How Much Would A General Will Cost To Draft?

[barney15c]

One of these how long as a piece of string question...
My partner and i are thinking of drawing up wills , so that if either of us dies the remaining one is the beneficiary of the others estate. My partner and I are not married but have lived together for over 27 years and have no children. It would be a straightforward will in that the main asset , our house, would pass to the other. We don't have any very high value possessions but pretty much anything either of us have would go to the other.
So as it is a relatively straightforward, leave everything to the other party, what sort of costs for drafting up a basic will would we be looking at. I know we could do it ourselves, but i would prefer to have it done my someone who is legally compitent. Thanks!

[DTCwordfan]

depending on what you have in about 100 to 200 each, you may be able to write a joint one too and that could cut the cost.

[murraymints]

http://willtemplates.webeden.co.uk/

simple to do yourself ..see my link

[Trawlerman]

You can get will forms from any good stationers or online, providing bequests etc and contents are fairly simple just fill in the forms a shave them witnessed by friends etc. Also if you should both go at the sa,e time God forbid you need somebody to act as executor.

[Old_Geezer]

My legally competent solicitor cost me just over £200 (including secure storage) but I've seen ads offering around the £150 mark to get one drawn up. It's a one off cost so I wasn't bothered shopping around.

[Old_Geezer]

Some places even offer annual cheap will periods, and dome charities etc. offer free if you leave them something (but that can be problematic if they control disposal).

[Vicasso]

My wife and I drew up mirror wills some years ago. The cost was £125. The process was part of charitable initiative to whch many solicitors subscribed. I believe this initiative is still an annual event and normally takes place towards the end of the year, check with your chosen solicitor.

[Guilbert53]

Note it is important you get a will as at the moment if one of you dies and you are not married there is no guarantee the surviving partner will get the money. There is no such things as a "common law wife" or "common law husband"

It could just as easily go to your brother or sister or other close relative or your partners brother and sister etc.

[Peter Pedant]

it looks as tho it is a hundred knicker
it used to be £40

peanuts compared to the cost of sorting out when one is dead

and yes well done Guilbert pointing out the lady has no rights at all if and when you croak at present

Rik Mayall (£1.6m) died intestate at 56
and trooper Rigby died ( was butchered) and was intestate so his scratchy scratchy things went to the wife he had left. His girl who had born his son got nothing - and no rights to regimental post death care etc

I dont know why people baulk at paying £100 for a will
when the house which would be the subject of litigation is gonna be more than £50k no matter what art of the country you live
( 0.2% of the value of the house)

[hc4361]

You say 'our house'. Do you both own it, if so is it as joint tenants or tenants in common?

[yansee]

Google free will month and you get it written free of charge,i did it last year and didn`t cost a penny

[barney15c]

Thank everyone for all your very helpful advice.
The house is in both of our names but i would imagine my half would be intestate so my partner would not keep the house.
I think the mirror will option will suit both our purposes as apart from the house we don't have anything of really high value assets.
I am happy to pay up to £100 for a will if i can get a mirror will for about £150 that would be affordable .
Thanks everyone again.

[bhg481]

Barney //The house is in both of our names//

It depends what you mean since there are two ways of people owning a house together. One way, the house automatically goes to the other person when one dies (joint owners). The other way each person owns his own share and can dispose of it how he likes (tenants in commen). You need to find out how yours is owned.

[barney15c]

We both have a share, so i want to ensure my half goes to my partner and not my relatives if i die intestate.

[hc4361]

barney, you need to change the ownership of your house to 'joint tenants'.
https://www.gov.uk/joint-property-ownership/change-from-tenants-in-common-to-joint-tenants

[Flonska]

Check the value of your home to see if it falls within the inheritance tax limit.

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/a-guide-to-inheritance-tax

In addition to considering taking the sensible decision in making your wills you may also wish to think about other aspects of organising your affairs e.g. powers of attorney.

https://ukcareguide.co.uk/power-of-attorney-costs/

Talking initially to a solicitor (perhaps the one you used to buy your house) will at least help you to understand the most appropriate way to arrange things?