Will Advice

DaveMoneySaver

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but I'm just after a bit of advice about setting up Wills.

I have a free Will service benefit through my employer and had a couple of meetings with the solicitor but at the end it felt like a sales pitch trying to get us to pay for extras like setting up individual trusts and Will storage fees.

We turned down all other options except the Will storage. I've not made any payments but they want £39 a year to store the Wills - is this normal?

They also said it covers any amendments made while in storage. 

MSE_ForumTeam5

We've moved this to the board for wills questions

Keep_pedalling

A local solicitor will normally store your will for free. A will is one of the most important documents you will make in your life and is not something to penny pinch on.

FlorayG

Sounds like a will company; are you sure you spoke to an actual solicitor and not a 'wills advisor'?
I got caught out by these guys, seemed all great to begin with then once the will was done I found out I had been mis-advised and they wouldn't change it. in the end I didn't sign the will, wrote off their £50 charge and went to a local solicitor where I got a FREE will through a charity arrangement ( basically they pay for it and hope you will leave them something in your will) and the solicitor keeps the original for free and I have a photocopy

Emmia

Also HM Courts and Tribunals Service will store your will for a one off fee per item (or items in one envelope) of £22.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/store-a-will-with-the-probate-service/how-to-store-a-will-with-the-probate-service#fees

DaveMoneySaver

FlorayG said:

Sounds like a will company; are you sure you spoke to an actual solicitor and not a 'wills advisor'?
I got caught out by these guys, seemed all great to begin with then once the will was done I found out I had been mis-advised and they wouldn't change it. in the end I didn't sign the will, wrote off their £50 charge and went to a local solicitor where I got a FREE will through a charity arrangement ( basically they pay for it and hope you will leave them something in your will) and the solicitor keeps the original for free and I have a photocopy

They are an Estate Planner - I don't think a solicitor is involved as they are a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters.

It just threw me off at the end as they went for the hard sell trying to get us to pay for all these extras. They also said if we wanted them to make ANY changes to the will after it was made it would cost £150 per change unless we got the annual storage for £39 then they would update it for free - it just seemed a bit of a cheap sales tactic with overinflated prices 

Emmia

DaveMoneySaver said:

FlorayG said:

Sounds like a will company; are you sure you spoke to an actual solicitor and not a 'wills advisor'?
I got caught out by these guys, seemed all great to begin with then once the will was done I found out I had been mis-advised and they wouldn't change it. in the end I didn't sign the will, wrote off their £50 charge and went to a local solicitor where I got a FREE will through a charity arrangement ( basically they pay for it and hope you will leave them something in your will) and the solicitor keeps the original for free and I have a photocopy

They are an Estate Planner - I don't think a solicitor is involved as they are a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters.

It just threw me off at the end as they went for the hard sell trying to get us to pay for all these extras. They also said if we wanted them to make ANY changes to the will after it was made it would cost £150 per change unless we got the annual storage for £39 then they would update it for free - it just seemed a bit of a cheap sales tactic with overinflated prices 

As they're not solicitors, I'd avoid them. Do your will properly. 

Incidentally changing your will, involves a new will being made, overwriting/replacing the previous one.
 

poseidon1

Very disappointing that any employer would inflict will writing firms on their unsuspecting employees.

Given such firm's poor reputations, your employer could well be setting themselves  up for compensation for facilitating misselling of unregulated estate planning services.

As indicated by others, get yourself a solicitor. You know it makes sense!

Willeri

As you are experiencing a “free” Wills service can not be the case, but you decide what additional things you want if need. Although not a Solicitors are IPW members. You get what you pay for