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Do I make a will or wait?

I'm about to exchange contracts on my first house (joint mortgage with my partner), we have 1 child together and are due to get married next October. Thinking ahead and especially as we are about to buy a house, my question is do I wait to make a will until after we get married, or do it when we complete on the house?

Thanks for your help.

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 21,434 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    jenmac wrote: »
    I'm about to exchange contracts on my first house (joint mortgage with my partner), we have 1 child together and are due to get married next October. Thinking ahead and especially as we are about to buy a house, my question is do I wait to make a will until after we get married, or do it when we complete on the house?

    Thanks for your help.


    Do you know when you are going to pass away?
  • Tigsteroonie
    Tigsteroonie Posts: 24,954 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Do you have anything other than the house to leave?
    :heartpuls Mrs Marleyboy :heartpuls

    MSE: many of the benefits of a helpful family, without disadvantages like having to compete for the tv remote

    :) Proud Parents to an Aut-some son :)
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,574 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    jenmac wrote: »
    I'm about to exchange contracts on my first house (joint mortgage with my partner), we have 1 child together and are due to get married next October. Thinking ahead and especially as we are about to buy a house, my question is do I wait to make a will until after we get married, or do it when we complete on the house?

    You can make a will now "in contemplation of marriage" which won't be invalidated by the marriage.

    Don't wait until you have bought the house. If you specify a particular property in your will, you will have to make a new will every time you move house. The will should be written to include anything you own, including property.

    If you and your future spouse are going to own the property as 'joint tenants', the property will automatically be fully owned by the survivor following the first death and won't form part of the estate.
  • Robin9
    Robin9 Posts: 13,048 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You need to think about the child - in the, hopefully, unlikely death of you both who would look after him/her.

    Yes make a will now and revise regularly.
    Never pay on an estimated bill. Always read and understand your bill
  • jenmac_2
    jenmac_2 Posts: 17 Forumite
    @Sleavy....hopefully not for a long time yet!

    @Tigsteroonie - no nothing at all, just the house

    @Mojisola, if either one of us automatically becomes the full owner, do we need a will as we have nothing else to leave (at the minute - we are in our 20's and don't own anything else)
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,574 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    jenmac wrote: »
    @Mojisola, if either one of us automatically becomes the full owner, do we need a will as we have nothing else to leave (at the minute - we are in our 20's and don't own anything else)

    If you are planning a marriage and saving for a house deposit, you must have something. :)

    If you die before you get married, your partner will not inherit anything from you - your child will be your beneficiary.

    Don't you wish to set out what would happen to your child if both of you die or are you happy to leave that decision to a social worker?
  • jenmac_2
    jenmac_2 Posts: 17 Forumite
    Sleazy wrote: »
    Do you know when you are going to pass away?
    Do you have anything other than the house to leave?
    Mojisola wrote: »
    If you are planning a marriage and saving for a house deposit, you must have something. :)

    If you die before you get married, your partner will not inherit anything from you - your child will be your beneficiary.

    Don't you wish to set out what would happen to your child if both of you die or are you happy to leave that decision to a social worker?

    very good point, I haven't done much homework at all on wills - always thought "O I have nothing of value to pass on so its ok I don't need one" and obviously thought if I were to die then her Dad would be here - never really faced the fact that something could happen to both of us.
    Thanks for all your replies everyone, will be speaking to my solicitor about getting one sorted asap :)
  • getmore4less
    getmore4less Posts: 46,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've helped Parliament
    If you have a mortgage then you have to consider how that gets paid under various scenarios if you want to keep it.

    The one most people miss is one of you getting so ill the other has to look after them and cant work.
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