How long does a Will take?

[OhCobblers]

Just that. DH and I must sort this ASAP. Don't know where to start with local firms. Where is the best place to start as we want to include legal guardianship too?
Thank you!

If you want straightforward everything to each other and set up guardianship you can buy a template and do it yourself.

Just for piece of mind we used a service that checked the template. Even a solicitor advised it was a waste to have them do it when the situation is simple. Different if there are complex issues, 2nd marriages and blended families etc.

@Spiceup

If you want straightforward everything to each other and set up guardianship you can buy a template and do it yourself.

Just for piece of mind we used a service that checked the template. Even a solicitor advised it was a waste to have them do it when the situation is simple. Different if there are complex issues, 2nd marriages and blended families etc.

Thanks @Spiceup It's not just us but DC too (ours) but also leaving our "estate" to others in the event of something happening to the nuclear family!

Templates cover that. Ours was everything to each other or to DC equally if we both died. DS1 guardian for DS2 if needed. Everything to DSis if the whole family went.

Check out one of the charity ones. We used Cancer Research, look on their website and it locates a solicitor near who works with them. It's not compulsory that you leave money to the charity but morally it's what you would do. We have both left a couple of hundred pound each to the charity and it didn't cost us anything to make. The whole process from start to finish took a good couple of months but that was mainly due to Covid restrictions. Everything had to be done by email/post/phone call so just took longer.

When folks say just do it yourself, how exactly? I always thought a will was a legal document? If you make it yourself how is it official? Who do you give it to or where do you keep it?

Who do you give it to or where do you keep it?

It doesn’t have to be given to anyone!

My DC have individual wills from templates, as they both had an inheritance, money to each other, or cousins if they die together. DH and I as executors.

We worded them based on our solicitor-written wills. They can’t be witnessed by any beneficiaries but otherwise become legal once they are signed and witnessed (think we got our neighbour to witness them). We keep them in a wallet with our wills!

Op, you can do your own if they are straightforward- everything to each other, then children, then A N Other if you all die. Also consider the executors will be in all situations, and who would be your DC guardians if you both died.

There is a mumsnetter who does wills, someone may have a link but username was Mumblechum, from Marlow wills.