Making You Will

[pusskin]

Would you go to a solicitor? Do it yourself will from Smiths?

Is it very easy to do your own will. With only 2--3 people on it , it cant be that difficult can it? What would you recommend abers!

[pusskin]

"Making a will"

[Old_Geezer]

In the past I've bought both paper DIY will kits and software ones, and never got around to using them. I figure the only way I'm going to is to book an appointment and let the professional do it. But maybe that's just me.

[FredPuli43]

Strangely, the lawyers among us go to a solicitor, however simple the will appears to be. There are so many permutations of events to consider that you'd be forgiven, as a layman, for not providing for some of them occurring.

[Barmaid]

I would always recommend a professional. Even very simple Wills have the potential to be cocked up (indeed, when it comes to the construction of Wills, 90% of the ones that end up needing my advice are home made ones). Plus if you go to a professional, you at least have the comfort of knowing that if there is something wrong with the drafting, your beneficiaries have recourse to the professional's indemnity insurance.

[woofgang]

we went to a professional. He was very helpful in helping is to get down on paper exactly what we wanted to happen and alternatives if beneficiaries or executors predeceased us. At the time we had other things to worry about and it was reassuring to know that that part of the stuff we needed to do was being taken care of in a competent and sympathetic way.
When my DH died, he helped me get my affairs sorted out, some of the finance was in the US which meant I needed different certification. He charged me by the piece of work done and was (is) always available for email and telephone advice for which he has never charged. It was a bit of a random choice finding him and we definitely lucked out.

[FredPuli43]

As Barmaid says. When a colleague was asked why he didn't do his own conveyance, conveyancing being a subject in which he was a specialist, he replied "If I do it,who am I going to sue if it isn't right?". That applies to wills, too.

[pusskin]

Thank you so much all your helpfull replies. Think my minds made up now.
Just got to convince Mr Puss to think aqain and throw away the one he bought years ago!!!! Thanks again Abers x

[tonywiltshire]

Fred & Barmaid are absolutely right; I have said before and will, no doubt, say again that a number of the legal profession earn a good living from DIY wills. I would urge anyone to use a professional to make their will as some errors can compromise the validity of the will, as has been said those in the legal profession usually go to a solicitor.

[Peter Pedant]

A few threads on this Pusskin

TW's advice is definitely best but I note you have nt starred it

all but the simplest (all to my dear wife etc) should be done by a professional which doesnt cost nearly as much as correcting in the High Court


Simple is subjective - one thread thought simple was when you had two children and three step children and wanted to leave different proportions to each ! We all gasped.

Even if you get everyone who think they will benefit under your will
and get them to 'agree' - although what agreement do you need to "I am leaving you five million pounds." ?
It ccan still go horribly horribly wrong....see

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9523298/Bernard-Matthewss-children-in-will-row-with-mistress.html

altho my point is that the person drawing up ze Fransh will,
should have said, 'm'sieur, zees will will not get up and run....'
Everyone knows that a will under the Code Civil has to leave 60% to the kids.

[boxtops]

Yep - the solicitor, that way you cross all the Ts and dot all the is, legally

[Buenchico]

I used to write wills for a living. My advice is to get hold of a copy of this book:
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation
(It's in most public libraries).
Read all of the relevant sections, then re-read them.
Then draft your will. Check it and re-check it.
If you're 100% certain that you've got it right, go ahead and sign it (with witnesses, of course!).
If you've got the slightest doubts, take your draft to a professional and ask him/her to use it as the basis for preparing your will.

Even if you definitely decide to go to a professional anyway, I still strongly recommend preparing your own draft first. That will give you time to consider all of the 'what if' questions (such as what you should happen if a named beneficiary dies before you). Far too many solicitors don't even bother asking such questions.

[Peter Pedant]

Oh my god and there is a coffee stained copy on sale for wun-pence

I will have to send off immediately !

thasnk BC

[pusskin]

Thanks peter pedant for long reply.
It is a serious business and yes, not worth making mistakes and will cost very dearly if all goes wrong.
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to me x pusskins

[atalanta]

Take a lesson from this true story : the shortest will in the world was disputed in court. It just said
"All to Mother".
His wife was accustomed to answering to "Mother".
And so was his mother.

[sandyRoe]

Both Dickens and Sean O'Casey based major works on badly drawn up wills. A few quid to a solicitor could be money well spent.