Have you made a Will?

[tjsc1]

Did mine quite a few years ago, if your normal (hardly got anything in the bank etc), got kids, you leave it to them, after your wife/mistress. I only have the house to leave them, it was all done in three days, all done for £100.00 quid!!

Slugonabike........What has changed re executors.......when I did mine we left it to my brother and representative from Solicitors, for a fee, thought at least it would be done correctly!!

 

[661-Pete]

For anyone who thinks, wills are for the affluent and moneyed, think again! My father - by no means well-to-do - died intestate. The trouble and expense this caused my mother in her time of grief - not to mention the length of time it took to administer the estate - I would not wish this upon anyone.

I have been as guilty as anyone in this respect, but I hope now to put it right. Especially since I have now passed the age, which my father was at the time of his death.

 

[biggs682]

yes wills made , will need revising coon as kids get older etc etc

got to decide who gets all the bikes

 

[slugonabike]

Did mine quite a few years ago, if your normal (hardly got anything in the bank etc), got kids, you leave it to them, after your wife/mistress. I only have the house to leave them, it was all done in three days, all done for £100.00 quid!!

Slugonabike........What has changed re executors.......when I did mine we left it to my brother and representative from Solicitors, for a fee, thought at least it would be done correctly!!

I have no knowledge of any rules regarding executors - I was referring to the fact that power of attorney has changed a little in the past few years (although I don't remember the details ).

 

[chillyuk]

I have two daughters, and I have told them that I will make a new will when I am 70 years old and I know who is deserving of being left something.
Keeps them on their toes.

 

[numbnuts]

I've nowt to leave anybody, and what little I do have I'm taking with me

 

[brockers]

As a matter of interest (and this seems like the ideal thread to ask on), what's a ball park figure for the length of time for probate to come through?

My Dad died in October and has left my brother and me a pretty reasonable wedge each (with the house going to his wife). I'd ask my brother as he's executor, but as the toerag didn't even invite me to his wedding, I really don't like speaking to him anymore. Apparently, Dad's investments and bank accounts were all in order (he was a bank manager back in the day), and I'm guessing that no distant relatives have crawled out of the woodwork to make a claim on his estate.

 

[Ranger]

Our solicitor did our wills the same time as we bought our first house and it was thought provoking. In we went thinking this will be simple we leave it to each other if we die, it wasn't until the solicitor pointed out that as healthy people in our 20's if we were to die it may well be together in an accident.

Also who was to look after the dog, how much allowance should they get, how did you want to get rid of the body etc. I must say I felt it was a good experience all in all

 

[amnesia]

Once my debts < my assets then I will make a will.

If I die whilst employed by my current employer my wife will get a lump sum of 6x my current salary plus my pension which will set her up for a good few years. Any material things I am happy for everyone to fight over.

 

[slugonabike]

Amnesia, as I understand it, your accounts etc will be frozen pending probate if you die intestate. Making a will could save your wife a lot of aggro if the worst should happen.

 

[Norm]

Once my debts < my assets then I will make a will.

If I die whilst employed by my current employer my wife will get a lump sum of 6x my current salary plus my pension which will set her up for a good few years. Any material things I am happy for everyone to fight over.

It is not as easy as that.

Not only will any joint accounts get frozen as soon as the bank hear of one partner's death, dying without a will might mean that the trustees cannot pay your 6x very quickly, even if you have signed a nomination form, as they may need to investigate whether there are any others who might have a draw on your estate etc.

Doing a will can be very straightforward and very cheap, especially considering the pain and heartache which a will can save your beneficiaries at a time that they might not want to be involved in such legal petty squabbles.

 

[amnesia]

It is not as easy as that.

Not only will any joint accounts get frozen as soon as the bank hear of one partner's death, dying without a will might mean that the trustees cannot pay your 6x very quickly, even if you have signed a nomination form, as they may need to investigate whether there are any others who might have a draw on your estate etc.

Doing a will can be very straightforward and very cheap, especially considering the pain and heartache which a will can save your beneficiaries at a time that they might not want to be involved in such legal petty squabbles.

Ah ok - didn't know that... better get one sorted (and watch my back)

 

[HelenD123]

Scary thought after watching the TV programme (can't remember what its called).
I'm not rich but a house and money in the bank to share 3 ways for the kids, ...and i've made no provision or plan whatsoever. Stupid...

And then there's the bikes ...who will love my bikes ????? They;ll run with the money..perhaps i ought to put a clause in....you take the money, you take the bikes

The one with Gerry Robinson? I watched a couple of them with my parents. It was very though provoking and promoted a lot of discussion between us.

 

[Brains]

Only Two things in life are certain. Death & Taxes.

Your loved ones don't have the option of the grief to deal with the first.
You have the option of not leaving them to deal with the grief of the second.

If you can't be bothered/it'll never happen to me/ maybe next year/I don't own anything (delete as applicable) to deal with your will now, then tell your chosen charity, they will sort it out for you, all you have to do is sign on the dotted line.
Otherwise George Osborne will sort it out for you, and cause additional grief for your family.

 

[Brains]

Just to add a story, a good fiend of mine, who was in her late teens at the time had a father (the local headmaster) who died rather suddenly in his late 50's

Her mother was also not in good shape, and did not attend the funeral. So she went along on her own.

It was at this point she found out about 'the wife' and a number of older half brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. She had no idea that her Dad had a wife and family that he lived with them at the weekends and lived with her and her mum during the week days. The family however had been aware of her existence for some years.

End of the story is that she and her mum had to move out of the house (as it was owned by him) lost the car (also owned by him), the family came and cleared out everything from the house, including photos, they got nothing at all. More less the clothes they stood up in.

I met the girl about a year after all this, to say she was (unsurprisingly) screwed up over the situation is an understatement. You don't expect to effectively end up on the street in your late teens.

Moral of the story. Make a will.