Wills
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Discussion

L1OFF

Original Poster:

3,756 posts

285 months

Yesterday (15:24)
quotequote all
I need to update my and my wife's wills, the originals were pre marriage and of course no longer valid. They are very simple and mirrored. I've had a quote from a local solicitors (not talking large city) for £750 + vat the same company that did the originals for £300 inc Vat in 2015). Is it just me that thinks £900 is a bit of a piss take?? I was going to use them for conveyancing on a house I want to move on but I dread to think what that would cost.

alscar

9,601 posts

242 months

Yesterday (15:39)
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We are in the process of getting new wills done as want to add a cash gift to our granddaughter so just checked when we last had them done - 2020.
£230 plus vat so your quote does seem expensive.
We had both lots of LPA’s done at the same time and that was relatively expensive at £800 for all 4.

bigpriest

2,526 posts

159 months

Yesterday (15:53)
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Updated mine last year - one person simple will (no tax shenanigans) £480.00. North West.

The Leaper

5,670 posts

235 months

Yesterday (17:13)
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Wife and I completed replacement Wills at the beginning of this month. Nothing particularly complex. Two meetings at the solicitors' office. £1030 inc all external fees and VAT. Excellent service. This is in Surrey.

R.

Pit Pony

11,211 posts

150 months

Yesterday (17:22)
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L1OFF said:
I need to update my and my wife's wills, the originals were pre marriage and of course no longer valid. They are very simple and mirrored. I've had a quote from a local solicitors (not talking large city) for £750 + vat the same company that did the originals for £300 inc Vat in 2015). Is it just me that thinks £900 is a bit of a piss take?? I was going to use them for conveyancing on a house I want to move on but I dread to think what that would cost.
For that I'd need them to be sorting out a very complex will with trusts etc and powers of attorney for both of you.
A simple will mirrored should take them about 7 minutes.


As an aside. Why isn't a will written as a simple flow chart..

It's just a set of If statements.


C69

1,284 posts

41 months

Yesterday (17:27)
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If you really want to reduce the cost, October is Free Wills Month. It only operates in selected locations, though.

https://freewillsmonth.org.uk/

There is an expectation (but not an obligation) to include one or more of the selected charities in your new will.

bigpriest

2,526 posts

159 months

Yesterday (17:47)
quotequote all
Pit Pony said:
L1OFF said:
I need to update my and my wife's wills, the originals were pre marriage and of course no longer valid. They are very simple and mirrored. I've had a quote from a local solicitors (not talking large city) for £750 + vat the same company that did the originals for £300 inc Vat in 2015). Is it just me that thinks £900 is a bit of a piss take?? I was going to use them for conveyancing on a house I want to move on but I dread to think what that would cost.
For that I'd need them to be sorting out a very complex will with trusts etc and powers of attorney for both of you.
A simple will mirrored should take them about 7 minutes.


As an aside. Why isn't a will written as a simple flow chart..

It's just a set of If statements.
The Memorandum of Wishes is usually the most useful document and is free to do. I'm paying for storage smile

Halitosis

222 posts

86 months

Yesterday (19:02)
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L1OFF said:
I need to update my and my wife's wills, the originals were pre marriage and of course no longer valid. They are very simple and mirrored. I've had a quote from a local solicitors (not talking large city) for £750 + vat the same company that did the originals for £300 inc Vat in 2015). Is it just me that thinks £900 is a bit of a piss take?? I was going to use them for conveyancing on a house I want to move on but I dread to think what that would cost.
Presumably the 2015 wills are only "no longer valid" because your wishes have changed - maybe had kids? I would have thought if leaving your estates to each other then the originals would still be OK as you could evidence you are the same people.
Asking because our wills were last written 20 years ago. Nothing has changed other than the fact our kids are now adults so the bit that talks about childcare and holding the funds until adulthood is redundant.

NortonES2

634 posts

77 months

Yesterday (19:23)
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Any pre existing wills are automatically null and void by marriage

Halitosis

222 posts

86 months

Yesterday (20:13)
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NortonES2 said:
Any pre existing wills are automatically null and void by marriage
thanks and understood

dale-rp1ov

25 posts

9 months

Yesterday (23:08)
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We use The Will Place for our clients. Really nice people and reasonable costs.

omniflow

3,828 posts

180 months

I just copied my Mum and Dad's wills. They were mirrored - everything to the survivor and then everything to the kids.

This is exactly what we want to do, and we haven't had any problems at all with theirs.

I've got absolutely no idea what £750 buys you but maybe I'm missing a trick?

I've fretted for months over IHT, and then come to the straightforward conclusion that the easiest and probably most cost effective (for my Wife and me) solution is to just let them pay it when the time comes. I've left written instructions on the best way to achieve this, which I'll update every few years.

Colonel Cupcake

1,419 posts

74 months

Mrs Cupcake and I did new, simple, mirrored wills a couple of years ago. £250-£300 for both. North Yorkshire.