Do I Really Need A Solicitor?

[mel44]

I made a will many tears ago, the contents are now out-dated. there now isn't any property involved but there is enough money to pay funeral expenses - but not much. i have two grown-up sons who will be dealing with funeral payments etc., and personal effects & i owe nothing to anyone. do i really need a solicitor for anything, because there doesn't seem to be anything left for them to do? and they are expensive to employ.

[murraymints]

you could write a statement outlining your wishes have it witnessed dated and tell the sons where it is in the event of your passing !

[ubasses]

You could purchase a simple Will pack for approx £10, or look on line for some free templates. Leave everything to your sons and make them joint Executors. You never know what might change between now and your death. If your Estate is really small, they won't have to take it to probate and your Bank should pay out against an Indemnity. Trouble is when I say small it is a moveable feast, some financial institutions will accept an Indemnity up to £15k and some as low as £5k, but at least with a Will they know they are paying out to the right people.

[Buenchico]

I used to write wills for a living. The advice which I've given many times on here is to get hold of a copy of this book:
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation
It's in most public libraries. (It won't matter if it's an older edition; while the law relating to intestacy has changed recently, the stuff about writing wills still remains valid). Read through it and prepare your own will, simply typed onto blank paper.

If you're completely happy that you've got everything covered, sign it in the presence of two witnesses (who must not be beneficiaries under your will) and get them to sign as witnesses. (Then ensure that you've told your sons where your will is kept!). If you're not 100% happy with what you've drafted, seek further advice.

You can appoint your sons as executors, so there's no need to involve a solicitor at any stage. In the (probably unlikely) event that your sons decided that they needed legal help they could still appoint their own solicitor.

[fiction-factory]

Who is listed in your existing will as executors? if it's a solicitor then I agree it's almost certainly not necessary so do a new will as others have said. If your sons were executors then could your existing will be sufficient?

[Peter Pedant]

I agree with CHris BC -
read the book
it will be straightforward to write a will with the two sons as both executors and beneificiaries
simples

[Peter Pedant]

and the book he recommends is available at £ 0.01 ( one penny ) plus p P