Have you made a will?

[Rangdo]

Ok, I'm getting to the point where I can't avoid my responsibilities any longer so I'm going to do it. I'm going to make a will.

"Who cares?" I hear you cry.

Has anyone who's done it got any advice?

Should I go for the "official" solicitors route which I would imagine will be a bit pricey or should I go for one of those cheap Tesco will kits where you can bequeath all your worldly possesions on the back of a Value cornflakes packet?

Or should I just let my relatives fight it out amongst themselves and have a bit of fun from beyond the grave. Be a real ghost so to speak.

 

[Muzzman]

Go to the offical solicitors.

 

[tedebear]

Thanks for the reminder - we've made one with the solicitors - although a friggin palaver - with the witnessing and crap - paid £250 odd pounds for the pleasure - which is OTT I reckon.....anyhow we need to ammend it now for our expanded family - so I spoze another £100 or so for the pleasure...

 

[REDLAND]

Barclays did mine, I just filled out a form and sent it to them, all very painless..

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I did a will using Will Aid, run along the lines of Live Aid. Go to the link, stick in your postcode and it gives you a list of participating solicitors in your area. Instead of paying the solicitors usual fees, you make a donation to one of a range of charities. Suggested donation level is currently £75, which seems fair.

Will Aid

The link says the next Will Aid campaign is in November 2006.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

It really depends how complicated your life is. If you can simply leave it all to a few people and there is no conflicts ie kids from previous relationships etc, then a simple diy kit is straight forwards and is perfectly legal. If however your life is complicated go to a solicitor.

By the way you can easily write a statement of wishes, as long as its witnessed thats fine.

The shortest will to ever be fulfilled is that of a WW1 soldier who was dying in battle and scribbled on a piece of paper "to mum".

 

[Trufflehound]

Should I go for the "official" solicitors route which I would imagine will be a bit pricey or should I go for one of those cheap Tesco will kits where you can bequeath all your worldly possesions on the back of a Value cornflakes packet?

Depends on how complicated you want it to be... Lots of different benefactors; different amounts to each etc. Unless it's very simple and a case of "I leave everything to the budgie" or whatever, then solicitors can give better peace of mind even if they cost more.

(Edit: which is what Piltdown Man just said 30 seconds ahead of me...)

I cut a deal with mine and got it done at the same time as buying a house - I got a discount for conveyancing and writing wills at the same time...

 

[Shegull]

paid £250

I work in a solicitors office and we charge €40 for a single will or €60 for a married couple and we keep the original in a fireproof safe so it can't get lost or damaged.

 

[Cian]

I work in a solicitors office and we charge €40 for a single will or €60 for a married couple and we keep the original in a fireproof safe so it can't get lost or damaged.

Yeah, but you've also got a letter hanging off the sign outside

 

[rool]

I work in a solicitors office and we charge €40 for a single will or €60 for a married couple and we keep the original in a fireproof safe so it can't get lost or damaged.

Bargain.

If I send a copy of my UK will, can I mirror it over here?

 

[Shegull]

Yeah, but you've also got a letter hanging off the sign outside

Maybe we should start charging more so that we can afford to have repairs carried out

memo to self - must contact handyman