Read what MNers thought about Beyond’s online will writing service

[AbbiCMumsnet]

This activity has now closed

This is the feedback thread for the users that tested out Beyond’s online will writing service.
This was open to MNers with at least one child who live in England or Wales.

Here’s what Beyond have to say:
“Without a will, the state determines what happens with your kids and assets, whether you’re married or not. So, a will is vital for parents, and Beyond make it simple and affordable to get it sorted online. In 15 minutes, you can protect your family with a legally-binding will - without ever having to leave the house. It’s perfect for busy mums and dads. Trusted by 1,000s of UK parents, Beyond’s easily updateable online will service lets you protect your family, choose guardians for children and pets and leave personal messages for your loved ones.”

Testers please answer the following questions:

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?
• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?
• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?
• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?
• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?

Selected testers will be required to leave their feedback on a thread on Mumsnet and fill in a short survey. Everyone who leaves the required feedback will be entered into a prize draw where 3 x MNers will win a £100 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw.
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

[OneRingToRuleThemAll]

I was chosen to be a product tester, but could not complete the will as it was not applicable to my circumstances. My husband is the step father of my children, and I wanted to leave him my assets in trust to be passed to the children when he dies. I have significant assets in my sole name and don't want to risk disinheriting the children, nor do I want to leave my husband struggling.

It only gave me the option of leaving whole percentage of the estate to people, without leaving some in trust.

I have made an appointment with a high street solicitor to sort my will out and appreciate that it's a complicated situation so no fault of this company.

[Busydrinkingcoffee1]

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use? Incredibly easy, very quick and well explained

- Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind? Yes, now that we have DC and have just bought our first home it was essential we had this in place

- Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future? Yes particularly as it's so easy!

- How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service? We have already researched similar companies as have been meaning to do a will, and the price is very competitive

- Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families? Yes and have already done so

[Karanew]

Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?
Yes the format was is simply to fill and use very clear to understand

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?
  

Yes I had been looking to do a will since I bought a house and this made everything easy and put my mind at ease

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?
  

Yes the service was great easy to change details and make amendments

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?
  

Very good value for a dual will for us both

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?
  

Yes I would highly recommend this service to anyone and will be doing.

[AbbyD]

Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use? Yes, it was so simple and easy to follow.

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind? Definitely, writing a will has been on my to-do list for ages but it always felt like a massive task, I can't believe how simple it was in the end.
  
• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future? Yes, because things change.
  
• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service? It seems reasonable, I would have expected to pay more in a solicitors office.
  
• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families? Yes, I think if people are put off by the effort involved in finding a solicitor and arranging it this is a great alternative.

[xSharonNeedlesx]

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?
  

Yes, very easy

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?
  

Yes

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?
  

Very, I know we will want to change things in the future so it’s good that it’s so easy to do

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?
  

Excellent

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?
  

Yes

[momo01]

I haven't yet managed to complete my will as I wanted to speak to Beyond regarding a few aspects first, but it's hard speaking to them outside office hours. Just called their '24 hour' helpline but it said they were closed - err...

Lots of reviewers are saying how simple it is - but doesn't that concern you? Writing a will is a complex and nuanced business, and that's why most people go to a solicitor (as some friends of mine have done and recommended that I do). The types of questions covered by a solicitor were not at all covered in Beyond's process. I also wanted to do my husband's will at the same time without having a mirror will, but there didn't seem to be facilities for that.

I will keep trying calling Beyond, but if I don't manage @MNHQ I'm afraid I will have to abort and won't be able to complete this review. Thank you for selecting me nonetheless - always grateful.

[sherbertlemon17]

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?
  

Yes, really easy. So easy, that I did it on my phone whilst waiting for my son the fall asleep.

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?
  

100% I’ve been meaning to write a will for years, so it’s a weight off my shoulders.

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?
  

Yes. Especially if things like bank accounts change, it’s easy to change your assets.

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?
  

Can’t compare to the cost of a traditional will but I’d pay £135 for 2 wills! Especially that it was so quick and convenient to do. I imagine underwriters and solicitors would be much more costly.

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?
  

Yes.

[Lostmyunicorn]

This is completely off the point but as I scrolled through the active threads list I misread the title of this post as referring to Beyoncé’s new will writing service which caused me to do a sharp double take...
As you were...

