Will writing - are we being ripped off?

[HootShoot]

Just had someone round to talk to us about a will. We ended up agreeing to a mirror and some additional trusts. If I die my share of the house and my life policies will go into trust to protect our daughters inheritance and vice versa with my husband. The price rocketed from £180 to £650 to reflect this but im worried this is too much to charge. I can't find any reviews online for this company and they arent part of any professional bodies which makes me nervous.

Hi OP, I'm a will writer and have an advert over on Classified Small Business ("5* Will Writing Firm Recommended by Mumsnetters").

Have a mosey over if you'd like more info, and to see the reviews page.

I'm a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters and approved by Trading Standards

I used Mumblechum and would recommend!

That's really kind of you K8!

Thanks Mumblechum and K8 I'll have a look. Does that mean you think this guy might be a big dodgy?

Like K8 I have used mumblechum and can vouch for her fab service. I have recommended her to anyone who mentions wills.

Her prices are way cheaper than that

Same here re mumblechum...we used her for our wills and great service. Also reasonable prices compared to what you are being quoted.
hth

Another one to say 'just use mumblechum!'.

Will do! Wish I had asked you lot first!

Thanks so much for the recommendations, much appreciated!

I was a witness for my friends when they sorted out their pretty bog-standard wills (they're not married though, so I don't know if that makes it more complicated). I was gobsmacked when they told me it cost them over £800. Shortly after, there was a television program about unethical companies charging a fortune to dish out ineffective wills.

I'm sure Mumblechum would be a safer bet, and I imagine his price will suddenly come down when you tell him you are looking elsewhere!

It sounds totally dodgy. I added an "in trust" bit to my will and it barely changed the cost.

The usual charge for mirrors, incorporating a life interest, would be £250, and no VAT as we're exempt.

Does that mean you think this guy might be a big dodgy?

Not necessarily, he may just have started in business so not many reviews yet, but tbh most decent will writers are members of the IPW, which has strict entry criteria and standards, and which regularly vet member firms to ensure compliance. They will also have indemnity insurance for a minimum of £2m.

Having read your website mumblechum, I am now feeling uneasy about the fact he put his company down as an executor without really checking we were ok with that. Mmmmn. Thanks everyone for all your views on this.

That executor bit would ring huge alarm bells with me. If you feel uneasy use someone else.

The fee seems a lot to me.

I think we have already decided to run for the hills K8. Its a lot of money like you say and we need to feel comfortable.

I would also highly recommend using mumblechum1 as she did my will for me last year (single not mirror) and was excellent, very professional and reasonably priced.

DP and I have bog standard mirror wills. Cost us £160.
I would NOT recommend that the solicitors be executors. In my experience they bleed the estate of all money then abandon the beneficiary. I even saw one property put into the name of the executor rather than the beneficiary.

ThreeDaughters thanks very much for your kind recommendation.

OP, the executorship bit is a big red flag. I never suggest that I be named as an executor (mainly because I don't actually like doing probate . It's a classic trick to bleed your estate dry.

I'm getting mine re-written on Wednesday. It's £120 for both of us or £95 individual so you are being ripped off!

We are moving to Dubai shortly so DH will need a UAE will as well which can only be done in the UAE. This is costing £1000!

Deep Purple, your dh only needs a UAE will if he will no longer be domiciled in the UK and/or he owns bricks and mortar property in UAE.

Otherwise your UK will should stipulate that he's domiciled in England and Wales, and that the will applies to all assets anywhere in the world, except bricks & mortar properties in other countries.

Trying to save you £1k!

Another vote for mumblechum here.
www.marlowwills.co.uk

If you can wait until November, you can get a local solicitor to do your wills through Willaid.

''A local solicitor writes your Will, then instead of paying their fee you are invited to make a donation to Will Aid. The suggested donation is £90 for a basic single Will or £135 for a pair of basic mirror Wills.''

The money goes to charity and you get your will done by your chosen solicitor, so it's win,win.!

We used a rather expensive solicitors for quite complicated wills (for various reasons) and they cost £400.
The executor & change in price def rings the run away type bells!