Have you written a will?

[FangsForTheMemory]

I mean a properly put together, signed and witnessed will, copy lodged with your solicitor? I'm asking because when I bought my first home, my mortgage broker gave me a very stern lecture about writing one, and I did it. However the number of people who don't write a will amazes me.

YABU = no I haven't written a will
YANBU = yes I have written a will

It has been in my to do list for ages but I only did it last April during a bout of lockdown insomnia fuelled by an impending sense of doom.

Yes, when I bought a house. A family member died without one, no-one disputed what should happen, but it took an age to get sorted out.

Yes ... am constantly shocked at the number of people who don't.

If you have children I’d be careful about mirror wills. That’s what my PIL had and unfortunately all the money their DM left to their DF has disappeared into care bills.
IMO she should have left it to the kids as the DF has enough money to live on.

Nope.

Single parent, no partner, don't own my house or have any assets. Zero in the bank.

My family know who I want to care for the kids if I die, and I understand that a will regarding who gets custody of kids isn't binding, as if a relative challenged it and wanted custody, social services would decide what was in their best interest, and my wishes would be considered, but would not be viewed as absolute. Hence it seemed like a waste of money that I don't have

Yes, I am a nurse and seen a lot of death. Mine is at home where family members know where it is not lodged with a solicitor.
I wrote mine about 8 years ago, put it in its place in the house and have no need to worry about changing it for a number of years.

No, we don’t really have any assets but we do need to write one, I’ve no idea how the process works though, it’s something we need to look up.

Mine is lodged at the Solicitors and also DB (who would be an executor) has a copy and the (adult) DC know where my copy is.

@DinosaurDiana my Dad changed his will to leave a lifetime interest in the family home to my Mum, and all his other assets to me and DSis. He saw the scenario of him dying first and all assets going to care for my Mum as she had been diagnosed with dementia. Mums will wasn’t changed due to dementia diagnosis,
Mum died last year and Dad still alive but he doesn’t regret doing it

This is going to sound naive but does it cost money to write a will?

Some people can get away without wills, although selflove’s family would probably find life a bit easier if she had a DIY will naming an executor.

But absolutely everyone needs to know and understand what would happen if they died today. That’s the essential thing, because if it would be unacceptable you really do need a will ASAP.

No, I am a very bad example for a solicitor! It's always on the to-do list. I did have one but destroyed it some years ago as it was out of date.

@EmpressSuiko

This is going to sound naive but does it cost money to write a will?

If you want it done properly, yes. You can either pay a solicitor or will writer. But you can also buy a form from WH Smith and do your own (not really recommended, I think DIY wills can be worse than just relying on the intestacy rules).

Late 50’s here and we kept putting it off. Have just done mirror wills using the Money Saving Expert Co-Op wills offer £185 for mirror wills.
After reading about Kate Garroways difficulties of managing her finances when her husband was in a coma, we have also done our Powers of Attorney ( online at OPG).

Yes, done when I bought a house at 22.

Re-done on marriage, divorce, kids. All done via a solicitor and properly drawn up.

Lodged with solicitor and a copy at home.

To do a will with a solicitor costs between £150-£300 depending on complexity I think.
I know there are cheaper ways and some charities do them (presumably you would need to be benefitting them) but I wanted it done by a solicitor.

We need to sort ours out. DS is 7 and we still haven’t sorted one

I did contact someone a few months ago about it but never went any further.

How does a will make provision for the guardian in case they need it for house refurbishment or expenses connected with caring for DS, but doesn’t leave the money to them (the guardian) to spend basically on themselves, if that makes sense?

Just done it.

@Sparklingbrook😱 how is anyone supposed to afford to write a will!? Would that be per person if you are married?

Yes

Yes.
Original in safe, copy with dh and copy with adult ds.

[quote EmpressSuiko]@Sparklingbrook😱 how is anyone supposed to afford to write a will!? Would that be per person if you are married?[/quote]
No that's for DH& I. IIRC we happened to go on 'National Will Writing Week' or something and it cost us £150 for both.

@Sparklingbrook oh that’s not so bad! Thank you for answering my question I will need to look into it as DH has cancer, I’m hoping he won’t be going anywhere for a very long time but life is unpredictable.

Yanbu got it done and dusted when we bought our house, both late twenties.

No I haven’t, but I’m really really aware that I must.

To make it worse I’m a solicitor who worked in this area so I know exactly how stuffed we are!

But we have one point we can’t agree on and until that’s resolved.... we can’t get anywhere