Advise on making a will.

[vickster]

I got mine done as a free service through my then home insurance with the AA

I have no dependents, fairly elderly parents and one brother so pretty simple. The most complex element was the cat (although I plan to outlive him)

 

[Pale Rider]

have a look at intestate law... if the law sends the remains of your estate where you want it to go, then why bother making a Will?

The good thing about dying intestate is there is no possible legal challenge, so what the intestate law says should happen, will happen.

Often that is wife/husband/legally recorded civil partner gets the lot, which is fine for a lot of people.

In my case it will be equal dabs between my brothers, which will do me unless something changes.

If they cark it before me, I neither know nor care what happens to my estate.

 

[oldwheels]

The kits generally only apply to English law. If you are anywhere else use a solicitor. The price is always a rip off but saves the later hassle.

 

[vickster]

The kits generally only apply to English law. If you are anywhere else use a solicitor. The price is always a rip off but saves the later hassle.

OP in N Yorks

 

[subaqua]

Solicitor

.....oh and don't leave your kegs to @Markymark ..... you don't know where he's been.

Sadly we do...

 

[Milkfloat]

have a look at intestate law... if the law sends the remains of your estate where you want it to go, then why bother making a Will?

Bad advice if you have dependents, the estate gets tied up for a very long time which can cause huge problems. This happened to my mother when my father died when I was young.

 

[MikeG]

........The most complex element was the cat (although I plan to outlive him)

<.........Searches for RSPCA number........>

"RSPCA?" "Hi, yes, someone on the internet is planning to kill their cat".

 

[Spiderweb]

Thanks everyone for your advice.
My situation is pretty simple, wife and two children (15 & 19 years) so I'll look at a do it yourself will kit.

 

[keithmac]

We had wills done (me and my wife) for £300 ish.

It was more about what happens to out children if god forbid both me and my wife died while they were still young.

At least now we know for deffinite and one less thing to worry about.

In the grand scheme of things it's not really a lot of money.

 

[Drago]

I paid a specialist some years ago. When I require minor alterations, for example to include a new grandchild, to exclude someone who has now passed away, or a change of address myself, it is easy to simply use the original as a template and re-type it myself to include the new information (then get it witnessed etc).

If I ever have any wholesale changes I'd seek proper advice again. IIRC it wasn't that expensive, c£250.

 

[Bromptonaut]

The other issue that might drive one to professional advice is Inheritance Tax considerations. Plenty of pretty ordinary houses will take estate over basic limit of £325k. Exemptions and reliefs may increase that sum but IMO it's a point at which DIY may no longer be best.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Bad advice if you have dependents, the estate gets tied up for a very long time which can cause huge problems. This happened to my mother when my father died when I was young.

It shouldn't complicate until estate is more than £250k but beyond that it can. My maternal Uncle died intestate in 1983 leaving a widow. Their son had predeceased him. He owned their home and a portfolio of ropey investment properties inherited a year or too earlier from his Uncle. His wife got bulk of estate but under then rules a significant sum would go to his sister (my Mother) as next nearest relative. A deed of family arrangement re-wrote the intestacy as a will but that was consuming of both time and cost.

Another 'flag' issue is home ownership; joint tenants or tenants in common: https://www.gov.uk/joint-property-ownership

 

[Profpointy]

If the will is going to say the same as the intestacy rules, then it not having a will can't conceivably "complicate" things - if anything you remove the risk of a badly written will. You do of course need to be happy that the intestacy rules covering sisters and cousins and aunts etc are actually what you want, eg if some of the immediate family have died in the meantime.

You do need to make a will if you want to leave your estate to the scabby donkey sanctuary instead of it going to the great nephew you've never met

The word "intestate" seems to scare people but it just means "without a will".

 

[Arjimlad]

The good thing about dying intestate is there is no possible legal challenge, so what the intestate law says should happen, will happen.

Often that is wife/husband/legally recorded civil partner gets the lot, which is fine for a lot of people.

In my case it will be equal dabs between my brothers, which will do me unless something changes.

If they cark it before me, I neither know nor care what happens to my estate.

Sorry this isn't quite right .. a disappointed dependant can still bring a claim if they feel that they've not been left enough cash. Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 claims are frequently brought against intestate estates by children and adults.

 

[Profpointy]

Sorry this isn't quite right .. a disappointed dependant can still bring a claim if they feel that they've not been left enough cash. Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 claims are frequently brought against intestate estates by children and adults.

Would it be any different if there was a will ? The argument they'd been left high and dry would still run wouldn't it?

eg disgruntled husband leaves his widow destitute