Advice on preferred cremation document

Pip_cas1

My partner and I have decided we would like a direct cremation and in a particular city and have found some directors who can conduct this. My family have agreed to this and quite happy for it to go ahead. However we think my partners family would oppose this despite them not having the means for a traditional funeral. I have been quoted some fees higher than an actual will. We would like to compose a letter stating our wishes and witnessed and signed by a solicitor so it may hold some weight, especially in the family's eyes. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance. 

MeteredOut

What do you mean by this: "I have been quoted some fees higher than an actual will."

Why note just write your wishes into your wills and then your executor should comply with that?

elsien

Very simply, make your executors the people who you know will respect your wishes. 

And have the conversation with family now, so it doesn’t come as a shock to them at the time. 

Nothing to stop people from arranging their own wake to say a goodbye you outside of the funeral process if that’s what they feel they need to do for themselves. 

Pip_cas1

MeteredOut said:

What do you mean by this: "I have been quoted some fees higher than an actual will."

Why note just write your wishes into your wills and then your executor should comply with that?

There isn't a problem with my wishes or my will. My partner doesn't have a will and the family will oppose her wishes. She has been quoted £200 more than a will

SiliconChip

Pip_cas1 said:

MeteredOut said:

What do you mean by this: "I have been quoted some fees higher than an actual will."

Why note just write your wishes into your wills and then your executor should comply with that?

There isn't a problem with my wishes or my will. My partner doesn't have a will and the family will oppose her wishes. She has been quoted £200 more than a will

I don't know what it is that she's been quoted for but surely the obvious answer is for her to have a Will written and include the cremation details in it for the cheaper price.

Keep_pedalling

Pip_cas1 said:

MeteredOut said:

What do you mean by this: "I have been quoted some fees higher than an actual will."

Why note just write your wishes into your wills and then your executor should comply with that?

There isn't a problem with my wishes or my will. My partner doesn't have a will and the family will oppose her wishes. She has been quoted £200 more than a will

Just get them to make a will appointing executors who will carry out their wishes. 

Pip_cas1

elsien said:

Very simply, make your executors the people who you know will respect your wishes. 

And have the conversation with family now, so it doesn’t come as a shock to them at the time. 

Nothing to stop people from arranging their own wake to say a goodbye you outside of the funeral process if that’s what they feel they need to do for themselves. 

It wouldn't go well to have ''the' conversation 

Pip_cas1

Pip_cas1 said:

elsien said:

Very simply, make your executors the people who you know will respect your wishes. 

And have the conversation with family now, so it doesn’t come as a shock to them at the time. 

Nothing to stop people from arranging their own wake to say a goodbye you outside of the funeral process if that’s what they feel they need to do for themselves. 

It wouldn't go well to have ''the' conversation 

I have a will which I could afford when it was done, my executors will respect my wishes. My partner could not afford a will we were hoping a simple letter could be drafted.

elsien

An expression of wishes has no legal of validity. If she has no real assets to make things complicated, then she could just do a DIY will. Or Alternatively wait for one of the charity free will months to come round. 

Savvy_Sue

Pip_cas1 said:

elsien said:

Very simply, make your executors the people who you know will respect your wishes. 

And have the conversation with family now, so it doesn’t come as a shock to them at the time. 

Nothing to stop people from arranging their own wake to say a goodbye you outside of the funeral process if that’s what they feel they need to do for themselves. 

It wouldn't go well to have ''the' conversation 

But is it going to go any better later, especially if she pre-deceases you, when you're grieving?

Also, you say 'partner', so if you are neither married nor in a civil partnership, and there is no will, you may find yourself ousted by her family, who will have more legal rights than you to arrange her funeral. 

I don't say this to alarm you. Isn't it free will month ATM?

Keep_pedalling

Pip_cas1 said:

Pip_cas1 said:

elsien said:

Very simply, make your executors the people who you know will respect your wishes. 

And have the conversation with family now, so it doesn’t come as a shock to them at the time. 

Nothing to stop people from arranging their own wake to say a goodbye you outside of the funeral process if that’s what they feel they need to do for themselves. 

It wouldn't go well to have ''the' conversation 

I have a will which I could afford when it was done, my executors will respect my wishes. My partner could not afford a will we were hoping a simple letter could be drafted.

I don’t normally say this, but If your partner has a very simple low value estate then a DIY will is better than nothing. Funeral directions in a will are no better than a letter of wishes, but it does nail down who is going to manage your estate.