To just get a DIY will ?

[Newname85]

DH and I have been together since high school and married for over 21 yrs and have 2 kids together. We own our house (mortgage) and have some savings. We both have our private pensions and we have insurance to cover the mortgage if we die.

We got a quote of £1600 for a set of mirror wills. Our friends recently got a DIY will from WHSmith. They seem confident this is good enough and legally binding. We don’t know much about their finances - so not sure how straight forward their situation is. AIBU to just DIY it with a WHSmith will template?

Are you a member of a union? Sometimes they make will-making services available.

No, unfortunately.

My understanding is that it is best for very simple, straightforward situations. Here is some info from Citizens Advice.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/death-and-wills/wills/

My late parents did their own (mirror) wills using a DIY kit and it worked fine for them. The dispersement of assets was very straightforward.

Had our wills done by Costco Will Writing Service, once again nothing complicated and the cost was 10% of your quote.

That cost does seem a lot, there is this option from the co-op (E&W only)

https://www.co-oplegalservices.co.uk/making-a-will/understanding-the-costs/?infinity=ict2~net~gaw~ar~550362597584~kw~single%20wills~mt~b~cmp~NB+-+%5BWILLS%5D+-+Hagakure~ag~(CAT:NB)(SUB:Wills)(TYPE:Single)&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAg8S7BhATEiwAO2-R6jbExctPTByiOHrVfQ8A5oE-RIS-ikSf46MSdd0pvDDh61fSn7UFJRoC6u4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

That's very expensive, there's options using a will writer for 1/6 of that but if your situation is simple diy is fine

Diy wills such as the ones from Smith's perfectly legal. However, you need to make sure everything is clear and straightforward. So "I leave each of my children a third of my estate. Once my husband has died" or similar is clear. If you leave out the bit about husband...then he may have to sell the house.
Plus you don't say how old the kids are, if under legal age, provision of possible guardian etc.
Plus inheritance tax issues 're being tenants in common of the house, i don't fully know the correct way to do it,
Which is why we have always had professional will.
There are cheaper services out there.
One big big big big do not, under any circumstances, at all, never ever, even if they suggested it make the solicitor or person who writes it be executor. I know if several cases where they have taken years.. In one case 13! To sort probate

DIY wills can be fine, if you have very simple intentions and are confident you know how to sign it and have it witnessed correctly. You get peace of mind from a solicitor, but that obviously does come with a cost.

My father recently passed..... all I say is make sure it is signed and witnessed.

People on here always recommend @mumblechum of Marlow wills. Hope I've got that correct

https://farewill.com/make-a-will-online £160 for the pair - if you want to leave something to charity you often get the same service free.

I don’t know if @mumblechum Marlow Wills is still about on her but she did our mirror wills for a fraction of what you have been quoted and she was absolutely great. Asked us questions about things we never would have thought about.

Marlow Wills did ours after a recommendation on here.

Fab service and no where near the cost you've been quoted (although can't remember quite how much!)

you can get a simple will on the internet through a lawyer for £90
Online will writing uk- Legal wills - OnlineWillWriting.co.uk

£1600 is a lot for mirror wills! I live in Surrey and was recently quoted £650 (maybe plus VAT) for this. However, we opted to make wills via the National Free Wills Network, whereby a participating solicitor writes your will for free if you donate to a participating charity (although even this donation is optional). It may only run at certain times of the year, but check it out here: https://www.nationalfreewills.net/

We did ours with cancer research. They did it for free and ask you leave a donation in your will. Iits a legal will and completely free.(for now)

Try Farewill, I did mine the other day and it cost £200 or something

Try some other local solicitors that seems very high.

It's worth having legal advice at the same time - there's more to think about if you have children and it makes such a big difference in the future if it's not done properly - and would likely cost a lot more to sort out too.

Marlow Wills.

And get your LPAs sorted out at the same time.

What’s an LPA and why do we need it ?

That does seem extortionate, like many on Mumsnet, we used Marlow Wills, Yvonne was excellent.
She also organised LPAs for us, which are something you should probably consider. She did a good deal on the full wills plus LPA package, all done over Zoom.

I recommend Marlow wills too, fantastic service.

Was definitely cheaper than what was quoted for a set of mirror wills, as DH has now passed I'll be going back to get a new one done.

It was the most important document after the purple respect form.

Lasting Power of Attorney (there are actually two types - Financial & Health). It will give whoever you name (usually spouse and/or adult children) the legal power to handle your affairs if you become incapacitated (either mentally or physically) at any point.

(your quote for wills is so high I'm wondering if it possibly included setting up LPAs as well)

Blimey - local solicitor is currently doing mirror wills for us and charging £380 plus VAT.

One big big big big do not, under any circumstances, at all, never ever, even if they suggested it make the solicitor or person who writes it be executor. I know if several cases where they have taken years.. In one case 13! To sort probate

I second this. My DH recently found himself in this situation as the solicitor was joint executor, but the solicitor had died since it was written. Thankfully as a joint it was a little easier to untangle once we'd actually managed to track down the will.