Have you got a will?

Gorgeous_George

No

Hoario54 wrote: »

I will be taking advantage of the Will Aid scheme this November.

My wife and I were booked in to have ours created last November and then our daughter decided to arrive on the day of the appointment!

Needless to say we have been too busy to arrange anything in the meantime but need one now more than ever.

Your link says that the next campaign is November 2008

Please, get it sorted this year!

GG

smoky_joe

Yes

olly300 wrote: »

According to this:
http://www.cch-solicitors.com/wills/intest.htm

Your post doesn't make sense if it is your mother and she had no spouse, then the rules of intestancy favour you rather than your father-in-law etc.

i might not have made myself clear mother died no will everything goes to her husband then my father inlaw (mothers husband) dies 30 days latter his kids from previouse marrige get everything, which includes family eirlooms from our family not father inlaws family

mjdh1957

No

smoky_joe wrote: »

i might not have made myself clear mother died no will everything goes to her husband then my father inlaw (mothers husband) dies 30 days latter his kids from previouse marrige get everything, which includes family eirlooms from our family not father inlaws family

I was a bit confused too - doesn't that make him your stepfather (ie mother's new husband) rather than father in law (ie your spouse's father).

Suzy_M

Yes

A death can bring out the best in people but unfortunately when money is involved it can also bring out the worst

It's suprising what comes out of the woodwork when there is no will. Within our extended family (not the immediate one as they know better) we've had:-
From a daughter-in-law - "He's the only boy so everything should go to him as the son and heir" - maybe in the 19th century dear.
This time from a son-in-law - "Everything goes to the eldest" - again maybe in the 19th century.
From various - "We've got children and you don't / we've got more kids than you - so we should get more".

And it always surprises me how in-laws think they are entitled to a payout - or at the very least think they have the right to dictate what happens.

Everyone should have a will - even the single and childless. - If you are not survived by your parents or siblings your estate could go to some 2nd/3rd/4th cousin's child you didn't even know existed.

And when you've made a will it's important to remember to review it regularly, e.g. your circumstances change, a beneficiary dies before you, your executor's circumstances have changed and/or is no longer capable etc.

Relative to the amount of hassle it can save your loved ones the cost of a will, and revising it periodically must be well worth it.

olly300

No

Suzy_M wrote: »

A death can bring out the best in people but unfortunately when money is involved it can also bring out the worst

One of the reasons quite a few people I know have written wills is to stop people they do not like in their family inheriting anything from them.

Dithering_Dad

Yes

Myself and Mrs Dither had wills drawn up when we bought our new house, we were at the solicitors anyway to sort out the house move, so got it all sorted out at the same time. The 2 wills include a Codicil that details who we would like to take care of our children if we both die (our friends - don't worry, we asked their permission first!!!).

smoky_joe

Yes

mjdh1957 wrote: »

I was a bit confused too - doesn't that make him your stepfather (ie mother's new husband) rather than father in law (ie your spouse's father).

whooopsie must have been on the loopy juice when i wrote that yes your right stepfather DOH:rolleyes: cant seem to get to grip with this extended family names malarky.

the whole street are talking about the mess this has left our family in we have racked up £1000s in expences already (but we should be able to claim some of them back though) and everyone and their dog has been asking have you got the house then thats why your mam bought it you know if i hear that again im goint to go off it:eek:

the one good thing that has come out of this mess is that everyone has been so helpfull and are really behind us, the amount of people that have come up to us and said i was sorry to hear about your mum and that they have made a will so as this wouldnt happen to them,
every body should be forced to make a will anytime they take out a loan morgage pension or life insurance as i would not wish what we have been through this year on my worst enemy.

Spendless

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Those of you with small children - how do you know your children will go to the person of your choice if you die? Much better to officially appoint a guardian in a will!

This is where our problem lies. We cannot think of anyone suitable to look after our children in the event of anything happening to us. So we put off making a will. I don't know what to do about it.

rachnbri

Yes

I had a will drawn up when I was 22! A very basic one saying that if I died everything would be split equally between my 2 children and held in trust until they were 21. My parents being guardians if I die before then.

I do need to review this though as I'm getting married in four weeks. I need to change it so that we have joint wills saying that everything goes to the surviving spouse and then to the children on their death. What bothers me is guardianship if we should both die while the children are minors?

Neither of the children are biologically my OH's however he is the only and best father they have ever known. Would they both go to him? They have different fathers, neither of whom are involved. Would this complicate matters?

The important thing, as far as I'm concerned is that if anything was to happen to me my children would be with someone they love and trust and not separated from each other.

localhero

Hi Rachnbri,

The important thing is that you appoint your choice of guardian to care for your children, because if not the local authority will assume responsibility upon your death and choose for you.

The practical considerations of appointing your OH instead of the child's natural father in your Will, is that you risk a dispute. On the other hand, the natural father may not bother.

What is important though is that you make your wishes known. If you do fear that a dispute may be likely, it may be a good idea to write a separate letter stating why you have chosen A instead of B and keep it with the will.