How to get a will if alone and have nobody to be witness or executor?

[Deleted User]

Hi, does anyone know any way that someone could have a will if they are alone and don't have anyone to be a witness or executor?

And even if they can get a will done, how would anyone know it existed to carry it out if they die? Are wills registered somewhere so the authorities would check when they deal with the body?

Sorry to be so ignorant but could really do with some advice on this!

JGB1955

Just leave a copy of your will, drawn up by a local solicitor, witnessed by two of the ladies in his office, in your fridge.  Someone will find it and reap their rewards.

MovingForwards

Who is the estate going to on death? 

Solicitor, neighbour postman, post office worker, local shop keeper can witness it. All it is is witnessing the will being signed, they sign, write their name and address. Only being contacted if there's a dispute about the validity of the will when the person dies.

A copy of the will is normally kept at home, the original with the solicitors who prepared it. The will always has the firm's name and address on it. 

The copy will is found when someone goes into the property to look for useful paperwork / locating a will.

getmore4less

^^^^^^
Start from/with the beneficiaries. 

[Deleted User]

There is no estate, and no beneficiaries. The will is only to say what to do with the body and where to put the ashes.

Will the authorities really go and search for a paper copy of a will in someones house to know what to do with the body?

I think you're assuming the person has family etc to come and deal with that, who will check the house for a will, that's not the case.

What about people who are completely alone, ie have nobody? (I don't just mean they live alone but have relatives elsewhere)

MovingForwards

If there's no estate, there's no fancy funeral, no ashes to scatter, no money to pay for it.

A will is for distributing an estate, the funeral wishes are merely a bonus added in.

Nothing stopping the person walking around with a letter in an envelope marked 'open when I die' and have another one in the property. But again, with no estate, no family or friends, the wishes wouldn't get followed.

Of course the authorities have a look for paperwork, they want someone to claim the body and deal with it otherwise it's just a council service for a funeral.

Savvy_Sue

Heffalump said:

There is no estate, and no beneficiaries. The will is only to say what to do with the body and where to put the ashes.

Will the authorities really go and search for a paper copy of a will in someones house to know what to do with the body?

I think you're assuming the person has family etc to come and deal with that, who will check the house for a will, that's not the case.

What about people who are completely alone, ie have nobody? (I don't just mean they live alone but have relatives elsewhere)

Does the estate have enough to pay for the funeral / pay for whatever the arrangements for the ashes are? 

If not, there's no point making a will, because the hospital (if that's where they die) or the local authority will make arrangements for a Public Health Funeral, and no-one will be able to make any special arrangements. It's a perfectly respectful service, just no individual choices. 

Sorry to be blunt about it, but if the person concerned isn't paying, that's the deal. 

Presumably they are renting. Can't speak to a private landlord, but I think a Social landlord would do a quick skim while clearing to see if next of kin could be identified. 

[Deleted User]

It's always nice to see how profoundly psychopathic the British public and British culture are.

Moving Forwards, you need to understand that your belief that if someone dies in poverty they are not human, and there are "no ashes to scatter" is frankly disgraceful.

And the belief that it's fine to allow no personal choices for anyone who dies in poverty is also chilling, it's not like it would cost the council any extra.

Don't bother replying, I won't be back and don't need reminding what a cruel and genuinely nasty place Britain is.

MovingForwards

The UK is not a nasty place nor am I being unhuman, I'm just being honest based on what you have said. My own beliefs do not come into this.

It would cost the council extra to scatter the ashes, who is expected to go to the special place picked by the deceased? Who pays for that person's time?

If you want a cremation, ash scattering then that money needs to be saved and someone nominated to do it.
That is real life, that's what many people face and that's why funeral plans are taken out by people, if they can afford it. However, someone needs to be made aware of it or a note left.

For those without family, friends, money to pay for what they want, then what they want doesn't happen. That is how it's been for many, many years.

getmore4less

Bodies have no legal status they are ownerless. 

Wishes in a will have no legal status and can be ignored by whoever is dealing with the body. 

74jax

Heffalump said:

It's always nice to see how profoundly psychopathic the British public and British culture are.

Moving Forwards, you need to understand that your belief that if someone dies in poverty they are not human, and there are "no ashes to scatter" is frankly disgraceful.

And the belief that it's fine to allow no personal choices for anyone who dies in poverty is also chilling, it's not like it would cost the council any extra.

Don't bother replying, I won't be back and don't need reminding what a cruel and genuinely nasty place Britain is.

I don't understand what you have taken offence at? 
If there is no money left to leave in a will to pay for the funeral or to give anyone then it is simply a council service or what was called many years ago a 'paupers funeral'.
A will is most often opened after the funeral in settling the estate. The best thing to do is leave a letter of wishes in a big envelope on the mantle piece to be seen. 
But as said, if no money to leave anyone to pay for the funeral then you don't get a say sadly. Of course it would cost the council more to package up ashes and arrange to be scattered. 
It's not cruel or nasty, just a fact and I can't see why you'd expect otherwise.