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The Great Hunt: Help others if you've been an executor of a will
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In reality I found the whole process to be very simple and straightforward. I would always recommend doing it yourself - and employ a solicitor for specific aspects only if really needed.
I do not want my son to go through what I went through so I have written my will, I did this on line with ten minute will, I have done a prepaid funeral plan with planned funeral arrangements. I have written a list of 'who to contact' after my death and what forms my son will need to fill in and send off, to make it easier for him.
Death comes to us all and its not fair if we leave our loved ones in turmoil after weve gone not knowing what they need to do!!
Record of potentially exempt gifts from the last 7 years
Details of bank accounts, savings accounts and credit cards
Contact details of important people including my IFA and solicitor.
Instructions for the funeral
The same info is just as important should I become incapacitated so I keep certified copies of my LPA with the above as well.
I hope you're going to have a section dealing with the differences in Scots law and the process of applying for Confirmation.
I haven't (yet) had to act as executor myself but know from the experience of helping a friend who was executor of her husband's estate that it helped that the will was really simple and she was the sole executor.
I'd recommend getting several copies of the death certificate and also certified copies of the will. We did most of the work ourselves and just used a solicitor for some tricky bits, which will have saved thousands.
Initially, I registered the death and did all the incidentals, including notifying Insurance etc etc.
From then on, a solicitor had to be involved as the Will was a D I Y thing, and it was unclear as to what was to happen to the property. Eventually, it was passed to my M I L, who has since passed on, and searches at Probate Office have not revealed who acquired the house. The twist being, there were 2 children but it seems only ONE has benefited from the estate of my M I L, although there is no written evidence as to how (IF?) it should be shared.
Advice to anyone preparing to write a will, get it written up by a professionally registered solicitor, read it line by line before signing. However, it seems from recent press coverage, wills are now frequently being challenged in the courts.:eek: