Question on making a will

[Etherealhedgehog]

I feel like I should know the answer to this but it's not easily googled, so hopefully Mumsnet to the rescue...?

If you buy a new property, do you have to update your will to reflect that? Or if your will just says all of my estate goes to XYZ then presumably it doesn't matter if the value of the estate changes considerably after that was written (eg. because you bought a house).

Basically we have a baby and would belatedly like to get a will sorted. Purchase of first home much delayed due to covidp/a purchase fell through etc etc. It should happen in the next year but I'd rather get the will done sooner - but not if we're going to have to go back and pay the solicitor to update the will after we buy a place.

Presumably there are lots of people on here who are further down the path of grown-upping than I and know the answer to this question?

I'm no expert, but have just written mirrored wills with my husband and ours states that all of my estate/20%/50% of my estate will go to XYZ. Our will was very simple as it all goes to the other person or if not then to our children.

You can make provision for specific gifts to be given to specific person though if you want - this part may need to be updated if it changes.

No, you do not have to update your will just because you buy a new property.

As the previous poster suggests, you may need to update your will if you sell a property that is specifically named in your will as part of a bequest to someone (e.g. I leave 123 Any Street to X). But buying a property does not require an update to your will.

Thanks both. That was my assumption but I wanted to check before going and spending money on lawyer time!

I used the which will
Reporting service. If it’s a pretty basic will (which it sounds like) I’d recommend them. Standard template that’s filled when you answer questions then reviewed with comments sent bacj

thanks @HidingFromDD. We're going with the Free Will offer through the charity Mind - unlike some charities it seems like you can do it with them at any time of the year. But there is an expiry date on the voucher we have been sent, which is one reason why I want to get my skates on! But that does sound good - I'll keep it in mind in case anything doesn't work out with the Mind thing

There's a mumsnetter called @mumblechum who specialises in wills called Marlow Wills I think from memory who hangs out on these boards and has been recommended by lots of people.

The done thing is not to mention specific property because if you write ‘123 Acacia Avenue to my brother Steve’ and you no longer own that property when you die then the gift will fail and poor old Steve will get hee haw. Usually you’d just put that x% of your estate goes to Steve, y% to Janice etc. If you are doing a will through a proper professional they will be able to advise on the best way to word things so that your will is future proof.

I’m expecting my first baby so DH and I recently sorted out our wills via mumblechum/Marlow Wills. Obviously this was a paid service but we were both very happy with her service.

Another MNetter here who found @mumblechum0 really helpful for "finally" sorting new wills for us.

https://www.marlowwills.co.uk

I need to do my will.

Coincidentally, DH and I had an appointment with a solicitor today to start this process and I asked exactly the same question. We are going for mirrored wills and I asked if we wanted to buy another property in the next 12 months (probably a pipe dream), would we need to update the will. @prh47bridge gave the answer we were given ie if it just becomes part of the overall estate, it doesn't need to be changed but if you want to specify who that property goes to, it would do.

Another recommendation for mumblechum
She did my parents wills several years ago

@thecapitalsunited
@FinallyHere
@Wegobshite

Thanks all for recommending www.marlowwills.co.uk. @prh47bridge is spot on as always.