Will writing

[Paddy]

A local solicitor should do it for you for under £100 all in including time to talk through it with you and make sure things are as simple as you think they are.

Will's are odd things. What seems straightforward at the time can be interpreted differently later on and getting the wording right is important. A solicitor can help you do this in a way that cannot be disputed later.

I agree DaveB

[EternalOptimist]

If you take the DIY approach, say by buying a pack from WHSmiths, once you have created your will and had it signed by witnesses, where do you store it and how does it get 'activated' when you die?

i.e. Legally, does some form of registrar need to be informed that Mr Clippy now has a will which is held with Rogers & Hammerstein solicitors.

What I did - write it, name an executor, sign it, get it witnessed

tell the missus to put it away somewhere.

when I snuff it, she takes it to probate at which point the executor is granted authority.


thats it, unless there is a problem or a challenge.

[Clippy]

If you take the DIY approach, say by buying a pack from WHSmiths, once you have created your will and had it signed by witnesses, where do you store it and how does it get 'activated' when you die?

i.e. Legally, does some form of registrar need to be informed that Mr Clippy now has a will which is held with Rogers & Hammerstein solicitors.

[EternalOptimist]

I have some items sealed in a time casule that will be sent to SasGuru when I snuff it

<heh heh, I just hope he doesnt get suspicious, and he eats that frozen 'yoghurt'>

[Pondlife]

While you're at it, add a clause that the executor is to sign up to CUK and post to inform us you've popped off.

There's a serious point there - In theory, any of us could pop their clogs at any moment, and if no one in the forums they regularly used was aware then they'd just "drop off the radar" with nobody knowing why (or in some cases noticing).

That might be a Plan B for someone: a site where people could store their login details, encrypted with a public key, and with your private key an executor could alert the site to send out notifications as above.

I'm sure Mrs Owlhoot will be overjoyed at letting bimbobabeswholoveit.com know that sugardaddy69 has popped his clogs.

[NickFitz]

That might be a Plan B for someone: a site where people could store their login details, encrypted with a public key, and with your private key an executor could alert the site to send out notifications as above.

It's been done several times. There's even one that lets you preach at people from beyond the grave

[chef]

jeez what a morbid feel this site has today

[OwlHoot]

Need to draw up a will.

Any recommendations for how to proceed - use a DIY approach or hire a solicitor?

My financial affairs are pretty straightforward so was thinking of a DIY approach but would like the comfort factor of a professional involved but imagine a solicitor would be expensive to hire.

While you're at it, add a clause that the executor is to sign up to CUK and post to inform us you've popped off.

There's a serious point there - In theory, any of us could pop their clogs at any moment, and if no one in the forums they regularly used was aware then they'd just "drop off the radar" with nobody knowing why (or in some cases noticing).

That might be a Plan B for someone: a site where people could store their login details, encrypted with a public key, and with your private key an executor could alert the site to send out notifications as above.

[DaveB]

A local solicitor should do it for you for under £100 all in including time to talk through it with you and make sure things are as simple as you think they are.

Will's are odd things. What seems straightforward at the time can be interpreted differently later on and getting the wording right is important. A solicitor can help you do this in a way that cannot be disputed later.

[Platypus]

but imagine a solicitor would be expensive to hire.

Not so - I got mine redone a 2-3 years ago, cost £200 ish IIRC, may have been less

[DimPrawn]

A lawyer is only about £200 an hour, so I'd go with a pro.

[EternalOptimist]

Need to draw up a will.

Any recommendations for how to proceed - use a DIY approach or hire a solicitor?

My financial affairs are pretty straightforward so was thinking of a DIY approach but would like the comfort factor of a professional involved but imagine a solicitor would be expensive to hire.

Funny enough, I had the same question a few years ago. I had the added problem of getting my mum to do one as well.

DIY is definately the way to go, you can get the pack for a tenner from WHS or Tescos, and it takes a couple of hours to understand then do.

[Clippy]

Need to draw up a will.

Any recommendations for how to proceed - use a DIY approach or hire a solicitor?

My financial affairs are pretty straightforward so was thinking of a DIY approach but would like the comfort factor of a professional involved but imagine a solicitor would be expensive to hire.