Writing a Will

evosy1978

Hi all

I've hand written my will.
I have a couple of questions.

Is it 1 witness or 2?
Is handwritten ok or does it need to be printed?
I've spelt everything correctly and I've dated it. only 1 witness at the moment.

The witness is also the trustee.  
It's a basic will. Everything of mine goes to my 2 children.  House, everything inside it and outside it, cars, bank accounts, bitcoin.   

Can I stipulate that the kids have to wait until they are 25, or is it law that it's 18?

Thanks

cymruchris

evosy1978 said:

Hi all

I've hand written my will.
I have a couple of questions.

Is it 1 witness or 2?
Is handwritten ok or does it need to be printed?
I've spelt everything correctly and I've dated it. only 1 witness at the moment.

The witness is also the trustee.  
It's a basic will. Everything of mine goes to my 2 children.  House, everything inside it and outside it, cars, bank accounts, bitcoin.   

Can I stipulate that the kids have to wait until they are 25, or is it law that it's 18?

Thanks

Have you considered all eventualities? What happens if a child, or both children pre-decease you? With there being property, cash, crypto - it might seem a little unwise to resort to writing a will on the back of a fag packet?

Yes - a will might be better than no will - but a badly written will that doesn't cover various scenarios might end up causing more trouble and pain after you're gone.

I'd suggest getting the will done properly for the sake of a £100 or so - considering the size of the estate you potentially have.

Olinda99

you need two witnesses and you need to sign in their presence both together 

Savvy_Sue

Olinda99 said:

you need two witnesses and you need to sign in their presence both together 

Unless, I think, you're in Scotland, when there are a whole other range of potential complications. 

another vote for doing it properly. A solicitor will ask all the 'what if' questions, and help you plan accordingly. 

Keep_pedalling

You may as well tear that one up it is invalid. Frankly you should not be attempting to DIY your will, it’s OK for a small cash only estate but it’s probably the most important document you will ever make so do not penny pinch on it get one drawn up by a local solicitor.

If you really don’t want your children to to inherit until they are 25 then you are going to look at trusts, which makes things far more complex and can be expensive to manage and will be subject to significant tax liabilities.

How old are your children now?

evosy1978

Keep_pedalling said:

You may as well tear that one up it is invalid. Frankly you should not be attempting to DIY your will, it’s OK for a small cash only estate but it’s probably the most important document you will ever make so do not penny pinch on it get one drawn up by a local solicitor.

If you really don’t want your children to to inherit until they are 25 then you are going to look at trusts, which makes things far more complex and can be expensive to manage and will be subject to significant tax liabilities.

How old are your children now?

13 and 15. Yes I'll probably leave it at 18 years.   I'll get 2 witnesses.   It's pretty simple really. House, bank accounts. Worded correctly and yes I forgot to say if they pass between me and them reaching 18, then it all goes to my sister.

evosy1978

cymruchris said:

evosy1978 said:

Hi all

I've hand written my will.
I have a couple of questions.

Is it 1 witness or 2?
Is handwritten ok or does it need to be printed?
I've spelt everything correctly and I've dated it. only 1 witness at the moment.

The witness is also the trustee.  
It's a basic will. Everything of mine goes to my 2 children.  House, everything inside it and outside it, cars, bank accounts, bitcoin.   

Can I stipulate that the kids have to wait until they are 25, or is it law that it's 18?

Thanks

Have you considered all eventualities? What happens if a child, or both children pre-decease you? With there being property, cash, crypto - it might seem a little unwise to resort to writing a will on the back of a fag packet?

Yes - a will might be better than no will - but a badly written will that doesn't cover various scenarios might end up causing more trouble and pain after you're gone.

I'd suggest getting the will done properly for the sake of a £100 or so - considering the size of the estate you potentially have.

Yes I've written into it that it goes to my sister and then failing that her kids.
2 witnesses it is then.

if they pre decease me i'll write another...lol

It's quite simple, they split in half, everything i own.

evosy1978

Savvy_Sue said:

Olinda99 said:

you need two witnesses and you need to sign in their presence both together 

Unless, I think, you're in Scotland, when there are a whole other range of potential complications. 

another vote for doing it properly. A solicitor will ask all the 'what if' questions, and help you plan accordingly. 

I'm doing it properly. I'm in England, so 2 witnesses it is then. Yes if they pass before they are 18 then it's all going to my sister and failing that, her kids.

Marvel1

They go over 18, have children of their own and pass before you, what then?

evosy1978

Marvel1 said:

They go over 18, have children of their own and pass before you, what then?

If the people in your will die before you then you re write the will

evosy1978

Marvel1 said:

They go over 18, have children of their own and pass before you, what then?

They may not have children. But I could easily write it in. It would go to their kids,. If they don't have kids then my sister and then her kids