Will advice please!

[Mouldheels]

My dad died earlier this year and my mum doesn't have a will. It should be straightforward, property and savings to be divided between me and my brother. There are half siblings but they aren't my mother's children and she brought most of the money to the marriage so I don't think they'd have any claim.

It seems easiest just to buy one of those kits they sell in WHSmith and fill it in ourselves and the neighbours could witness. Or is this a bad idea and should I get a solicitor to do it? Thanks for any advice.

If the children are your father's children and he pre deceased your mum, they'll likely have a claim on the estate. Did your dad leave a Will?

Sorry to hear about your dad.

Honestly, I really wouldn't DIY. The potential fall out if it's incorrect and your half siblings contest it would cost far more than just getting a solicitor to do it properly if it's a simple as you reckon.

Out of interest, why do you think they have no right to anything? You say your mother brought 'most' of the money into the marriage, but that's not 'all', plus you're saying he contributed absolutely nothing to anything financially over the course of the marriage? Assuming you are now an adult, that's a pretty long time. I obviously don't know the background but it always strikes me as fairly inhumane to leave one's child precisely zero without good reason. I'm assuming he either didn't leave a will or left everything to your mum?

If there are two parents with whole blood kids who are all treated the same at both first and second death it's straightforward and a DIY kit from WHS, legastat or wherever is fine.

If there are children of more than two parents, ie half sibs/step sibs, involved and some might get less/nothing then to me that's a trigger for professional advice.

That advice may be that it's fine for your Mum to disinherit her late hubby's previous kids but equally there might be issues she should be aware of, rationales that should be explained or particular wording used.

Get legal advice and have a solicitor draft the will. It isn't worth the stress if the will is invalid or badly drafted.

Did your father leave money to all his children? Was his will fair to everyone?

He left everything to my mum. Thanks, we'll get a solicitor.

Why shouldn't your Dad's children get anything at all? That doesn't sound very fair to me.