Time to write a will

[LaLaLamp]

Has anyone here had this done recently with a solicitor, and if so, what can I expect to pay. Also looking at funeral plans if anyone has any information they would like to share. Have sent off for a couple of packs, didn't realise that some plans dictate when the funeral will take place.

Thanks in advance

Hi Lala, I had mine done at a solicitors and it was a set fee of £120.
You tell them what you want in it .they will keep a copy and give you a copy.
Funeral wise I have all my wishes written down and I’m fairly confident my family will follow it. I’ve not got to the stage where I want to actually arrange it myself through a funeral plan , the money for it can come from my estate/ bank account. Having lost a close relative with absolutely no idea of their wishes it’s not nice to have to arrange

Just been quoted £130 for a single will.

Presumably you meant “some plans dictate where the funeral takes place?”

Littlemisslists I thought your estate/accounts are frozen when you die & money often cannot be released until probate is granted - do you have someone who will pay for the funeral in the interim if push comes to shove (have never arranged a funeral myself so I don’t know how common it is that funeral providers will wait for their money).

Think mine was about £120 a couple of years ago.

@MarlowWills did mine. She's a MNer and offered good rates.

Those prices look cheap to me, nearer £200 is usual for a simple will.

Personally, I wouldn’t buy a funeral plan. Multiple reasons, my estate can pay funeral costs, it adds restrictions and complications in at a time they’re not needed and I believe primarily are sold because of the commission that’s earned.

Agree re accounts frozen so someone does need to be able
To pay.
However it gets complicated. I had authorised online access to my mas accounts ( had power of attorney - she was fine but wanted me to deal with various things for her). On her death phoned her bank
And was told because the amount was under a certain amount I could transfer it to myself (executor hadn’t yet instructed probate solicitor). In agreement with siblings I transferred some to a separate account of mine and her funeral etc was paid from that. The rest was transferred to probate solicitor and the balance from that account.

Cannot remember how much I paid solicitor for this service, but just to say, each November there are solicitors who will draw up a will for a donation to charity.
No funeral plan made as yet.

mrs I thought that executors were allowed access to funds for funeral expenses.?

We just did ours free with an offer via MacMillans website. We each have a 'life book' which we visit a couple of times a year. It outlines funeral wishes etc. Think we got the template from the Age UK website.

I thought that executors were allowed access to funds for funeral expenses.?

Yes, banks will release funds to pay funeral costs before probate etc