Making a will....do many people do it?

[GabbyLoggon]

I assume this subject mainly interests older people. But I am not fussy...

We made a wills a long time ago..I have kept meaning to write an up to date one, but never got round to it. (silly boy )

My wife was told by a lawyer she was "a chattle. She is a gentle lass but objected to that legal description.

I keep hearing the phrase "living will" what does it mean and how difficult is it to make?
I learn from TV some lawyers were offering a cheap will service; but not doing it properly...naughty.

I was 28 when I made my first will. Mainly I wanted to make sure my kids would be properly provided for if I was suddenly hit by a bus.

My experience was quite good. I went to a solicitor, they talked to me about what I wanted to do. They called me when they'd done it, turned up went through it then signed. Think it cost about £70 at the time.

Think the hardest part was thinking of two executor's whom I could trust. In the end i nominated my sister & my best mate whom I can trust 100% will be impartial and fair at all times as I needed a counterweight to my ex who isn't always!

Think if you have kids, it is essential to make a will, to ensure they are protected. You can specify in the will what happens to your money and who should make the decisions about them after your deaths (should anything terrible happen. eg. both you & your wife die in an accident.) Any family solicitor can do it.

I'm unusual.....

I wrote my first will the day after my 18th birthday - just did it myself without a solicitor.

I then renewed it on a yearly basis - the day after my birthday every year. mostly it was things like adding someone who i wanted to receive a particular piece of jewellry or a charity to have some money or something like that.

When DH and I got married, before we went on our honeymoon, we visited a solicitor and had complimentary wills written. We then had them re-written by the solicitor once our son was born to cover DS and any future children.

It isn't difficult to write your own will and I think you only need a solicitor to help once you've got a partner and/or children as things get more complicated then and you want to make sure that your wishes are going to be complied with... The main thing to remember is that you should appoint an executor and have your signing of the will witnessed by two people who aren't beneficiaries - the executor can be a beneficiary.

'Living will' is an expression of wish should you become mentally/physically incapacitated rather than dead. Covers things such as whether or not you'd like to be resuscitated in the event of your heart failing, switched off if you're on life-support, organ donation etc. It can be something you draw up informally between yourself and next of kin.

If your lawyer refers to your wife as a 'chattel' then get a new lawyer. Wives and their posessions have not been their husband's property for quite some time.

Agree with Chil.

No proper lawyer would say the wife was a chattel.

I do lots of wills for younger couples these days, often when they've had a baby, and want to appoint a guardian.

You should always go to a qualified lawyer, whether that be a solicitor or legal executive.

If anyone would like more info, my email addy is [email protected]. I do lots of mumsnetters' wills.

Thanks for all the replies...The CHATTEL remak was made many years ago...

Yes, Chile, I must take steps on this living will thing. I really should.

One thing I dont want is people squabbling over my few thou

If I die tonight in my sleep...I will be back tomorrow for further advice. (Its a joke)
when i was young only monied people seemed to make wills. But there are ,of course, many more people with property to leave now

cheers..

I have made a will. Primarily so that my parents-in-law will have sole custody of my children should anything happen to me or my husband, at the same time. (heaven forbid!)

The CHATTEL remak was made many years ago...

just how old are you and your wife?

Must be pre the 1868 Married Women's Property Act, I guess