Are free Will services (through charity) just as good as going through a solicitor?

[smithson999]

My husband is looking at doing a will. Been researching for him and noticed you can do for free via a charity and make donation in the will. I really like this idea. Has anyone done this? Are they just as good and valid as going through a solicitor?

If you just need straightforward wills, perhaps in mirror fashion, with a few pecuniary legacies and residue to survivor then kids then I'd be fine.

Less so if there's complicated stuff like putting house in trust and other stuff for IHT or Care Cost planning.

We were thinking of getting our wills updated via a charity too. I do like the idea but I as wondering the same as you op.

Be careful of what the charity tries to pursue you to leave them in your will. Always make sure that it’s a set, expressed figure i.e. £5,000 rather than a percentage of your moveable estate: many grieving families have found themselves in legal battles with charity lawyers whose remit is to make sure they obtain that percentage, even if if means forcing sale of items which family would like to keep but which are valuable and the charity wants to take their cut of.

Frankly I would avoid using a charity. Free anything is designed to hook you in. It’s marketing. Our affairs are way too complex to go down a simple will route. If yours has complexities, do use a solicitor who can advise. Plus both of you need a will. Not just DH?

I work for solicitors and they used to do the "free" wills and then bill the charity (which is why you should make a donation or leave them a bequest).

We did this and left a set amount in our will to a charity. It looks no different to wills created by other solicitors although did take about 5 monthd to come through so depends if you’re in a rush. There was no pressure about the amount to leave to the charity. Ours was straightforward though.

Thanks for this. Good to know!