Printed will integrity

reheat

My wife and I are finally getting round to doing our wills, and have been looking at Which?. Having noticed you can either print it off yourself, or get it printed and bound from them, a question occurs to me.

If someone's will is being read after their death, and it is simply a load of separately printed sheets in an envelope or something, how can there be any confidence that one or more sheets have not been modified and replaced since the will was written? How can the integrity of such a will be trusted? Presumably not every page has to be signed and witnessed?

Thanks in advance.

RAS

This has caused a number of issues for people who've posted here claiming probate. 

Simply print making sure to format for page numbers and staple together before signing and witnessing. If you use the HMCTS for storage no-one in the family can remove them, and make sure your executors are told not to take them out to photocopy etc.

Keep_pedalling

A will is one of the most important documents you will ever make, and you should really not be penny pinching on making it. What’s the point of saving a few hundred now that could cost you intended beneficiaries thousands if you don’t get it right of miss off a vital ‘what if’ clause. 

Find a local solicitor to make them. 

reheat

Keep_pedalling said:

A will is one of the most important documents you will ever make, and you should really not be penny pinching on making it. What’s the point of saving a few hundred now that could cost you intended beneficiaries thousands if you don’t get it right of miss off a vital ‘what if’ clause. 

Find a local solicitor to make them. 

Understood. Which I why I was thinking to use the Which? premium, which reckons it all gets reviewed for errors.

reheat

RAS said:

This has caused a number of issues for people who've posted here claiming probate. 

Simply print making sure to format for page numbers and staple together before signing and witnessing. If you use the HMCTS for storage no-one in the family can remove them, and make sure your executors are told not to take them out to photocopy etc.

Yes, looks a sensible option. Seems a bit archaic you have to pay the £23 fee by cheque or postal order though!

RAS

Agree with K_p, get a local solicitor to write your wills. They'll ask what if questions and pick up on issues that computer don't spot. We've seen some really shoddy ones causing problems here.

Keep_pedalling

reheat said:

Keep_pedalling said:

A will is one of the most important documents you will ever make, and you should really not be penny pinching on making it. What’s the point of saving a few hundred now that could cost you intended beneficiaries thousands if you don’t get it right of miss off a vital ‘what if’ clause. 

Find a local solicitor to make them. 

Understood. Which I why I was thinking to use the Which? premium, which reckons it all gets reviewed for errors.

Revised for errors yes, but no face to face meeting where a solicitor will go though all the what if situations you have not thought about. I am pretty sure the Which service is unregulated, so if they do !!!!!!-up you beneficiaries have no come back.

reheat

Keep_pedalling said:

Find a local solicitor to make them. 

What are the implications of using a local solicitor if you later move out of the area?

RAS

Nothing. You are not going to be leaving the will with them or appoint them as executors. But it does mean you can collect together the donor(s) and witnesses for signature somewhere that has some credibility if there are queries later.

badmemory

I knew exactly what I wanted my will to say.  Then I saw a solicitor & got the what if questions.  I am sure that what I originally wanted will happen but what if!  It just never occurred to me that the next generation could die before I do.  Those what if questions are very important & they are dealing with them all the time.

cherry76

reheat said:

My wife and I are finally getting round to doing our wills, and have been looking at Which?. Having noticed you can either print it off yourself, or get it printed and bound from them, a question occurs to me.

If someone's will is being read after their death, and it is simply a load of separately printed sheets in an envelope or something, how can there be any confidence that one or more sheets have not been modified and replaced since the will was written? How can the integrity of such a will be trusted? Presumably not every page has to be signed and witnessed?

Thanks in advance.

Make sure the will is properly binded. Just obtained probate for dad and there was a query regarding will was drafted in single pages. Mum had to confirm that the will was drafted in single pages and no other pages were added or removed. The will pages were also numbered. I would get it printed and bounded by the, if you want to follow tgat route.