Wills and AI

[Simpo Two]

I know it's not generally recommended to use AI for writing a Will but I'm interested to see what it can do.

There are 'legal AI' systems but they only seem to want me to book a demo. Having never used AI before can anyone suggest what programme to try?

[Panamax]

Hey Simpo, I know you're a guy who likes to live in the fast lane, on the cutting edge, close to the threshold etc etc, but no - no, no and no. If a job needs doing, get it done right.

Meanwhile, have you seen anything interesting outside Bell & Colvill recently? Is that what's making you fret about the possibility of premature demise?

[Simpo Two]

Panamax said:

Hey Simpo, I know you're a guy who likes to live in the fast lane, on the cutting edge, close to the threshold etc etc, but no - no, no and no. If a job needs doing, get it done right.

Well, slightly in my defence, AI is good enough to write code for PWC and my Will is desperately simple because I have no dependents. There's nobody to argue over it.

Panamax said:

Meanwhile, have you seen anything interesting outside Bell & Colvill recently? Is that what's making you fret about the possibility of premature demise?

Sorry but you'll have to explain because I have no idea what you mean... https://www.bellandcolvill.co.uk/

[BertBert]

Simpo Two said:

Well, slightly in my defence, AI is good enough to write code for PWC and my Will is desperately simple because I have no dependents. There's nobody to argue over it.

It's just possible that PWC have developed rather good and accurate ways of writing prompts and validating the output which with all due respect you have neither! As I have neither!

[Simpo Two]

BertBert said:

It's just possible that PWC have developed rather good and accurate ways of writing prompts and validating the output which with all due respect you have neither! As I have neither!

I did get the impression that some of the skill is knowing how to work it. Where have we heard the phrase 'garbage in garbage out' before eh?!

Perhaps my PWC chum could feed it into the slot for me (he gets AI to validate its own output too)

[Decky_Q]

Keep it simple and I dont see how you could cock it up using AI. Unless there's deceased beneficiaries, trusts etc. It should be I leave all my worldly possessions, estate and funds to... witnessed by 2 people not in the will and then stored safely.

If you have no dependants and want to leave me your car, I'll look after it well

[Panamax]

Simpo Two said:

Sorry but you'll have to explain because I have no idea what you mean... https://www.bellandcolvill.co.uk/

Oh dear, what's the world coming to. I have an old photo of B&C with petrol pumps (Burmah) still on the forecourt.

[tigger1]

Avoiding the question of whether AI would do a good job of writing a will (it might, it might not...) - there's already good templates online if you really just need a simple valid E+W will. You used to be able to buy a pack for a few quid in WHSmith, no idea now though.

Would be wary of charities offering free ones (only because I'm cynical and assume they try to get a cut "later").

[Simpo Two]

tigger1 said:

Avoiding the question of whether AI would do a good job of writing a will (it might, it might not...) - there's already good templates online if you really just need a simple valid E+W will. You used to be able to buy a pack for a few quid in WHSmith, no idea now though.

That's a very good point, in fact that's how my current one started.

tigger1 said:

Would be wary of charities offering free ones (only because I'm cynical and assume they try to get a cut "later").

There's an outfit called Town & Country Law that seems to be all over Facebook offering Wills for £47. But they insist on making an appointment, so I suspect it will be an up-selling exercise because £47 for a human to visit and then write a Will isn't viable. And they won't check the one I have, they want to start all over again, so they went in the bin.

[Nothingofnote]

Yes, an AI could easily with an appropriate prompt produce a very simple will for dependents, etc.

It would wee to be printed and signed and witnessed like any other to be valued and that’s generally where ‘I did my own will on the back of a fag packet/WHSmiths diy kit could fall down if not done correctly.

When trying to get my sister in law and partner to get her will sorted as she didn’t have one, mainly so her unmarried partner would avoid being stiffed through intestate pushing it just to the kids…an Amazon diy one was ordered.

It simply had pre-printed paragraphs with a space to insert minor bits like beneficiaries. Even that was too much to handle and in the end she got a solicitor to draft at the 11th hour and I paid from estate funds as the executor after the fact (terminal cancer so relatively expected in date terms).

[BertBert]

Nothingofnote said:

Yes, an AI could easily with an appropriate prompt produce a very simple will for dependents, etc.

