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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How long should it take to draw up a Will?

5 replies

mydogisthebest · 13/12/2021 11:57

Me and DH instructed a solicitor in mid October to draw up our Wills. They are extremely straight forward. We have no children and want the proceeds of our house sale to go to a few charities.

I used to work for solicitors and know how to word a Will having typed up so many over the years.

We only really decided to use a solicitor because we thought it would be easier getting it witnessed. All our friends and family live a long way from us and we didn't really want to ask neighbours.

Anyway the solicitor would not see us in person because, of course, covid so we had a phone conversation. It was pretty brief and he then said we could not go into the office to get the Wills witnessed because of covid!

We still decided to have him do them and paid by card over the phone. We just had to get back to him with the addresses of the charities which we did by email the next day. He had emailed us so we just sent our reply to that.

After a month we chased him and he said he never got our email with the charities addresses! Doesn't seem likely but we sent them again.

We have tried phoning him but are always told he is busy, out of the office, on another call etc etc.

DH emailed him yesterday asking what exactly is happening and today he has emailed saying we would have the Wills "sometime in early January"!!! WTF

How can it possibly take so long? When I was a legal secretary that amount of delay would be totally unacceptable. It would have taken him less than 15 mins to dictate our Wills and no way should there be such a backlog of work that a secretary would not have typed them up far quicker.

I am tempted to ask for our money back and draw them up myself although not sure if they would be obliged to give us a refund

OP posts:
ChangeChingyChange · 13/12/2021 13:54

Demand a refund thats ridiculous, wills takes 2 minutes to sort out and if its as simple as a mirror will and then to charities its straight forward.

mydogisthebest · 13/12/2021 14:12

@ChangeChingyChange

Demand a refund thats ridiculous, wills takes 2 minutes to sort out and if its as simple as a mirror will and then to charities its straight forward.
Yes they are my thoughts. Just wanted to see if others thought I was being unreasonable.
OP posts:
Justcallmebebes · 13/12/2021 14:16

That's ridiculous. At my firm from receipt of instructions, sending out the draft, confirming approval (or amendments needed), coming in to sign and witness (or sending out in post - whichever client prefers) - 7 to 10 days maximum.

I'd email complaints partner and ask what is happening and why it is taking so long

HoardingSamphireSaurus · 13/12/2021 14:16

Get a refund and, if he takes an age on that too, you know how to report him!

He's had your money for how long now?

Xenia · 13/12/2021 14:23

It sounds very very long even for probate lawyers. I am a commercial solicitor and do most things in a few days if not the same day! Probate is longer although if someone is dying they have to get on with it.

Check what timing he gave you at the start and if he is late in accordance with the emails or promises ask for a refund (and then find some other solicitor to do it).

Wills are not necessarily a 5 minute job however as they have to think about a range of things which is why it IS best to use a solicitor if you can.

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