Cheap will writing services
Discussion
If your affairs and requests are fairly straightforward then will be cheaper than getting a Solicitor and probably "safer" than DIY.
If being offered by a Charity then they will often request a donation to themselves in the will but that usually isn't obligatory but they will then suggest a suitable cash donation as a cost but obviously still cheaper than using a Solicitor.
If being offered by a Charity then they will often request a donation to themselves in the will but that usually isn't obligatory but they will then suggest a suitable cash donation as a cost but obviously still cheaper than using a Solicitor.
As with most things in life, cheap isn't always good. In terms of will writing, there are a lot of fledgling businesses (basically, one-man-bands) who have no legal experience and have bought into a franchise.
We had our wills written which we thought were quite robust at the time. Losing a parent and then seeing all the complications unfold from that, and how useless the their will was prompted us to have ours done again by a proper law firm.
We had our wills written which we thought were quite robust at the time. Losing a parent and then seeing all the complications unfold from that, and how useless the their will was prompted us to have ours done again by a proper law firm.
Considering what you are dealing with and how important it is, I would use an experienced professional because there maybe options or the way things are done that can lessen impacts further down the line.
There are big changes coming down the line where pension pots will be included in a persons estate and that can change how you plan things, any decent professional will know this and advise accordingly.
Unless you are penniless with nothing to your name, skimping on a will is not something I would do.
Lastly, there is a reason charities offer these types of service, they want money from you. To me there feels to be an element of coersion in using a charity that expects something in return.
There are big changes coming down the line where pension pots will be included in a persons estate and that can change how you plan things, any decent professional will know this and advise accordingly.
Unless you are penniless with nothing to your name, skimping on a will is not something I would do.
Lastly, there is a reason charities offer these types of service, they want money from you. To me there feels to be an element of coersion in using a charity that expects something in return.
Edited by Inbox on Monday 15th December 09:49
Following on and maybe hijacking a bit. Early next year me and the wife want to sort a will out, been putting it off for far too long.
So looking at a will or maybe putting house etc into a trust? I'm not fully up to speed with what we exactly need yet??
What sort of cost are these things? I don't want to go cheap, but also don't want to get ripped off?
So looking at a will or maybe putting house etc into a trust? I'm not fully up to speed with what we exactly need yet??
What sort of cost are these things? I don't want to go cheap, but also don't want to get ripped off?
nordboy said:
Following on and maybe hijacking a bit. Early next year me and the wife want to sort a will out, been putting it off for far too long.
So looking at a will or maybe putting house etc into a trust? I'm not fully up to speed with what we exactly need yet??
What sort of cost are these things? I don't want to go cheap, but also don't want to get ripped off?
Fwiw I last had wills done ( fairly straightforward mirror wills ) at the start of 2021by a Solicitor and the cost for the 2 was £276.So looking at a will or maybe putting house etc into a trust? I'm not fully up to speed with what we exactly need yet??
What sort of cost are these things? I don't want to go cheap, but also don't want to get ripped off?
If you are doing wills then at the same point I would suggest getting LPA's done for you both -you will need 4 in total - one each for Property and Finance and 1 each for Heath and Welfare.
At the same time I paid £ 960 for all the preparation of these.
Much better to have and not need.
I wouldn't be skimping on a will. A solicitor wrote ours. About £250 each.I did the financial LPA myself on the GOV.UK site and that cost £82. The solicitor wanted £750 for that. It was really clear and simple and amounts to ticking a few boxes and typing in your witnesses names and addresses. I cannot comment on a health LPA as I haven't done one.
Colonel Cupcake said:
I wouldn't be skimping on a will. A solicitor wrote ours. About £250 each.I did the financial LPA myself on the GOV.UK site and that cost £82. The solicitor wanted £750 for that. It was really clear and simple and amounts to ticking a few boxes and typing in your witnesses names and addresses. I cannot comment on a health LPA as I haven't done one.
Totally agree - get a will properly prepared with a solicitor who specializes in wills.We did ours a few years back, initial quote was for about. £500 although ended up more like £750 iirc as we weren’t having mirror wills due to our circumstances.
Did our LPAs both health and finance myself which was quite straightforward provided you make sure you get them all signed dated in the correct order - I didn’t and had to pay another small fee to resubmit.
Despite what a solicitor may tell you, the person declaring that you are in sound mind etc. can be a friend and does not to to be a legal bod.
Colonel Cupcake said:
I wouldn't be skimping on a will. A solicitor wrote ours. About £250 each.I did the financial LPA myself on the GOV.UK site and that cost £82. The solicitor wanted £750 for that. It was really clear and simple and amounts to ticking a few boxes and typing in your witnesses names and addresses. I cannot comment on a health LPA as I haven't done one.
