Will's

Re: Will's

Sandra Nicoll — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:07:07 GMT

Totally agree, will forms not the best. A lot of solicitors have will writing weeks where you pay a donation and they donate that to a charity as well so a double winner! Remember you don't have to have kids for people to resolve issues when you pass which will be many many years in the future but at least it goes where you want it too

Re: Will's

JaneRVN — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 15:35:58 GMT

Agree totally with the solicitor bit Sal. I am apalled at how much they want to charge, but yet would not be held responsible for anything. Even for probate if they applied for it. We considered getting a solicitor involved to ensure it was all done correctly, but they really don't have much of a clue!

Re: Will's

Sal the 1st — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 20:51:11 GMT

strangely enough this came up at work just today - A gentleman came in to say that one of our clients died yesterday (we knew she had been ill for some time). The client has left a will and this gentleman is the executor but he has a problem as to what to do with her dog - he is being cared for by somebody in the short term but is now looking for a new home. The executor would love to take him on but cant because of his own dogs.

[quote user="JaneRVN"]

1) make a will - use bank, solicitor, get it witnessed

2) if you have elderly relatives try and get them to de-clutter. Better they sell stuff and enjoy the money while they are alive! And its much less to clear out...

[/quote]

would strongly agree with this and will add deal with as much of the paperwork as you can yourself when somebody dies (paying bills etc), the solicitor my dad appointed as executor was a pain in the posterior and ended up costing me an awful lot of unnecessary expense on top of their rather generous fees ie fine from the DVLA for not declaring a vehicle off the road/paying road tax after they had the paperwork for over 3 months even tho I had called them about a half dozen times to say the date was close (and I couldnt do it myself because they had the necessary paperwork), £400 for a property valuation which wasnt needed.

I would also add when clearing a house dont be too hasty getting rid of stuff until you know where it fitted in that persons life - there are items that I regret getting rid of now because I just didnt appreciate their 'value' or use at the time but felt hurried into clearing the place.

will also agree there is nothing more effective than a will for bringing long lost relatives, friends/fiends out of the woodwork. My fathers siblings never bothered to attend the funeral ( any of them) but were very interested in what he left behind. We have never spoken since. When my partner passed there was even a long lost girl fiend who pitched up at the funeral - and I am absolutely, definitely, 100% certain he never had one.

My own will is very simple, very clear and uncomplicated. Provision has been made for whatever beasties are sharing their lives with me at the time because for beneficiaries to 'benefit' it involves them providing a home for the rest of my animals' lives. (not RSPCA). I have detailed the music I would like at my send off and where I would like my ashes/ dads ashes scattering and thats about it for me - I hope to leave things tidy with no loopholes for those left behind.

Re: Will's

JaneRVN — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 19:18:16 GMT

Agree totally with it all Caro. G and I had wills as we lived together for 10 years before getting married, as owned property together. without a will I would have had to buy his (money grabbing) parents out to keep my property...

Also in worst case scenario I was not a legal entity in his life, if he had been in hospital, life support, coma etc his parents would have made all the decisions about his care and I could have been banned from seeing him! This worried me so much!

G is now executor of his Godfathers estate. Even with a will and an organised estate it is still alot of work and I would hate to think of how people cope without a will.

Please, also dont assume people know your wishes, or that families will be rational at this stressful time. Currently G's family is bubbling under with issues, and they all benefit from the will! Once there is a whiff of money people change!

So, in summary

1) make a will - use bank, solicitor, get it witnessed

2) if you have elderly relatives try and get them to de-clutter. Better they sell stuff and enjoy the money while they are alive! And its much less to clear out...

Re: Will's

Susan Jackson — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:45:57 GMT

I was thinking about this recently. I don't have children yet but as soon as I did I would want to get life insurance and a will in order to make sure that if anything happened to me........ ............ random thoughts on my car journeys home!