Be interesting to see if it actually did! There are a few specialist legal things that go on in a will even simple ones to make them work/

[BertBert]

Will this do?:

1. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

• This is the Last Will and Testament of me, [FULL NAME], of [FULL ADDRESS].**

1. 1. Revocation

I revoke all former wills and testamentary dispositions made by me.

1. 2. Appointment of Executors

I appoint [FULL NAME OF EXECUTOR], of [ADDRESS], to be the Executor of my Will.
If they are unable or unwilling to act, I appoint [ALTERNATE EXECUTOR NAME] of [ADDRESS].

1. 3. Payment of Debts

I direct my Executors to pay all my just debts, funeral expenses, and testamentary expenses as soon as practicable after my death.

1. 4. Specific Gifts (Optional)

I give the following items:

• [ITEM] to [NAME]
• [ITEM] to [NAME]

1. 5. Residue of Estate

I give the remainder of my estate (everything I own not already given above) to:

• [NAME], absolutely

OR

• If they do not survive me, then to [ALTERNATE NAME]

1. 6. Guardians (if applicable)

If I have children under 18 at my death, I appoint [NAME] of [ADDRESS] to be their guardian.

1. 7. Signing

Signed by me, [FULL NAME], as my Last Will in the presence of the witnesses below.

• Signature:** _______________________
• Date:** ___________________________

---

1. Witnesses (must be 2 people, not beneficiaries)

We confirm that the Testator signed this Will in our presence, and we then signed in their presence.

• Witness 1:**

Name: _______________________
Address: ____________________
Occupation: _________________
Signature: __________________

• Witness 2:**

Name: _______________________
Address: ____________________
Occupation: _________________
Signature: __________________

[Shnozz]

Mental. But fill ya boots.

[BertBert]

Shnozz said:

Mental. But fill ya boots.

+1 You'll be dead so what do you care??!!

[surveyor]

I started to use AI as a tool. You absolutely must know when it’s bullstting. If you don’t you cannot rely on anything it produces…

[ATG]

surveyor said:

I started to use AI as a tool. You absolutely must know when it s bullstting. If you don t you cannot rely on anything it produces

That's the catch. If you know the subject well enough to spot the LLM's mistakes, it means the LLM isn't helping you to do things you don't really know how to do already. But that's what most of us want it to do for us. "I don't know about X, so I asked AI" ... and it gave me an answer that sounds plausible ... but I don't know if it's right.

"Plausible but unreliable" is dangerous. Doesn't matter if it's an AI or a person. I expect we've all had colleagues who initially seem really impressive but turn out to be bullstters. The AIs don't have intent, but LLMs by their design risk producing similarly unreliable output.

[vikingaero]

tigger1 said:

Avoiding the question of whether AI would do a good job of writing a will (it might, it might not...) - there's already good templates online if you really just need a simple valid E+W will. You used to be able to buy a pack for a few quid in WHSmith, no idea now though.

Would be wary of charities offering free ones (only because I'm cynical and assume they try to get a cut "later").

All these free will or £19.99 will companies - do they plonk themselves down as the executor and hope that you don't notice? Then when they deal with your estate they or a pet legal firm charge thousands for paying and closing down your affairs?

[Shnozz]

My opinion is unchanged the other side of a bottle of red wine.

Seems utterly mental to me to dissipate your life’s legacy entrusting either AI or a WH Smith £19.99 DIY pack.

Not like solicitors even charge much to draft a will. The benefit of having their PI insurance behind it is worth that alone I would think.

[Plus4Four#]

The consumer organisation "Which" offer a checking service for Power of Attorney. They have experts who check your diy to make sure it is correct and will pass scrutiny by the overseeing body. Saves sending the papers off that get rejected and further costs of re-submitting.
I considered it but went with a solicitor for both wills update and POA.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks for all the replies - and from every end of the spectrum.

I'm not going to use AI because whilst my affairs are very simple, it might add some unwanted complexity that inadvertently messes it up. I'd rather trust myself than AI. The current format is very much what BertBert laid out; thanks for the input. For those who think I'm mad, as stated earler I have no wives, no ex-wives, children, dependents, brothers, sisters, nieces or nephews to argue about it.