Web based Will Writers

I don't have any experience of these services but I used a local Solicitor who I knew had a good reputation. I have heard that some online services have gone out of business and the Wills can't be found, some have insisted on handling the probate and charged huge fees for doing so.

A solicitor will also be able to advise on what can be done to limit any Inheritance Tax and other matters which a web site may not be able to cover.

If you are intending to use an online service then make sure you do your homework - fees, insurance, do they belong to The Law Society, if not what professional body do they belong to (and make some investigation into that professional body).

sunseeker such good advice given I have to agree,I would worry if things went wrong with the Company my wishes would be held somewhere in cyber space,certainly prefer the services of a family solicitor who will personally look after my interests and that of my family.

Thanks for the feedback.

Local solicitors want to charge £147 for a simple Mirror Will, now when you consider that these are all basically a template that they use I think that is expensive.

I don't quite understand your comments about Wills not being found, the Wills are sent to you (you have to get them witnessed yourself ) you then keep them safe letting family know where they are. (you can get extra copies for a small charge)

Some offer to "safekeep" the original Will. Sometimes when people keep their original Will at home, it either becomes lost or they hide it so well that their family can't find it when the time comes.

A local Solicitor will have all the notes made when they advised on the Will and those could be used by the family to distribute the estate as the person wished. A good Solicitor will also hold the original Will in safe keeping, free of charge.

If you are happy with the track record of the online company and have also sussed out the insurance etc. then that's fine.

As I said I used a local Solicitor because I knew they were a long standing company and had a good reputation.

Whoever you use I would keep the will in the bank or if there is only 1 beneficiary in their bank. If there are 2 beneficiaries one could have the original and the other a certified copy.

A case happened in my family where the solicitor closed and the will could not be found.

Fortunately a new will was drawn up with another solicitor but there could have been problems had the person died.

I also know of another case where a man got a partner straight after his wife's death and half the house was willed to his son.
She wanted him to tear her will up so the son did not get his half.
Fortunately the son had the will in his bank and in any case the father said no as that would have been fraud.
She left.

Mary

The reason some people want to use online will writing services is because it is cheaper.
However, lots of solicitors in certain months 1will give the fee to charities.
If you look out for this, you will get a will drawn up by a solicitor which will not seem to cost as much as your money will go to the charity of your choice. Our local hospice does this every year.

I'm a solicitor and I've seen some really horrendous wills drawn up by web companies and will writing services. Yes you may save £100 or so by using these services to make your will but your family could lose thousands more than that sorting out what you've left behind.
These services do not normally have negligence insurance or if they do, it's nothing like the cast iron insurance behind solicitors.
Costs do vary very widely from firm to firm and if you are intending to leave a legacy to Cancer Research and you're over 55 and want a straightforward will, they have a Panel of Solicitors who'll do the will for free for you.

Does anybody know of a one-man or woman firm locally near Richmond who could take on a Will etc?

Try ringing your local Law Society they will be able to let you have a list, but they won't actually recommend someone.

yes ive done the 10minute will as have some friends i know..it was easy to do and if you need any questions answered they will do so they were very helpful when i did my will....why pay the cost of a solicitor to draw up a will and line their pockets!!!

My mother, 30+ years ago, drew up her own will on a pro-forma document available at the time, had it duly witnessed, etc. but it was invalid.

She didn't read the part which said she had to sign directly underneath the last paragraph. Instead she signed on the line at the bottom of the page, leaving a gap between the writing and the signature.

Gosh that is worth knowing Aka, I am in the process of having a new will drawn up but in the meantime I did write a will on a form.

My old solicitor has retired and I am using a new firm, I did tell the new solicitor who wrote the old one, perhaps that information will be stored with the new will, it's scary to think that old wills can surface, mine would exclude my latest grandchildren.

Do solicitors read death notices and then inform the family if they hold a will, and should we get in touch to cancel an old one?