Will - Married (2nd time, no kids), adult kids from 1st marriage, all assets held jointly - DIY?

285 Posts

Hi,
My wife and I want to make wills.
I’m married (2nd time, no kids), I have adult kids from 1st marriage, my current wife has never had kids.
All our assets are held jointly, ie house and all bank accounts pass to survivor.
We both want all the remaining estate (ie. after we’ve both died) to go to the kids from my 1st marriage.
Can we make simple wills ourselves, or is my former wife an issue needing professional help?
Many thanks!
Mike
My wife and I want to make wills.
I’m married (2nd time, no kids), I have adult kids from 1st marriage, my current wife has never had kids.
All our assets are held jointly, ie house and all bank accounts pass to survivor.
We both want all the remaining estate (ie. after we’ve both died) to go to the kids from my 1st marriage.
Can we make simple wills ourselves, or is my former wife an issue needing professional help?
Many thanks!
Mike
0
Latest MSE News and Guides
Replies
Firstly the surviving spouse could remarry, which invalidates any will. And the new spouse inherits everything if there is no will.
Secondly, your adult child dies before you.
In this sort of situation you need a STEP solicitor to ensure what you want actually happens.
Oh and if you die first, a will would be irrelevant under the current situation regarding the house and accounts, so it would entirely depend on your widow's will and later decisions. You need proper advice.
As othe posters have said you need a STEP solicitor who can advise you.
If one kid dies prematurely, the estate would go to the other, if both do, it would go to the remaining grandkids; at present 6 between 1 and 18.
So, no issues regarding my former wife you feel?
Thanks again!
Again, I take it that you’re all in agreement that my former wife is not a factor I need to consider.
Not an issue with divorced ones.
there may be issued for kids with their estates growing too big.