Is this a crazily expensive will quote?

[NelferchyLlyn]

I have had an initial discussion to make a will and thought the quote was really high! However, I have no idea if this is actually ok or not.

Quote is for:
Myself and my sister.
Usual estate to go to both our respective children with spouses allowed to live in property until they die.

We also co-own a property abroad (France). We would like our halves of this property to go to each other if we die.

Solicitor advices 2 wills each, one for UK estate and the other for French estate (which will be sent to french notaire on our death).

Quote has come through at £6500 in total.

Is this amount usual? I really wasnt expecting this high cost....

Wayyyy cheaper than my firm would do it for.

Christ...that made my eyes water. Granted I don't have an overseas property shared with my sis but the wills my DH and I made cost us €200 in Ireland. They were just straight forward wills so maybe that's the big difference

The solicitor was lovely so would actually go with her without another quote if it is a sensible quote.

If not, Ill get some more quotes done.......

Ah, so this is an expected amount then..

Excessive. Unless it's one of the big London law firms. Get another quote.

It seems high to me. Are we talking squillions, is that perhaps why?

Definately not squillions. Apart from the overseas property. A normal 3 bedroom house each and a bit of savings.

*edited due to spelling error

so is that 4 wills in total?

Good grief. Ours was under £1000 for both.

Always get at least 3 quotes. They're all lovely when they see the £ signs.

I had mine done along with POA docs and some quite complicated trusts for 3.5k for me and my partner.

Your affairs are not competely straightforward so right, I think to use a solicitor, but they're not that complex either.

Where is the time to make that up to £6500?

Far too much

Get a few more quotes
Is it really any surprise the solicitor was really lovely OP

Seems very high to me.

Might require taking French advice to ensure the French elements work under French law. That would tip the amount up.

I paid £100 for 2 wills last year (uk assets only) so would 2 French wills cost £6000+ ?

I dont know what the French are like but my mothers best friend left two flats in Spain & the Spanish allow you to deal with them under English law according to the Solicitor.

I had a very amusing conversation with him 'You know about the Spanish Flats?' 'No' 'Ah - they are in Alicante' 'where?' 'I will see of I can find out'

All sorted in the end

My firm would charge much less tbh.

That sounds expensive to me. Get another quote.

2nd quote is similar.....

Ill see what the 3rd one brings in.

We’ve just had a straight forward mirror will and allocated poa for my dh & I & its £1200

We did our Spanish wills a few years ago for 400 € combined (cash so they didn’t put VAT on) and that was with a proper Spanish solicitor. Our UK wills only cost about £300 for us both.

That seems like a lot.

DH & I had 'mirror' wills done just before his somewhat sudden death. It was about £500 and the solicitors were brilliant. They visited him in hospital and in hospice to make sure he was compos mentis and they helped me file for probate afterwards and facilitated loads of official (photo)copies for lots of documents.

If your British estate is straight forward: I leave everything to my children equally or similar plus read this extra document from France. If so, the fee for British wills should be equally basic.

Can you meet a notaire or French solicitor in France to arrange the documentation for your shared property? Again, it doesn't sound complicated: You each leave your share to the other and then your combined children inherit?

No.

Get another quote.

I've just paid c£425 to have mine redone. The solicitors who did it last wanted c£700 but they have gorgeous Georgian premises with a cathedral view, so that takes some maintaining.