Including flow chart in will

movilogo

Is it possible to include flow chart in will? If I add a flowchart diagram in my will, will it render it invalid?

I discovered following thread but replies were inconclusive.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5657500/flowchart-will

It just makes life so much easier to add a flowchart which is far easier to understand rather than convoluted English usually written in Wills. May be just the solicitors want to charge money by making things unnecessarily complex.

Mojisola

As you making a DIY will?

Rarely a good idea, especially if the executors need a flow chart to see who is entitled to what shares of the estate.

movilogo

Yes, it is DIY will.

I am asking whether there is a legal implication of having a flow chart. I find flow chart far easier to understand. My executor is also able to see clearly my wish via flow chart.

Mojisola

I can't see that there's anything illegal about it.

You mention one executor - have you thought about nominating a back-up in case he/she can't act when the time comes?

One of the benefits of making a will with a solicitor is that, as well as knowing how to word the will precisely, they will have experience of how things can go wrong and can also talk you through 'what-ifs' that you might not think of.

If you do go ahead with a DIY, it could be worth leaving notes about your intentions in the same way as a solicitor will keep records of will preparation meetings.  If anything is unclear or challenged after your death, your executor will have those as  a back-up explanation of your intentions.

movilogo

Yes, I am thinking of writing in English text in body of will and attaching the flow chart in the appendix. Best of both worlds.

Robin9

Only the best of both worlds if they say exactly the same thing - and even a minor difference will be a recipe for disaster

Keep_pedalling

Anything requiring a flow chart is not going to be simple, and quite frankly saving a small amount of money by making a DIY is not worth the risk of leaving a major financial mess behind you because you have screwed up or failed to about all the what if possibilities.

A will is one of the most important documents you will ever make so don’t penny pinch on it, especially as according to previous threads you own more than one property, so you can hardly claim you can’t afford to do it properly.

tacpot12

I agree that there is nothing intrisically illegal about having a flowchart in your will to show your wishes, but I would not make the flowchart an Appendix. It needs to be clearly an integral part of the Will, not an afterthought. Your witnesses will need to witness that you intend the flowchart to be an integral part of your will. 

The advice about making sure the words match the flowchart is sound, but why use words if the flowchart is adequate? Doing so just creates the potential for the two not to match, or for the words to be interpreted in a way that doesn't match the flowchart. 

Keep_pedalling

tacpot12 said:

I agree that there is nothing intrisically illegal about having a flowchart in your will to show your wishes, but I would not make the flowchart an Appendix. It needs to be clearly an integral part of the Will, not an afterthought. Your witnesses will need to witness that you intend the flowchart to be an integral part of your will. 

The advice about making sure the words match the flowchart is sound, but why use words if the flowchart is adequate? Doing so just creates the potential for the two not to match, or for the words to be interpreted in a way that doesn't match the flowchart. 

It’s not a case of being illegal, but a case of being valid or invalid, and unfortunately the OP will never know only his beneficiaries will.

movilogo

Flowcharts are used to simplify things and not other way round. Human mind can process complex logic in form of flowcharts way better than written texts.

Even if will logic is simple I still prefer flow chart.

Regarding using professional service, why would I? This is money saving forum and will writing is not as complex as brain surgery.

Just because wills were traditionally written using 18th century English does not mean it has to remain in that way only.

I like the idea of adding flow chart in main body rather than appendix. 

Keep_pedalling

movilogo said:

Flowcharts are used to simplify things and not other way round. Human mind can process complex logic in form of flowcharts way better than written texts.

Even if will logic is simple I still prefer flow chart.

Regarding using professional service, why would I? This is money saving forum and will writing is not as complex as brain surgery.

Just because wills were traditionally written using 18th century English does not mean it has to remain in that way only.

I like the idea of adding flow chart in main body rather than appendix. 

What is money saving about saving a few hundred in your lifetime, and leaving your loved ones a financial mess that could cost thousands to put right or leave an intended beneficiary with nothing?

You will not find any of the regulars on this part of the forum recommending going down the DIY route as far as wills are concerned unless you have have a very small simple estate.