DIY wills any good and recommend one?

hereforhelp1

Hello,
my 63 year old father has asked me to help him with his will.
It’s to settle the nerves of his 86yo mother, my grandmother. She doesn’t want anyone creeping out the woodwork who hasn’t spoken to the family for years becoming a vulture.

From what I’ve read, it’ll be a straightforward will. He has no property in terms of buildings.

The estate will consist of any car he has, life insurance and any money he has left from inherited money.

The solicitor who did a recent deceased uncle’s cost £300.

Would it be best to just pay the £300 or buy a DIY kit for c.£10? 

I’ve read mixed reviews of these kits. Some saying they’re fine, others saying they lead to further legal fees and it would have been best just getting a solicitor’s will in the first place.

I’m not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, but I could find £300 to save the hassle and ease my nana’s mind, but if I can save £290 or so, I’d prefer it.

Any advice and shared experience appreciated.

Thank you.

Keep_pedalling

He may have a very simple cash only estate now but would that change if he inherits from his mother? 

hereforhelp1

Keep_pedalling said:

He may have a very simple cash only estate now but would that change if he inherits from his mother? 

She has no property either.
Maybe a few thousand pounds in savings. 

That’s all.

I’ve found a local service called The Will Guys in Newcastle. They charge £180. I awaiting their reply to see how their service differs from the £300 solicitor.

Thank you for replying.

Stubod

..some organisations are currently offering free wills...Red Cross is one...?

Savvy_Sue

If your grandmother is worried about people coming out of the woodwork, that indicates that this is NOT a situation where a £10 DIY will would be suitable. 

And using a 'proper' solicitor is always recommended over a 'will-writer', since the latter may but probably won't have 'proper' legal training, and there's no future-proofing with it. 

Firms of solicitors come and go, but when they go, their files are passed on to another solicitor, so that you should be able to trace a will. Whereas a firm of will-writers can go out of business tomorrow, with no such guarantees. 

So, a 'proper' solicitor would give advice on how to ensure that anyone who might THINK they had a claim under the will is actually excluded, unless your dad wishes to INCLUDE them. 

FWIW, company you have found would appear to be Will Writers rather than 'proper' solicitors - there is only one person on their 'About' page who may be fully legally qualified, and their Careers page is explicit that you don't need a legal background. 

I presume from this that Grandma already has a will ... and that it says what she wants it to say! 

One thing is to look at https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will and see what would happen if there was no will. Remote cousins and forgotten aunties would not inherit from your dad. 

pseudodox

So, a 'proper' solicitor would give advice on how to ensure that anyone who might THINK they had a claim under the will is actually excluded, unless your dad wishes to INCLUDE them. 

Correct!  Getting proper advice NOW can save a lot of trouble & expense later.  I wanted to leave a close but estranged family member out of my will and asked my solicitor how to prevent them making a claim.  She explained that they would be unlikely to succeed (given the nature of the broken relationship) but it would not necessarily stop them trying which could involve lengthy legal costs on my estate & hassle for my executors who would have to "fight my corner" & delay what should be a straightforward probate procedure.  Her advice, which I took, was to write an explanatory letter (which she then vetted for it's clarity & made sure there were no "holes" to be exploited) about my reasons for exclusion and this is now lodged with my will.

hereforhelp1

I think what everyone is saying is… pay the £300

waveneygnome

Try Coop Legal services...... Martin mentions them in one of his articles.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/free-cheap-wills/

They charge £99 for a single person;  £185 for joint wills.

Process is:
Fill in contact form
Someone will call you in a few days to make a telephone appointment
At the appointment day/time, your relative will speak to an advisor/answer questions/give details, and pay the fee
(questions include taking all personal details, details of Beneficiaries, and burial/cremation preferences. 
About a week later a DRAFT Will will be posted out, they check & sign to say its OK.
Then about a week later the ACTUAL Will gets posted out, you organise the signing/Witnessing
= you now have a valid Will

I've just helped an elderly relative do one, very simple Estate, they were very happy. 

hereforhelp1

Thank you, I guess I’ll go for this!

Savvy_Sue

hereforhelp1 said:

Thank you, I guess I’ll go for this!

Please check reviews, and also I suspect that despite the recommendation from MSE that they are offering a will-writing service from a will-writer, rather than the services of a solicitor. 

Yours is not a very simple estate!

pseudodox

hereforhelp1 said:

I think what everyone is saying is… pay the £300

Yes. Spot on.

hereforhelp1 said:

Thank you, I guess I’ll go for this!

Then be prepared for it to go pear-shaped when the time comes to execute the will.  You are not looking to draw up a simple administration.  A solicitor drawn up will is not £300.  It is £300, with a £10/£99 contribution from a cheap job.