Creating UK will from overseas

[ElloOllo]

I live abroad and don’t have a will. I’ve contacted a law firm in the UK I once did conveyancy with and they said they only arrange wills with people face-to-face.

Is this common?

Can anyone recommend a way I can write a will from abroad? I’m not planning to go back to the UK for at least a year and am quite keen to sort it out.

Thanks.

[LillianGish]

If your will is not super complicated then why not order one of those last will and testament kits on Amazon?

[misssmilla1]

It'll depend on where you want your will to represent you. You can only have a UK will for a UK estate - so basically you can't have one will that covers multiple countries due to the different jurisdictions and laws.

I have two, one for my estate / assets in the UK and one for the US. I made the UK one with the co-op will writing service. Highly recommend them, its all done over the phone and for a straightforward will it cost about 120 quid.

The benefit of this is they ask questions / pose scenarios that you wouldn't necessarily consider doing it yourself (I have done a diy one before) plus they'll keep a copy of the will and any other instructions, letters etc at their vault. I did an initial phone meeting with them and it took about an hour all in, they then send the documents for any additions or changes and then produce a final version

[echt]

It is not true that a UK-written will only covers a UK estate. My late DH's UK- written was required in Australia and was the document used to establish probate for his estate in Au.

When I needed to sort out the UK side, I had to send the Au probate grant to the UK to be re-sealed. It's probably far more straightforward when dealing with Commonwealth countries who often have similar standards of probate.

The first point of departure for any official enquiry is: Is there a will? rather than where was the will written.

[BradleyPooper]

You may need a will valid in the country you live in too.... in the USA, only USA wills are valid for example.....

[aweewhilelonger]

We already had wills, but we were able to update them (new baby and property changes) from overseas. We did it all by email. We used the same solicitor - well, same practice, different lawyer, and it was fine.

Do your parents / in-laws / siblings etc in the UK have a lawyer that they'd recommend? You might have more luck that way, with a personal recommendation.