Choosing someone to write your will
In order to write an efficient, watertight and legally
valid last will and testament you will need professional advice
from someone who is clued up on the relevant legislation and tax
law. You can usually expect to pay around £200 for such a
service.
It might even be that you qualify for Legal Aid on financial
grounds or because you are over 70 years old. To find out, contact
your local Citizen's Advice Bureau.
It is also possible to write a will "DIY" using off-the-shelf
forms that can be bought online or from post officers and
stationers. However, it is easy to make important mistakes when
filling these out and the legal terminology may be too complex for
a lot of people to understand. Obviously, an erroneous and/or
incomplete will can cause major problems for your beneficiaries
after your death.
You may wish to speak to specialist wills and legacies
advisers who work for charities, or solicitors who specialise
in wills and probate. The Law Society can provide you with a list
of solicitors in your area.
Ask whoever you employ to write your will, to send you a copy of
their public liability insurance certificate and, if it is a
solicitor, their fees sheet, so you know what you will be
paying.
Wish lists and contact details
You may also want leave a wish list, separate from you will,
giving your loved ones instructions about various things such as
the type of funeral you would like, what you would like to happen
to your body etc.
It would also be helpful to leave list of people or
organisations that your executors will need to contact when you
die, such as your bank and solicitor.
It is advisable to keep this separate from your will as it would
be easier to alter should you wish to.
Storing your will
Your will can be stored with your solicitor (who will usually
store it free of charge), or for a fee you can store it at the
Principal Probate Registry, at a will storage facility, or at your
bank.
it is advisable not to keep the original will yourself should it
be stolen, lost or destroyed, or read by anyone other than those
who you want to see it.
If you do decide to keep the original will yourself, remember to
tell someone you trust where you have put it, so it can be found
when you die.
The Probate Registry will not normally accept a
photocopy of a will.
Making alterations to your
last will and testament
Claims Financial
Testimonial
"I just had to put pen to paper and write to say I'm more than delighted with my settlement that you won me back from my PPI I had with Lloyds TSB. The Claim Forms were simple to fill in. It was a breeze"
Mr R Evans 11 Nov 2010