questions about making a will

[WankmasterBastardDeLaShithead]

I'm trying to work out what sort of will we should get. We're not particularly flush at the moment, so I'm tempted to go for a cheapy off-the-shelf one. Our finances are fairly straihgtforward, but obviously having DCs complicates things (I think??).

Can anyone tell me what 'extras' you get for paying for a solicitor to draw up:

a Joint straight forward Will

or a will containing protective Trust

or a Tax planning Will (although I don;t think we could possib;y afford this one at the moment).

wow - that is a name to conjour with

sorry - no advice about wills - we did our with a solicitor - cost about £150 I think - maybe 3 years ago.

thanks throck!

Anyone else?

Mine cost 120+VAT and my partner's was 90+VAT I think. I couldn't have drawn it up even though I knew the complications involved and what I was trying to protect/ensure woudl happen

Ours cost about £100 for mirror wills (i.e. our wills were the same, but I was DH's beneficiary and he was mine). We have a DD (and another on the way), so if we both die then the money goes in trust until the DCs are 24. The solicitor asked about tax planning, but we're not rich enough to make it an issue at the moment. I think that it would have been "thrown in".
I would go to a solicitor, personally, as I don't want any possibility of there being a technical error that messes things up for the survivors.

Please go to a solicitor. A small error in filling in the form or in the signing process of a readymade Will can invalidate it competely, leaving your family in a complete mess when you pass away.

What 'type' of Will you have will depend upon what result you want, and a solicitor will advise you on that as part of the process. There is only usually the need for a really complex Will with protective trusts, interest in posession, etc if there is a lot of money, a 'second family' to look after, the need for inheritance tax planning, a disabled relative to look after, etc.

Most high street solicitors will do fixed price 'mirror image' Wills and advise whether you need something more complex. Give a few a call and get some quotes. Although it costs a few £ now to get a solicitor drawn Will, a well drafted Will will save £, time and stress in administering when you are gone so imho it's well worth it.

I hope that helps.