Own Hand written Will in plain English

My DH and myself had a solicitor set up a trust for the purpose of putting each other’s half of the house in trust for our AC on first death. The reason for this was partly because DH would definitely have needed care in the event of my predeceasing him. I had no objection to the cost of residential care, but if I died before him, and he inherited my half, it would all have been spent on his care, which didn’t seem fair. All of his subsequent care was paid for from our other assets.

Do make provision for what happens if your son predeceases you.

It sounds like a simple matter with only one son. I would rather you went ahead and did it and maybe at some point someone will look it over for you. Sometimes charities offer 'free' will service but I think you are expected to donate to same? You must sign in the presence of your two witnesses... they must see you sign but may not read the contents, they then sign with their name and address. Without a will all will go to your son but it makes it simpler if there is a will made. You can also write a 'letter of wishes' which is a non legal document but should be honoured by your executor. You could put additional bequests here at some later stage.

My will was made many years ago and I've been meaning to update it since my divorce. Thanks for the link Callistemon21 - I've signed up to take part this year. It is even more important now as I have a grandchild now and another on the way. I also plan to sort out power of attorney. It is so easy to put these things off but we never know what the future has in store so we need to have our affairs properly in order while we can. I was glad of the reminder.

We have, and my parents did, use these W H Smith will packs - includes information on avoiding common pitfalls. www.whsmith.co.uk/products/lawpack-premium-last-will-and-testament-kit/9781910143841.html

When my husband was alive we had back to back wills so that was simple but I also wrote out a list of things that I wished to go to particular people , mostly paintings or music such as cds and all the sheet music - which costs a lot to buy these days - my husband just had that and would have passed the things over to these friends as it would have cost a lot to itemise everything in a will. However now on my own and definitely think it is worth having a solicitor to do it. As a yorkshire woman the thought that either the state got everything through some mistake or the wrong people got things and remembering your Jardine and Jarndine in your Dickens where all the money got eaten up by the lawyers. no way jose! What little bit there is left after all the taxes etc I want to go to who I choose so a solicitor for me.

MollyMinx1 The 'simple' will you describe isn't simple if you include a list of cash gifts before the residue goes to your son. A simple will, properly witnessed, that no one could dispute would surely be, "Everything of which I die possessed I leave to my son, Son's Name." Give the cash gifts now.

I am not a solicitor but I am a probate qualified chartered accountant. Please get your will done by a solicitor or someone qualified like me. There are so many ways to trip up and too often poor will writing means that a dead person's estate doesn't get distributed the way they intended. My husband paid £150 for his will to be prepared; money well spent!

You'll need to get witnesses, but you can get a form to use that tells you all about what to do.

Although there are numerous beneficiaries, our wills were otherwise uncomplicated and were drawn up by a solicitor. However I did ask for some of it to be re-worded in plain English instead of what (in the context) seemed like unnecessary legalese - they complied with no objections.

co-op wills service was good and reasonably priced cos they are written by paralegals and finally checked by solicitor and you can do it down the internet/phone

My parents both had wills drawn up by their solicitors, and my mum latterly had LPOA drawn up and we use the same solicitors for our wills and my MiL - both my parents passed away now and I was executor on both and all went very smoothly and I felt their bills very reasonable and very detailed

My mothers will was hand written on ordinary paper and was absolutely fine

Germanshepherdsmum

You don’t have to register it anywhere but please know that solicitors make far more money from sorting out home made wills than from drawing them up. I would urge you to get your will prepared by a solicitor if you want to have the peace of mind of knowing all is in order. It’s very easy to trip up in this complex area of law, believe me. It’s nothing to do with writing in plain English.

Completely agree !!

We first made a will when our children were under a year, for just the custody problems, others have mentioned. We left everything to my sister, who had agreed to take care of them if anything happened to us.

We review it, roughly, every 10-15 years.

Callistemon - care very unlikely. The law is clear, Family the first point of call. What a nightmare thought the family got into a dispute. Much better to set down what you want to happen. We re-wrote our will when they were young teenagers. They said much as they loved their aunt and uncle, could we put our closest friends to care for them. We had a reciprocal arrangement with the friends whose children were the same age as ours. They’d grown up together, we holidayed and spent a lot of time with them. Shared similar lifestyle and interests. Thankfully, none of this was ever needed

Iam64

Same for us Callistemon, our first will left our children and house to my sister. This decision was prompted when a couple we knew of were killed in a RTA and their children became the subjects of disputes between relatives

We were advised by the solicitor that if guardians weren't appointed, they would be taken into care whilst a decision was made.

Same for us Callistemon, our first will left our children and house to my sister. This decision was prompted when a couple we knew of were killed in a RTA and their children became the subjects of disputes between relatives

We first made a will when we went overseas with DH's firm and decided we needed to appoint legal guardians for the children shoul anything untoward happen to us.

I've only just remembered to check back with this thread. Thank you GSM, it's very good of you to answer so many individual queries

We've had endless problems with wills (properly drawn up by solicitors) in our family. There have been extreme delays, challenges - even one completely lost by the solicitor. Luckily, a family member had a copy. The one who didn't leave a will was the simplest - intestacy, clear rules of inheritance, quick and easy!

Thank you M0nica - people assume that they'll need funds for care.

Norah Only one person in 10 goes into care.

We all think that I reckon Cabbie. Well lots of us anyway. It took an upcoming general anaesthetic to make me write a simple will in my 50s. Eventually we made properly thought out wills and LPAs when we were late 60s/early 70s, using a trusted solicitor. We just don’t like to confront our own mortality but I certainly felt better for having done so. I felt that a weight had been lifted and I could look forwards,

For years my husband put off writing a will because he felt it would hasten his demise. Ridiculous, I know.
He did get one done eventually, but we can’t locate it. I think an update is in order, with a solicitor, of course.