Validity of will?

jjlothin
jjlothin Posts: 184 Forumite
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in Deaths, funerals & probate
I had a new will drawn up a few years ago by a local firm of solicitors and, as I'm about to have a major op, I thought I'd better update it/make a few changes that have become relevant.

The solicitors in question would charge me £350 - essentially, for a new will!

Does anyone know if there's any reason (apart from not contributing to solicitors' coffers!) why I shouldn't just copy the text from the original will and amend beneficiaries as appropriate?
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Comments

  • Alter_ego
    Alter_ego Posts: 3,842 Forumite
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    so long as it is properly dated and witnessed it should be OK. I would also have the earlier one destroyed as well.
    I am not a cat (But my friend is)
  • Ms_Chocaholic
    Ms_Chocaholic Posts: 12,595 Forumite
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    What are you wanting to change? If it's simple changes then yes go ahead.
    Thrifty Till 50 Then Spend Till the End
    You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time
  • jjlothin
    jjlothin Posts: 184 Forumite
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    Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »
    What are you wanting to change? If it's simple changes then yes go ahead.


    Just some names/amounts of beneficiaries - the main structure remains the same.
  • SeniorSam
    SeniorSam Posts: 1,670 Forumite
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    You can change the existing Will by adding a codicil and having your signature on it witnessed. I would have thought that your solicitor could do this for s nominal cost as a new Will is hardly necessary. Why not ask him?

    Sam
    I'm a retired IFA who specialised for many years in Inheritance Tax, Wills and Trusts. I cannot offer advice now, but my comments here and on Legal Beagles as Sam101 are just meant to be helpful. Do ask questions from the Members who are here to help.
  • Yorkshireman99
    Yorkshireman99 Posts: 5,470 Forumite
    To be sure get it redone. The price is double a reasonable fee.
  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 46,020 Forumite
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    Yorkshireman99 wrote: »
    To be sure get it redone. The price is double a reasonable fee.
    So it would be worth phoning round a few other solicitors, but I agree, I'd get it re-done.
    Signature removed for peace of mind
  • Tom99
    Tom99 Posts: 5,371 Forumite
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    [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]If the old one is valid with beneficiary A B & C then an updated copy with beneficiary D E & F is also going to be valid, so just copy the last one and save some money.[/FONT]
    [FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Provided of course no beneficiaries are children or trusts involved, then it may get more complicated.[/FONT]
  • CakeCrusader
    CakeCrusader Posts: 1,118 Forumite
    Macmillan's offering free wills at the moment if this helps.



    You have to be really careful if you do decide to make amendments and write a new will, if your terminology's off it will invalidate it and the previous will be used. You also need to write a paragraph at the top saying that all previous wills are revoked (this also has to be witnessed and signed). If it's a complicated will you are better off spending the £350 and getting it done properly.
  • jjlothin
    jjlothin Posts: 184 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    CakeCrusader wrote: »
    Macmillan's offering free wills at the moment if this helps.



    You have to be really careful if you do decide to make amendments and write a new will, if your terminology's off it will invalidate it and the previous will be used. You also need to write a paragraph at the top saying that all previous wills are revoked (this also has to be witnessed and signed). If it's a complicated will you are better off spending the £350 and getting it done properly.


    Many thanks for the Macmillans alert. As it's a cancer op and I've been involved with Macmillan nurses already, that sounds like it could be the best way to go. :)
  • Brynsam
    Brynsam Posts: 3,643 Forumite
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    Savvy_Sue wrote: »
    So it would be worth phoning round a few other solicitors, but I agree, I'd get it re-done.

    £350 is pretty reasonable - the solicitors won't just be doing a quick bit of word processing, they will (or should) be checking that all is as it should be, including any possible changes necessitated by changes in the law/tax regs etc since your will was last made.
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