appreciated that whilst property values have gone up over the past few years, the point at which Inheritance Tax bites, has not. It may be desirable to consider if there is anything that can be done about tax planning within your will. Also, if you have remarried and have two families, or have family members whom you wish to exclude from your will, then it is important to have professional input.

Will writing need not be expensive if you go through a Solicitor. Telephone a few and get some quotes or contact the law Society, who can put you in touch with practitioners within your area.

I like the idea of making a donation to charity when writing your will. However, don't forget that you can make a donation within your will and I believe that this can be done in such a way that the charity may derive a number of tax benefits - certainly worth looking at.

AUSTIN_3

We had a consultation last week, the fianciual adviser was mortified that we have a house, a 2 yr old child and no will, we both have employment death benefits. It all sounds really complicated to me. He said that the combined estate is worth alot of money(always good to know that you are worth more money dead than alive).

It has really worried me, we also have to make considerable thought to who would look after our son if anything where to happen to both of us.

GCooper

It sounds as though you may need some professional help with drafting your will. Contact the Law Society who can put you in touch with good local solicitors or ring around a few of your local ones and get an indication of their fees for joint wills. You may be surprised at how inexpensive it is.

Please bear in mind that your financial position and circumstances are likely to change considerably over time. It is important to keep your will and the arrangements that you make under review. Within the will you will also be able to make provision for who will look after your children in the event of your death. You can take steps to ensure that provision is made for them financially.

AUSTIN_3

Thank you very much, I will call them tomorrow and find get quotes, I neve thought that it would of been as complicatedas this

cattie

I too have heard that there is usually a free 'Will Week' once a year which I've been trying to find out about & I'm sure I read somewhere recently that it will be during November this year. I'm keeping my ears & eyes open for some definite news of it. It's a good opportunity to save a bit of money while ensuring you're getting things done properly.

Spendless

I have a vague idea that it is done by a cancer charity. If find out more will post back

MimiJane

You're right ... I remember reading about a solicitor local to me a couple of years ago who was drawing up wills for "free" for a week. It was definitely to do with Cancer Research, but I'm not sure if you were under any sort of obligation to donate money to charity and, if so, how exactly this was to be done.

No idea about when/if this is to happen this year, but it's definitely been done in the past.

s@sha

Should everyone make a will, or is it really only important if you have dependants, or lots of money/complicated circumstances?

My mother keeps telling me my husband & I should have a will, but we don't have any children together or from previous marriages. Our house is mortgaged in joint names, all our bank accounts are in joint names...so I would have thought that if either of us die suddenly, it would all just automatically go to the remaining spouse. I don't see the point of paying a solicitor to do a will that just echoes what would happen if we died intestate.


I've seen those "do it yourself" will packs that you can buy in WHSmith, etc...would one of those be suitable for us, assuming we do need to bother with a will at all?

MimiJane

Similar circumstances with me and my partner. Personally, we preferred to go through a solicitor. If you wish to leave anything to parents/siblings/nephews/god
children/charities, etc, it may be a better idea to get it done this way. However, if it's a straightforward "split" between the two of you, I wouldn't waste your money.

If there's any doubt in your mind, get it done on the cheap ... as you say a "DIY" will on a form you can pick up from WHS or the Post Office.

klondyke

so I would have thought that if either of us die suddenly, it would all just automatically go to the remaining spouse.

http://www.whitingandpartners.co.uk/Content/The_Distribution_of_Intestate_Estates.htm

I have no connection with these solicitors - was just the first google hit with the info.

Still best to leave a will, however simple (in which case DIY, but ONLY if straightfoward), to save a lot of the hassle of probate, getting Letters of Administration, proving that there isn't a will etc etc