Question on wording a self written will pls

bundance

Hi

I wonder if anyone can help please? I think this is the right forum for this question, but sorry if it isnt.

I've been asked a favour by a man who comes to our church who "doesn't do computers". He would like me to find out some information online about writing your own will.
He insists on writing his own will as he said it is a very straight-forward will but he doesn't know how to word the instruction he will be leaving.

I don't know his circumstances in detail, but I've put down what I know, at this stage.

He is a homeowner in his early forties who lives in a first floor flat, with a mortgage.
He has no children and he doesn't have anything to do with his parents, siblings or any other relatives. He's not a local man but has lived in this flat for about a decade but may be more (not fully sure exactly how long)

He wants to leave his property etc to the state, but he says he doesn't know the right way to word it?

I told him that he should just write that he wants to leave his property etc to the state, but he seems to think that the phrase "to the state" should be worded differently.
I don't really know what he means by this, to be honest, what other word is there for "the state"?

Anyway, I said I would try to find out the right wording for him, so if any knid souls on here would like to advise on the wording, I, and he would be grateful.
*He said he would buy me a breakfasat for helping him out, lol*

Please advise
Thanks

Crabapple

That's not very specific. Does he mean the government? Does he want it used for a particular purpose?

To be honest he'd probably be better picking some charities than however much money he has getting swallowed up in the budget deficit!

I don't honestly know how he can achieve what he wants especially if he isn't exactly sure. It's hardly a common place to leave your money. I have a feeling that there have been some legacies over the years left to the country and they are still tied up somewhere because no-one was quite sure how they should be used.

Crabapple

Found an article on what I mentioned above - your post made this come to mind (apologies for the DM)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2392343/Grasping-politicians-pocket-Joan-Edwardss-500-000-legacy-bequeathed-government.html

This may actually answer your question in part because it says monies should be paid to H M Treasury.

bundance

Crabapple wrote: »

That's not very specific. Does he mean the government? Does he want it used for a particular purpose?

To be honest he'd probably be better picking some charities than however much money he has getting swallowed up in the budget deficit!

I don't honestly know how he can achieve what he wants especially if he isn't exactly sure. It's hardly a common place to leave your money. I have a feeling that there have been some legacies over the years left to the country and they are still tied up somewhere because no-one was quite sure how they should be used.

Hi

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.
I just phoned him and suggested charities and mentioned the legacies you described with the attendant problems.
He said he just wants the property to go back to the mortgage lender, and could he put the lenders company name in the space on the will where you are supposed to name the executor.
Sorry for the sketchy details. He's a private man so I don't like to pry too much.

bundance

Crabapple wrote: »

Found an article on what I mentioned above - your post made this come to mind (apologies for the DM)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2392343/Grasping-politicians-pocket-Joan-Edwardss-500-000-legacy-bequeathed-government.html

This may actually answer your question in part because it says monies should be paid to H M Treasury.

Hi

I didn't see this post when I made my last post.
LOL @ daily mail.
I just phoned him back and told him about the daily mail article. He said he definitely doesn't want his property to fund MP's extravagence.

He is asking me if he could leave the property to the mortgage lender?

He said he's worried about dying in his flat and not being discovered for weeks, because his grandfather died of a heart attack at a young age with no prior heart issues.

I also looked online at a template for a self-written will and it says you need to appoint an executor as well as name beneficiaries.

Who could he name as executor as he doesn't know anyone he could ask.

thanks

I forgot to mention that the flat is leasehold.

thanks again.

Mojisola

bundance wrote: »

He is asking me if he could leave the property to the mortgage lender?

I also looked online at a template for a self-written will and it says you need to appoint an executor as well as name beneficiaries.

Who could he name as executor as he doesn't know anyone he could ask.

It seems very strange to want to leave the flat to the mortgage company. If there isn't a charity he would like to choose, would he leave it to the church instead?

Isn't there anyone at church who would take on the role of executor/s?

To counter his worries about dying and not being found, couldn't the church arrange for someone to phone him a couple of times a week?

bundance

Mojisola wrote: »

It seems very strange to want to leave the flat to the mortgage company. If there isn't a charity he would like to choose, would he leave it to the church instead?

Isn't there anyone at church who would take on the role of executor/s?

To counter his worries about dying and not being found, couldn't the church arrange for someone to phone him a couple of times a week?

Hi and thanks
I will put that suggestion to him.

Crabapple

No, he can't really leave his flat to the mortgage company. Although I guess a bank would happily take someone's money!

What normally happens is a property gets sold, the mortgage gets repaid, and any money then left over is distributed as per the Will. They might take up an appointment as Executor as well, but won't like it if they have to trace the family.

He needs to have a little more of a think about this in my opinion. If he doesn't make a Will then his family would get any money even if they are estranged. There must be some charity or your church that he would be happy to have whatever is left.

Mojisola

bundance wrote: »

He is a homeowner in his early forties who lives in a first floor flat, with a mortgage.

bundance wrote: »

He said he's worried about dying in his flat and not being discovered for weeks, because his grandfather died of a heart attack at a young age with no prior heart issues.

As he's still young, perhaps he could be the proactive one and get involved in something like "Call in Time" - https://www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/relationships-and-family/befriending-services-combating-loneliness/telephone-befriending-call-in-time-/

If the person he normally phones doesn't get a call from him, they could phone AgeUK who will check whether he is alright.

bundance

Hi sorry edited post because I asked a ? that had already been answered. Thanks. I will pass all this information on - appreciated.

Savvy_Sue

With the greatest respect, I'd advise him to see a solicitor, he could possibly wait until 'free will' month happens again so that he could make a donation to a charity rather than paying the solicitor if that's his issue.

Alternatively, is there a solicitor within the church who would advise him?

You run the risk of giving him advice which turns out to have unintended consequences.

At the very least, suggest he gets something like the Which book of wills and probate, from the library if he doesn't want to buy it.