should i get a ready made form to do a will?

judy2357

Its well worth paying a solicitor to get a will done properly, if it is not signed and witnessed in the correct manner it will not be valid on death. If you want to avoid the fee involved a way around this is to make the will under a scheme such as Cancer research whereby the Will will be free but if you wish you can leave a sum to Cancer Research. i think there is a similar wildlife scheme as well but dont know the name. It may be well to investigate the cost of probate fees if you do a will through the bank,as although the Will may well be cheaper the probate fees most probably will not and they will be unavoidable if a person at the bank is made Executor.

localhero

teddyrukspin wrote:

free safe keeping which usually costs £15 per year

I think you've misunderstood the meaning of 'free'. :rotfl:

Banks don't do anything for free either. If a bank does write your Will, they won't usually offer a face to face consulatation or offer any advice (merely a form to fill in). In many cases they'll kindly offer to be your executor (without telling you they'll take around 4% of your estate when you die). :eek:

atpug wrote:

from the website it says
"All Wills written)by a UK law degree qualified legal executive (LLB) for your complete peace of mind. Your completed Wills are then sent to you, bound and ready to sign, all within around 14 days. "

is it really necessary to have them being a member of the will writing association? Any legal bods out there shed light on this?

Whilst it may be written by somebody who has some legal experience, they don't guarantee that the person who takes your instructions is qualified in any way.

It is only upon a face to face meeting with a qualified professional that any issues or potential problems are identified and dealt with - and this is crucial if you wish to prevent problems later (like a challenge being made to your Will).

There are many willwriting companies out there that will send round a salesman instead who will seek to persuade you to appoint the firm as your executor for a large upfront fee (where the real money is to be made). This firm may not of course - but I would prefer a consultation with an impartial individual that is suitably qualified.

And finally, the most common problem found with Wills is the signing and witnessing part. If this is not done properly your Will won't be valid. The Willwriter should be present when the Will is signed, as they are ultimately liable if things go wrong - sending it through the post in my view is unsatisfactory.

And for those reasons I would not instruct this firm (or a bank for that matter). There are many other decent firms around that will provide a decent watertight Will for a modest sum of money. Paying over the odds to a solicitor either need not be the default position.

TEDDYRUKSPIN

ManAtHome wrote: »

Don't the banks end up being executors on this type of deal - cheap for now, but they collect big-time later?

Answer is 'no'.

As long as you put two executors down you are fine. The banks will only come into effect when no one acts as executors.

DONT ASSUME. ASK.

mutley74

anyone heard or had experience of the Will Writing Company. They are the company recommended by Newcastle Building society, which offer 15% discount if i go thro them. Informed by branch prices start from £76....

amiga_2

mutley74 wrote: »

anyone heard of this company?? seen them advertised locally....

http://www.firstwills.co.uk/

I know its an old post but anyone reading this all I can say is NO NO NO!
I used to work for this guy back when he owned Britannic house in Torquay. The company ended up in the local paper (herald express) with staff being owed alot of money in wages and customers without wills or trusts and everyone out pocket due to this man, It even made the papers and after him running off from countless court summons in Torquay he started up firstwills.co.uk in Leicestershire cos he had an arrest warrent out for him in torquay and also was fined in March by Dudley magistrates court when he was arresed in Leicestershire http://www.dudley.gov.uk/welcome/news-in-dudley/march-2008/man-fined-for-false-claims. So my advice is any will company owned by Bryan Pharo is best left alone cos I know 100% you will get ripped off. And the way he makes his wills is by template software for PC that anyone can buy in a shop. So save yourself money and buy that insted of being ripped off or go to your solicitor, And another thing he offers is property trusts at about £500 or more, but what alot of people dont know is that to do that all you need to do is go to the land registry office and fill out an X81 form and it will cost you nothing. Hope I have helped at least somone from falling in the Bryan Pharo's trap.

gURU

Hi All, Sorry for thread jumping in here

Myself and partner (Cohabiting) bought a ready made will from Tescos, filled it out and then got the neighbours to witness. We have 2 children.


We have since got married so my question is do we need to re-write an new will or will the old one with maiden names suffice


Thanks

amiga_2

gURU wrote: »

Hi All, Sorry for thread jumping in here

Myself and partner (Cohabiting) bought a ready made will from Tescos, filled it out and then got the neighbours to witness. We have 2 children.


We have since got married so my question is do we need to re-write an new will or will the old one with maiden names suffice


Thanks

Its always best to get a new will or update your old one if your will if you get married, change address or have children or any grand children.

localhero

guru, the |Will will be automatically revoked upon marriage so you will need to make a new one.

A will can only continue if there is a clause stating that the will is in anticipation of marriage - doubtless absent from your Tesco Will.

mutley74

GOSH i still not done mine....i emailed my sol firm and they never replied

Is a tesco will any good? I have no property just stocks and shares & bank accounts assets, but i am a single dad.......can my ex get her dirty hands on my stuff?