Free and Cheap Wills discussion area

peteduk · 4 May 2011 at 11:42PM

Hi,

Does anyone have experience of this "not for profit" company.
It points to great reviews and sounds good but I can't find any other independent view.

Thanks,
Peter

landsker · 22 July 2011 at 6:33PM

Has anyone any experience of the will writing specialists, April King?
Any idea of costs?

Mary_Hartnell · 25 July 2011 at 5:29PM

Mary_Hartnell wrote: »

The BBC1 "Heir Hunters" (9:15) has explored two legal topics in this series.

In the last one they came upon a fraudulent will, the theives has stolen the cash but at least they did not manage to bag the house too

Yesterday they explored the start of legal adoption in 1927 and were stymied by the rigidity of the blood relationship requirement.

Today's program featured a rant about a will created by some sort of "accountant" turning out to be invalid. As a result the family of his deceased wife and then family in law of the recently deceased husband, got zilch and the £300,000+ estate went to some distant cousins who were not aware that he actually existed.:eek:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zwb8d

Currently being repeated.

sweaty_betty · 25 July 2011 at 7:43PM

Hi there - I have a quick question I'm hoping someone can answer. Are there any rules on who can act as executor of a will? (i.e. do they have to be vetted in any way, are people who have been declared bankrupt/have a criminal record etc not allowed to do this?) I know that there may be a pretty good reason to not want to name an executor who has had financial difficulties etc in the past, but I'm wondering if there are any rules about it?

TIA

Savvy_Sue · 25 July 2011 at 8:57PM

sweaty_betty wrote: »

Hi there - I have a quick question I'm hoping someone can answer. Are there any rules on who can act as executor of a will? (i.e. do they have to be vetted in any way, are people who have been declared bankrupt/have a criminal record etc not allowed to do this?) I know that there may be a pretty good reason to not want to name an executor who has had financial difficulties etc in the past, but I'm wondering if there are any rules about it?

TIA

I am not aware of any rules, but that's only based on reading the 'Which' guide and I wasn't looking for anything like that.

I think that if someone has been appointed who isn't thought to be suitable, then other beneficiaries can object.

Mary_Hartnell · 25 July 2011 at 11:30PM

It is difficult and expensive to shift an Executor/trustee.
The court might well appoint an expensive professional in the place of the unfit trustee.
Bankruptcy does not per se mean they are unfit.
Leaving the country for over a year is a statutory ground for removal (A law much pre-dating the world wide web).

Being an executor, of a large estate with multiple beneficiaries is 25% experience, 25% law, 20% tax 5% accounting and 25% relationships.

roses · 23 August 2011 at 10:43PM

Is there anywhere I can get a free will template? I want to leave absolutely everything to my husband. It seems straightforward so don't see the need to pay a solicitor as long as I ensure it is signed correctly and I have two independent witnesses sign at the same time.

britannia6 · 24 August 2011 at 8:34AM

You are right, you could write the Will yourself on these terms but what happens if your husband dies before you? If you don't make provision for this, your estate would be distributed in accordance with the rules of intestacy in exactly the same way as it would be if you didn't have a Will at all.

Elizabeth_T_2 · 13 September 2011 at 2:59PM

My aunt died intestate last month, but she had left lots of notes so we know what she would have wished. A widow with no children, her estate will pass to my mum, her only surviving sibling.
My mum does not wish to inherit, she is elderly, it would make her estate too large and she does not need the money.
A deed of variation has been suggested, so that the money can pass directly to those she wanted it to. If mum inherits and gives the cash away it will be taxable within 7 years
We know what we want to say,I'm sure we should we have a solicitor draw it up, but wonder how much that would cost, also does it have to be done before probate is granted.
Mum is 87 and unwell, should she pass away before the estate is settled what happens, would it go to me and my 2 siblings directly, or into mum's estate and then to us. The 4 of us are my Aunts only blood relations and the estate is considerable, I am self appointed executor, mum as next of kin has given me written permission to carry out all that is nessessary to obtain the grant of probate.
I'm a little stressed, any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm wary of speaking to a solicitor untill i have more facts ....
thank you in anticipation of answers

Savvy_Sue · 13 September 2011 at 7:21PM

I'm afraid I don't know if you can do this, but most solicitors would answer a query like that over the phone, or in a free half hour consultation.

A deed of variation varies a will, but I'm not sure what the position is if there is no will. I believe one can renounce an inheritance, so that might be a question to ask.

Actually the probate service themselves might give you a heads up on this. They are usually very friendly and helpful.

If your mum dies before this has been sorted out, then I think your aunt's estate passes into her estate and you won't be able to do much about it. If your Mum has a will, you might be able to do a deed of variation to help with the tax situation - gifts to charity reduce the estate, for example - but if it's sufficiently large you might struggle.

Or take a look at the Which Guide to Wills and Probate, make sure you get the most recent edition and check if you borrow from the library, because things changed wrt inheritance tax a few years ago.

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