Reply to: Making a will

[Sysman]

Dying intestate just adds to the distress of those left behind. Making a will isn't difficult. Just get on with it.

Dying intestate is not just about distress to those left behind.

If you are single without dependants and your parents are still alive, your money goes up to them, then eventually back down to your siblings, minus imheritance tax.

In my case, premature death could have meant that my brass ended up in the much hated family of the woman who my father married with indecent haste after the death of my mother.

Making a will is a no brainer.

[NotAllThere]

Once thing that has troubled me in setting out our will is what to do with the kids (3 under 10) if me and the missus croak it at the same time (e.g. car crash). Do we leave them to someone in the will or should this be handled seperately? What have others done?

Money into trust, guardians appointed for the kids. When we were in that situation, we did use a solicitor. Now my eldest is an adult, he'll be the guardian of his siblings, and we don't need to trust solution any more.

[EternalOptimist]

While you're all at it, don't underestimate the importance of a living will either.

if the hospital notes say GFP

you can relax in the knowledge that you are good for parts

[EternalOptimist]

I was the executor of my father's estate. A trip up to Somerset House and a few forms to fill in. Job done.

jeez

I had to scour about 14 baskets of docs, get dozens of share holdings transferred and sold, make arrangements for 41 benefactors, finalise some insurance policies
track down stuff from a previous marriage in a name I had never even heard of before

and everything.
everything was covered in a thick greasy film of nicotine from 60 years of heavy smoking

[Lockhouse]

yep, you can use your will as a vehicle to nominate a guardian for the kids. If there is any dispute, it goes to the family court.

I have never been involved in stuff like that, but thats my understanding.

Like Halo, I executed a will recently, it was a real nutty one and cost me a fair few days off work. I charged the estate £2,800

the nearest quote I got for the job was £17500. In my opinion - do it yourself

I was the executor of my father's estate. A trip up to Somerset House and a few forms to fill in. Job done.

[EternalOptimist]

yep, you can use your will as a vehicle to nominate a guardian for the kids. If there is any dispute, it goes to the family court.

I have never been involved in stuff like that, but thats my understanding.

Like Halo, I executed a will recently, it was a real nutty one and cost me a fair few days off work. I charged the estate £2,800

the nearest quote I got for the job was £17500. In my opinion - do it yourself

[FiveTimes]

Once thing that has troubled me in setting out our will is what to do with the kids (3 under 10) if me and the missus croak it at the same time (e.g. car crash). Do we leave them to someone in the will or should this be handled seperately? What have others done?

We are in the process of setting up some new life assurance. We have decided that if both of us go then the monies go into trust for our kids.
We have had to pick a sensible, trustworthy trustee. I think you need to do the same with your will and assign a place/person to look after them

[MarillionFan]

Once thing that has troubled me in setting out our will is what to do with the kids (3 under 10) if me and the missus croak it at the same time (e.g. car crash). Do we leave them to someone in the will or should this be handled seperately? What have others done?

I believe you would assign or name a guardian.

In all seriousness, I think EO has some insight on this.

[Normie]

Kids

Once thing that has troubled me in setting out our will is what to do with the kids (3 under 10) if me and the missus croak it at the same time (e.g. car crash). Do we leave them to someone in the will or should this be handled seperately? What have others done?

[TheFaQQer]

http://forums.contractoruk.com/gener...-has-will.html (actual figures will have changed since then though)

If it's simple, then write it yourself. If it's not, then get someone else to do it. If you need professional advice, then pay for it and take it.

Keep the will safe and make sure that someone else knows where it is - there's no point in keeping it with the solicitor if no-one knows which solicitor you used!!

[Halo Jones]

When my mum was diagnosed with cancer last year I took her to a solicitor for advice, the solicitor made some valid points and made us think about what mum wanted (it was not a simple will)
Ultimately we used a DIY kit which was backed up with a letter of wishes (not legally binding in & of its self but suitable for our situation)
I was named executor & as a beneficiary I could not witness it (as previously mentioned)
It is sensible to ask your executor first & then name a 2nd in case the 1st gets abducted by aliens or the like)
You then need to let your family know that there is a will & where it is (either a holding firm or the executor) this way when you pass it can be found & acted upon as opposed to assumed that you died intestate.

[DaveB]

One thing to note, if you use a solicitor most of them will hold a copy of the will for you as part of the service. So if the original is ever lost or for any reason is disputed down the line then you know there will be an original, verifiable copy available should it be needed.

[Normie]

WHS

If you die without a will then you stuff gets distributed according to the intestate rules. They may not be what you expect.

I persuaded my parents to make wills. They had assumed that if my dad died then my mum would just get everything but it doesn't work like that if you die intestate.

Just see a Solicitor - this is bread and butter stuff for them and not very expensive.

Just to reinforce this - every one should make the effort to make a will and, if applicable, get their parents to do so as well. My dad died of cancer just before Christmas and it's been a royal pain in the backside getting everything sorted out.

[Lockhouse]

We bought one of those home will writing kits - worked a treat. The missus did one for her dad which was reasonably complex. A solicitor looked it over and said it was OK. Mine and hers are a lot less detailed (we have a lot less) and she polished them off in an afternoon.

[Cliphead]

Thanks all for the advice!

I have enough kit here to furnish a small music shop and maybe rival PC World. I thought it might be a good idea to make sure it all went to my neice who would appreciate it when I eventually go to the great gig in the sky, seems like it's a relatively simple process to set up a will to make sure that happens.