Making a Will in Scotland

albionrovers

Hi folks

1 I'm married with 2 kids. Do I need A) a joint will 2 individual wills or 3) all 3.

2 Depending on the answer to 1), can I do this online? If so, which site? Scotwills.com don't do joint online wills because "it would be too difficult to code" lol

Any advice appreciated, thanks in advance.

wolfehouse

the answer is that it depends on how simple your affairs are.
you could phone and get a free estimate from a few local solicitors, who will sometimes give you a good deal on a will hoping for more business(like conveyancing) in future (or by storing your will and hoping to act as execuor-which you don't have to agree to).

if you can wait until november 2008 you can get one done on will aide ( in scotland too)
http://www.willaid.org.uk/index_public.cfm


my husband and i (3 kids) had a simple one done at a solicitors (about £25 17 years ago)- one will for both that gave me his possessions and him mine in the event of one of us dying, and split equally among the kids if both die at once.

it was very cheap and very simple because we didn't own much (the home apparently are easy to deal with)

don't know about online.

wallacebob

Do it, do it, do it!
It isn't expensive, and wolfehouse is correct on all counts. It makes a big difference to to surviving spouse, or kids if you are both dead, as affairs are easy to sort out.
My wife worked with bereaved, and when you have lost a partner or parent you need all the help you can get. Use the will to say what you want regards funeral, cremation, who gets the old clock, etc, as well. This saves all the inevitable disagreement afterwards. You may be both killed in a car crash, so think about your kids. Sorry that was a bit gloomy!
Then put all your wills, life policies, mortgage docs, bank books, share certs, whatever, in a big folder. Mark it "legal docs" "wills" or something obvious.
I was executor for my uncle, he was so organised I had very little to do. He had organised it all for himself.

littlereddevil

Help please. If money was left in a will to a non uk person living abroad would it be guaranteed they would get it?
Thanks

SMC_2

In Scotish Law you can actually just write your wishes on a paper and sign it. As long as someone knows it exsits it would be adhered to.

It is not the most ideal way but as a temporary measure while you get a proper will sorted it is worth having.

SMC_2

Forgot to say it has to be in your own handwriting, not typed.

Ali1501

on the back of this thread I went and made an appointment to get one done

dzug

SMC wrote: »

Forgot to say it has to be in your own handwriting, not typed.

Is that a Scottish thing? I'm sure it's not so in England and Wales.

As long as the signature is handwritten - and witnessed.

s12s

If you do it yourself to save a few £'s then its a false ecomony, and that includes the online and shop bought ones. There are so many errors you can make and it costs a lot more to deal with so whilst it will save you, in a lot of cases it doesn't actually but for arguements sake, your estate will pay!

Oh and a point on will aid, its for the benefit of charities, not for people to get a freebee! You are recommended to pay the fee that would have been due but the charities benefit.

A joint will should not be done, surprised if any solicitor would do one these days, but you will get them for a good price, and do not wait until will aid in November!

SMC_2

dzug wrote: »

Is that a Scottish thing? I'm sure it's not so in England and Wales.

As long as the signature is handwritten - and witnessed.

Yes it is only in Scottish Law. It has never been applicable in England and Wales.

s12s

please no one go ahead and write it on a scrap of paper and sign it! Needs witnessed and it needs still to be done correctly, there are so many things you can go wrong on, trust me, and it all adds up to 2 things, a headache for those left to sort it and more cost.