Power of attorney

[masma]

Friends of mine are in the process of having a new will drawn up - they have been advised to include power of attorney. The cost of having this included is �700 payable to the person who is doing the will and advising them. My question is... is this correct or are they being conned.

[Barmaid]

It's really difficult to say without knowing the full facts of what your friends want and what the extent of their assets are. The more complicated their affairs, the higher the charge. I would be inclined to shop around for a few quotes first, but it does sound on the high side.

(PS - I assume you mean a Lasting Power of Attorney, rather than a Power of Attorney, which is different at law)

[masma]

Thanks for your rapid answer - as for their assets, not much except their house. The will is to be very straight forward. It goes to their 2 adult children between them.

[Barmaid]

Sounds on the high side to me. I would be inclined to get them to shop around for quotes and see what other firms will do it for.

[bednobs]

we have just done lpa's x4 (1 each for health and welfare and 1 each for financial) and a will. We have no children, so will is pretty straightforward. At a solicitors office this has cost us 800 pounds. This dosent include the fee for registering them though (150 each)

[Barmaid]

Well in that case masma, I admit to being wrong, but I still think that sounds high for something relatively uncomplicated.

I would have said �200 for joint wills and �200 for LPAs.

[masma]

Thank you all, I've forwarded this on to them and they can take it for here.

[Skyline D]

It certainly sounds very expensive to me. But I guess fees like this might depend to an extent on the location of the service. A London lawyer probably charges more than a Scottish one.

It cost me a fraction of that to have simple wills drawn up for myself and my wife a few years ago. Don't even think it was �100.

[Peeler]

Try
http://www.publicguardian.gov.uk/
for the up to date answers.