Cost of a will

leespot

The real question should be the cost of not having a will - that is much more likely to make people realise that a small investment now is going to save an awful lot when the time comes....(the FIL recently died unexpectedly, no known will, separated but not divorced, five children (two of them under 18) and properties in the UK and abroad).

The cost of getting a will sorted is really immaterial when you see the turmoil and upset that the people left behind have to deal with.

exiled_red

leespot wrote: »

The real question should be the cost of not having a will - that is much more likely to make people realise that a small investment now is going to save an awful lot when the time comes....(the FIL recently died unexpectedly, no known will, separated but not divorced, five children (two of them under 18) and properties in the UK and abroad).

The cost of getting a will sorted is really immaterial when you see the turmoil and upset that the people left behind have to deal with.

This is spot on, having seen family members go through dealing with an invalid DIY will, and watch the deceaseds estate split amongst relatives that he largely either didn't know or didnt like.

My wife and I recently paid £300 for our wills to be done and if you have any significant assets I think that type of money is money well spent.

Yorkshireman99

May be if you know what you are doing. Most people don't!

MinnieCooper

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I am glad alarm bells were ringing! I will contact a local solicitor about drawing up our wills.

MinnieCooper

Hi all,

I have to admit that this 'solicitor' (I actually think he was a paralegal) was arranged to visit via a woman canvassing in B&Q. We were told they would charge a fee £80 to set up a will and this would go to charity (to raise money for hospital helicopters). We wanted to set up a will so we said ok. What we hadn't banked on was being told this basic will wasn't enough. My father in law has remarried and this was used as an example as 'what can happen' if an estate isn't put into trust.
I hadn't really thought of what may happen if we left half to the children should one of us die.
I think I will contact the solicitor who we dealt with when we bought this house and see what he says.

All a complicated process. My mother died in October 2015 so her death, and subsequent sorting of her will, has kicked this off!