Online wills

booyaka · 2 Oct 2025 at 22:59

If you have any of the following, partner, property, shares, investments, pensions, children, businesses. previous marriages, stepchildren etc - Pay the money and get it done properly.

If you've made a few hundred quid in the markets recently (as you post in the Stockmarket thread a fair bit) - then just take that profit and use it.

booyaka · 2 Oct 2025 at 23:05

Werewolf said:
Although from what I understand, by default if you die without a will it all goes to your spouse, then children, then siblings etc.

Varies but not always the case. In Scotland "prior rights" first then split between spouse and children equally which can cause issues as the spouse just usually assumes they get it all automatically. they don't, there are certain limits.

Also with families these days - second marriages, prior children, not married but living together etc all gets complicated. Doing a will is generally seen as a way to avoid all this hassle/problems etc.

Scottish and English law differ.

Seen it too many times - families / spouses / kids fall apart when someone dies without a will - money becomes the be all, and all hell breaks loose. Only winners are the solicitors / lawyers in terms of fees

silversurfer · 3 Oct 2025 at 00:15

Be careful on 'free' one case I read the small print was the executor was the company who gave the free will, their charge being 10% of the estate. Not really free but there are no laws governing this so famously the courts can come into play which means a lot of the estate then goes towards the legal profession. Lots of other details like: "- Modern best practice includes setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) alongside your will—one for property & financial affairs, and one for health & welfare"

Rotty · 3 Oct 2025 at 00:21

I used 1 through my union, simple will and simple forms, hope all ok

Feek · 3 Oct 2025 at 08:13

Rotty said:
I used 1 through my union, simple will and simple forms, hope all ok

Knowing you, I would seriously suggest getting it checked by a Will professional. Your situation is probably quite complicated

booyaka · 3 Oct 2025 at 08:28

silversurfer said:
Be careful on 'free' one case I read the small print was the executor was the company who gave the free will, their charge being 10% of the estate. Not really free but there are no laws governing this so famously the courts can come into play which means a lot of the estate then goes towards the legal profession. Lots of other details like: "- Modern best practice includes setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) alongside your will—one for property & financial affairs, and one for health & welfare"

You are under no obligation whatsoever to use a professional executor even if they are named in the will. Family members can renounce the professional executor and deal with the will/estate as the executor.

Never heard of anything like 10% of the estate - that's just ridiculous.

Costs are regulated and challengeable in court if excessive. 2-3% of the value of the estate is usually as high as is deemed fair unless extremely complicated.

Haggisman · 3 Oct 2025 at 08:36

We used a paid online one a few years ago, which seemed quite comprehensive, we do need to update them though, and we'll probably end up using a proper company this time due to some additional complications.

I guess these things are like insurance, you never really know how good they are until you have to use them!

Unfortunately, unlike insurance, you're unlikely to get any reviews from the buyer after they've done so...

Jim99 · 3 Oct 2025 at 08:36

I've done a charity one via Shelter, it was fairly simple at the time in terms of "everything to my spouse" so I didn't feel the need to pay any money for it.

Now that I've got kids, thinking about whether money should be earmarked for them, whether it should go into trust rather than cash (for various reasons), whether we should consider who needs to look after the kids if both of us die, how things like life insurance and death in service benefit and pensions would impact the kids - that all needs the advice of a professional to avoid making a major mistake.

I've been quoted £1k for that due to the complexities, which is a bit of a beast but I can see it's going to take quite a few conversations so not all too surprising.

Alice In Wonderland · 3 Oct 2025 at 08:56

Jim99 said:
I've done a charity one via Shelter, it was fairly simple at the time in terms of "everything to my spouse" so I didn't feel the need to pay any money for it.

Now that I've got kids, thinking about whether money should be earmarked for them, whether it should go into trust rather than cash (for various reasons), whether we should consider who needs to look after the kids if both of us die, how things like life insurance and death in service benefit and pensions would impact the kids - that all needs the advice of a professional to avoid making a major mistake.

I've been quoted £1k for that due to the complexities, which is a bit of a beast but I can see it's going to take quite a few conversations so not all too surprising.

1k??!! Jesus christ, that's a horrendous amount

booyaka · 3 Oct 2025 at 09:12

Jim99 said:
I've done a charity one via Shelter, it was fairly simple at the time in terms of "everything to my spouse" so I didn't feel the need to pay any money for it.

Now that I've got kids, thinking about whether money should be earmarked for them, whether it should go into trust rather than cash (for various reasons), whether we should consider who needs to look after the kids if both of us die, how things like life insurance and death in service benefit and pensions would impact the kids - that all needs the advice of a professional to avoid making a major mistake.

I've been quoted £1k for that due to the complexities, which is a bit of a beast but I can see it's going to take quite a few conversations so not all too surprising.

£1k is ridiculous.

I have a 2 Ltd companies, 2 kids, wife etc - I had wills and POA done for £600 inc registration fees for both of us.

Find someone else for that price - That's a joke.

byeo · 3 Oct 2025 at 09:13

If you're a civil servant, the Charity for Civil Servants do them a couple of times a year for free. I got one via them a few years ago. Fairly straight forward, I'll need to get it changed shortly though as I'm getting married in a few weeks.

Jim99 · 3 Oct 2025 at 11:18

Alice In Wonderland said:
1k??!! Jesus christ, that's a horrendous amount

booyaka said:
£1k is ridiculous.

I have a 2 Ltd companies, 2 kids, wife etc - I had wills and POA done for £600 inc registration fees for both of us.

Find someone else for that price - That's a joke.

It is the trusts that push the price up - I'm assuming you didn't get trust(s) included @booyaka ?

Unfortunately for us it is unavoidable, but yeah the cost is putting me off a bit.

booyaka · 3 Oct 2025 at 11:52

Jim99 said:
It is the trusts that push the price up - I'm assuming you didn't get trust(s) included @booyaka ?

Unfortunately for us it is unavoidable, but yeah the cost is putting me off a bit.

No trusts - nothing like that needed but POA's (registered as well so fees charged there) and wills done for both myself and wife. Trusts aren't required unless complicated situation or wealth/property is involved.

Hagar · 3 Oct 2025 at 13:23

We paid a solicitor £300 about eight years back for a fairly simple will. However i believe in the labourers worthy of his hire so would not do it myself anyway.
We have outlined beneficiaries in all circumstances so nothing to HMG.