Health LPA is exactly the same format.The only reason I got a Solicitor to do ours was I had heard ( and seen ) a few times things that had been filled out incorrectly /omitted and just plain in error ( the difference between joint and several and others for instance and the special instructions box under Section 7 ) and wanted to ensure completeness but yes the cost versus will preparation was always somewhat higher !
Use "Will Aid" a local solicitor will do it and make a donation to charity. Win Win all round.
Use someone, local, well established and with a good reputation.
It's not something to be taken lightly.
https://www.willaid.org.uk/
Use someone, local, well established and with a good reputation.
It's not something to be taken lightly.
https://www.willaid.org.uk/
To my horror after trying to pursued any mum to have a will made using a friend of the family who is a solicitor, she ended up answering the phone to a called calling will writing company and paid over the odds for her will. After she'd died we tried to get in touch with the company but they had gone out of business.
I suggest using an established solicitors
I suggest using an established solicitors
Legacywr said:
I've been contacted by a will writing company, I'm interested in rewriting my will, are they any good?
Has much materially changed since your current will was written?What peaks your interest in rewriting yours?
We wanted to change ours, essentially to make our offspring the executors (now adults) and tweak associated parts....so we used the MSE "recommended" https://www.freewills.co.uk for ours.
It was pretty easy to use, although you have to repeat for "mirror wills", and it was easy to make changes until we were happy with it.
The wills are checked by a solicitor, and if there were any issues, it is possible to take a complaint about a Free Wills solicitor to the Legal Ombudsman.
They will store them, and you can also make amendments for free in the future.
You don't have to chose the recommended executor.
That said, if you are not confident, then certainly pay a local solicitor.
Ideally one who has been around a while and perhaps comes recommended - professionals are, after all, just humans, and potentially subject to making mitsakes
Storage can be a problem, as probate requires the original will, not a copy.
A solicitor can store the will, but will the executor know which solicitor has it? How much will the solicitor charge to release it? Will they have appointed themselves as executors, and at what fee for then doing so?
Store at home and it then needs to be found by the executor.
The National Will register is a joke, I paid £120 to search for my mums will and then found out all they do is look on their database for any will registered with them (it's voluntary). They don't actually have any copies of wills, instead if they find a record of one they message the will writer who registered it with them and ask them to contact you, and you just have to hope they do.
A solicitor can store the will, but will the executor know which solicitor has it? How much will the solicitor charge to release it? Will they have appointed themselves as executors, and at what fee for then doing so?
Store at home and it then needs to be found by the executor.
The National Will register is a joke, I paid £120 to search for my mums will and then found out all they do is look on their database for any will registered with them (it's voluntary). They don't actually have any copies of wills, instead if they find a record of one they message the will writer who registered it with them and ask them to contact you, and you just have to hope they do.
Good points.
Technically you can get probate without the original, but it will be a lengthy process….
& yes, I imagine some solicitors will want to take a wedge to act as executor.
That said, once you have done that role (we have, once each), you know it is a time consuming admin activity, & for a number of people, paying a chunk of money to people who are (at least theoretically!) more competent might make good sense.
Technically you can get probate without the original, but it will be a lengthy process….
& yes, I imagine some solicitors will want to take a wedge to act as executor.
That said, once you have done that role (we have, once each), you know it is a time consuming admin activity, & for a number of people, paying a chunk of money to people who are (at least theoretically!) more competent might make good sense.
The Gauge said:
Storage can be a problem, as probate requires the original will, not a copy.
A solicitor can store the will, but will the executor know which solicitor has it? How much will the solicitor charge to release it? Will they have appointed themselves as executors, and at what fee for then doing so?
Store at home and it then needs to be found by the executor.
The National Will register is a joke, I paid £120 to search for my mums will and then found out all they do is look on their database for any will registered with them (it's voluntary). They don't actually have any copies of wills, instead if they find a record of one they message the will writer who registered it with them and ask them to contact you, and you just have to hope they do.
Irrespective of who is storing always good to have a copy of said will kept with instructions as to who holds the original. A solicitor can store the will, but will the executor know which solicitor has it? How much will the solicitor charge to release it? Will they have appointed themselves as executors, and at what fee for then doing so?
Store at home and it then needs to be found by the executor.
The National Will register is a joke, I paid £120 to search for my mums will and then found out all they do is look on their database for any will registered with them (it's voluntary). They don't actually have any copies of wills, instead if they find a record of one they message the will writer who registered it with them and ask them to contact you, and you just have to hope they do.
In the case of Parents etc if you are named as Executor then also not a bad idea to sit down with them well in advance just to get an idea as to where their various accounts are etc.
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