We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Has anyone actually got a copy of a DIY will?

Options
2

Comments

  • sheslookinhot
    sheslookinhot Posts: 2,254 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    john9159 said:
    I'm preparing a will for my sister and want to make a draft just in case she departs suddenly.
    Hopefully this will be acceptable in the event as it will be fairly straightforward.
    After dispersements, the residue will be divided between charities.
    Has anyone got an actual copy of a DIY will?
    Thank you 
    “Hopefully” has no place when writing a will.
    Mortgage free
    Vocational freedom has arrived
  • Shelldean
    Shelldean Posts: 2,418 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    john9159 said:
    Olinda99 said:
    you can buy a cheapo diy paper will from w h smith

    is it a simple will ?
    W H Smiths no longer exists on the high street but thanks anyway.
    There's one in my high street 
  • Happy_Kitties
    Happy_Kitties Posts: 1,764 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    My mum was a smart cookie, did two DIY wills, one revoking the other so the newest was completely up to date with her wishes. She used a template off the internet, but in the end she died intestate.

    DIY wills I feel are like skating on thin ice, you have to do your research so carefully. The witnesses signed at different times and neither witnessed her signature, which turned out to be the same for the previous will. 

    14 months it took me to sort out and it was only because of a legal case that I was given a probate officer in the end after involving my new MP for a second time after Parliament was dissolved and I lost the support of the previous MP. 

    Witnesses contacted, witness contacted again on the previous will which was also declared invalid. Legal statements made by myself. Weekly phone calls to the probate agency. The nightmare it leaves behind and the stress is horrific if not done properly and really properly to the letter. 
    Decluttering challenge 2023🏅⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
    Decluttering challenge 2024 🏅🏅⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 
  • You can actually do a Will with an online company free of charge.
    We did this for our mum some years back, having to then send it to the solicitors doing the probate on her passing.
    We had no issue with it at all.
    Just search 'free wills'. I think we used freewills.co.uk
  • Emmia
    Emmia Posts: 5,625 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 19 February at 12:24PM
    You can actually do a Will with an online company free of charge.
    We did this for our mum some years back, having to then send it to the solicitors doing the probate on her passing.
    We had no issue with it at all.
    Just search 'free wills'. I think we used freewills.co.uk
    Please go to a qualified solicitor local to you and have them do the will.

    A free will is worth what you pay for it. Once you're gone it's too late to sort out errors oversights and unintended consequences 
  • Notepad_Phil
    Notepad_Phil Posts: 1,552 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 19 February at 12:38PM
    You can actually do a Will with an online company free of charge.
    We did this for our mum some years back, having to then send it to the solicitors doing the probate on her passing.
    We had no issue with it at all.
    Just search 'free wills'. I think we used freewills.co.uk
    As my mum used to say "free advice is worth every penny you pay for it", or as freewills.co.uk themselves say "FreeWills is an online will writing service. We are not lawyers and do not provide legal advice.", so people need to keep that in mind before using them or some other similar site that does not have proper protection if something goes wrong.
  • Olinda99
    Olinda99 Posts: 2,042 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    1. I, FREDERICK BLOGGS born xxth xx 19xx of <enter address here> revoke all earlier Wills and declare this to be my last Will.

    2. I appoint as my Executor my son FREDERICK BLOGGS jnr

    3. My Executor shall :

    a) pay and funeral, legal and testamentary expenses;
    b) pay any debts owing;
    c) pay any inheritance tax payable in respect of property passing under this Will;
    d) pay any inheritance tax or additional inheritance tax which becomes payable because of my death on any lifetime transfer by me;
    e) pay any inheritance tax payable because of my death on property in which I hold a beneficial interest as joint tenant;

    4. I give the remainder of my estate in its entirety to my son FREDERICK BLOGGS jnr of <enter address here>. If he does not survive me then to any living children he may have in equal shares.


    As Witness my hand this                day of                                       20



    FREDERICK BLOGGS


    Signed by the Testator in our presence and attested by us in the presence of the Testator and each other:

    Witness 1 Witness 2

    name address occupation                                         name address occupation
  • Keep_pedalling
    Keep_pedalling Posts: 20,762 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    That would be pretty useless will if F Bloggs’ son pre deceased him and had no children.
  • Pollycat
    Pollycat Posts: 35,759 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Savvy Shopper!
    There's money saving and saving money.
    It's one thing to look for the cheapest baked beans but another thing entirely when you're making a will.
  • Olinda99
    Olinda99 Posts: 2,042 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 19 February at 5:18PM
    That would be pretty useless will if F Bloggs’ son pre deceased him and had no children.
    No it wouldn't - the laws of intestacy would apply and in any case the op would still be alive to make a new will

    In any case my post was obviously an example - for all I know the op has a daughter not a son or as you say no children at all

    remember the op asked for a simple example will not a will that covers all eventualities
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.9K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.5K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.9K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 598.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.9K Life & Family
  • 257.2K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.