OT: Wills
essex-commuter
Posts: 2,188
Wills, not wheels.
Does anybody have any advice at all on DIY wills? I've heard that as long as the circumstances are very simple they are OK.
My Father wants to make a will with me as the sole beneficiary, I don't think our circumstances could be any simpler, does anyone have any experience on this?
Thanks.
Does anybody have any advice at all on DIY wills? I've heard that as long as the circumstances are very simple they are OK.
My Father wants to make a will with me as the sole beneficiary, I don't think our circumstances could be any simpler, does anyone have any experience on this?
Thanks.
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Comments
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Do you have any legal cover with your home insurance?
Might be worth looking into that. I had with more than and that included a will option. Failing that DIY job from smiths should do the job if its a as simple as you get everything...
Might not be best to post this on a public forum if you are planning to bump the old boy off though....
"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills0 -
rubertoe wrote:
Might not be best to post this on a public forum if you are planning to bump the old boy off though....
Not planning on doing that at the moment! I've spent the past 2 months getting him ready to move out of his house in the East End to a residential home 10 minutes from me. Not an easy job on your own especially as he feels the need to keep EVERYTHING! Bless him!
"Keep that drill bit, it only needs sharpening".0 -
Should be pretty straight forward then."If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."
PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills0 -
I wouldn't bother with a DIY will - it's well worth spending a couple of hundred quid plus VAT to get it done properly. If it goes pear-shaped afterwards, it could cost a lot more than that.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
A will could be written on the back of an envelope and do the job perfectly.
However start trying to divi things up in a tax efficient way and you should get an expert to do it as a screw-up will cost far more than their fee. The same goes for an estate that is being divided up amongst people that are likely to be unset or ungrateful and will cause a legal dispute. A professional will doesn't eliminate a tax issue or a legal dispute, but it'll save you from daft blunders.0 -
essex-commuter wrote:
"Keep that drill bit, it only needs sharpening".
Incidentally I need some decent drill bits for hard steel... so leave those out of the will, please... left the forum March 20230 -
Money brings out the worse in people - if there is anybody who could be expecting something then they may contest the will at that point a couple of hundred quid getting it done professionally would look like money well spent.0
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Have you heard of Will Aid? It is every november and you for a donation (usually around £100) will write a will for you.x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Commuting / Winter rides - Jamis Renegade Expert
Pootling / Offroad - All-City Macho Man Disc
Fast rides Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra0 -
It is honestly astonishingly easy to write, assuming it's all simple.
If you're actually saying the circumstances are really that simple, you don't even need one, as the estate would first pay its debts (loans, mortgage, funerals, etc) then the money would go to spouse first, then children, then the crown (I think, been a while)
I would recommend he writes one, because there's nothing like a big chunk of money to bring scumbags and old flames out of the woodwork. See here for a starter.
I wrote my own; it took about half an hour, had it witnessed by two people. Done.Sometimes parts break. Sometimes you crash. Sometimes it’s your fault.0 -
Don't forget to write a will for yourself!!! ie think where your new found wealth would be allocated0
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Writing a will is one thing, making sure it's written and executed in the correct circumstances, making it leas susceptible to challenge is another. If he sees a solicitor, it should at least then be possible to say that he received independent legal advice in preparing the will and that there's no duress or undue influence at play. As said above, money brings out the worst in people.FCN 2-4.
"What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
"It stays down, Daddy."
"Exactly."0 -
davis wrote:If you're actually saying the circumstances are really that simple, you don't even need one
I'd strongly advise against this as dying intestate can have unforeseen consequences.
As Surrey Commuter said, money brings out the worst in people and it can be surprising what a few will stoop to.
From experience, it's definitely best to have things clearly set out in a will, and done unambiguously and irreproachably at that.0 -
Good comments and good advice, thank you.
I am an only child, there is no other family but I think I'll take the advice and get something drawn up legally. Will probably ask for a quote from the local Solicitor looking after the conveyencing for Dad's move.
Cheers.0 -
gabriel959 wrote:Have you heard of Will Aid? It is every november and you for a donation (usually around £100) will write a will for you.
+1 that's how we got ours done
Costs more if you want Inheritance tax advice as well
Money goes to charideeeee
It's just a hill. Get over it.0 -
get it done professionally. If you don't you could make an expensive mistake.
for example, if you witness a will you cannot also be the beneficiary of the will.Doing it yourself you might just think it's my dad, of course i will witness it and cause you loads of grief further down the line.
Can be done for less than £100.FCN = 40