[BooseysMom]

Lol..i also misread and thought at first glance it said Beyonce's Will-writing service! I wondered what she was up to these days!

On a more serious note, we've just bought our first ever house and the next step is to sort out our wills. The thing is the house is shared ownership and we won't know how much we will be able to afford to buy in the future. So we may need a solicitor to do the wills as it's bound to be more complicated than if we had bought a whole house

[potatochips84]

-Did you and your family find Beyond’s online will writing service easy to use?

Yes. The process was simple and made sense. It was a bit confusing allocating pet guardians but after trial and error we managed to do it

-Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?

Yes, we have wanted to create a will for a while and now we know that in the event of both of us dying, there is a legal document that details our wishes for our daughter and pets

-Is it reassuring to know that you can easily update it at any time in the future?

Yes, this was one of my favourite features as things do and can change in life and it is reassuring to know that it can be done online without unnecessary stress, money or extra work

-How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?

Fantastic.

-Would you recommend Beyonds will writing service service to other families?

Yes, it was straightforward and really easy to do. Particularly good in these busy times when it is hard to find time to make solicitors appointments etc. It can be done anytime and anywhere so is great for everyone

[lilyboleyn]

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?

Yes. I actually really enjoyed using it! Easy, comprehensive and attractive. Would definitely recommend.

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?

Absolutely. I've been meaning to write a will for years and years, and knowing that this is a legally binding document has given me great peace of mind.

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?

Yes, that's a fantastic feature.

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?

I think it's quite a lot of money for what it is... personally I'd have felt happier around the £50 mark because it really is just (or seems just to be) an online survey that you can then print yourself. I appreciate the fact you can edit over the course of a year, though and that it is a legal document, and of course that it would have cost more doing it in person at a solicitor's office.

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?

Yes. The ease of doing it online is such a good selling point. Thanks!

[guardbabe21]

-Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?

This was my first will so the process had seemed very daunting to me as I thought that it would be really complicated to do. But beyond made it very easy to do and making the will was really straightforward.

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?

Having a will has been something I have been wanting to do for awhile now as I always worry about who my daughter would end up with should something happen. Having been able to make my will really easily I feel a lot better should something unexpected happen I know everything is how I want it.

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?

Knowing that I am able to change my will easily should I need to, makes me feel better as before I just presumed that I would have to rewrite it should I need to make a change. Its reassuring that this isn't the case and that I still have the freedom to change it.

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?

I think that the cost is reasonable, especially if you are needed a joint one. It was easy to do but I feel that some people who might want to get it checked over themselves afterwards would find it costly should they want the additional checks. After a bit of research I feel the price is around the same as what I would expect for the service your getting.

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?

I would recommend Beyond's will writing service to other families. Especially those who like me are daunted by the idea of a complicated process to create a will. It is very easy to use and navigate and this will appeal to all families. Having the freedom to change it should you need to is also something that I would recommend.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to write my will using your will writing service.

[sunshineskys]

Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?

Yes, very! So much easier and less daunting than booking a solicitors appointment (I imagine much cheaper too, given the costs charged by solicitors for other services in the past).
I had one glitch when I must have pressed back by mistake and thought I’d lost everything I’d entered but it was fine, it just took me back one page and saved everything else. The instructions were very clear.

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?
  

Yes. I haven’t got much to leave but wanted to make sure what I have got was left for my son.

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?
  

Yes, I think being able to make changes for only £10 is brilliant. Circumstances will obviously change over time and I’m glad I can update this quickly and easily if I need to, without a solicitors appointment or paying the full cost of a whole new will.

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?
  

Excellent, because any changes needed can be done for £10. I would have assumed a completely new will would have been needed for any changes. It made the process very easy, the system is uncomplicated and quick to complete. I just need to print it off and get witnesses to sign and I’m done!

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?
  

Yes, definitely.

Thank you for the opportunity to test this service, I’m really glad I’ve finally got around to doing a will as it’s been in the back of my mind for a long time.

[FlutterBingers]

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?

Yes, it was beyond easy. And I know I'm sad but I actually found it quite fun.

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?

Yes, it's been nagging at the back of my mind for about 2 years now that I ought to get it done, and now I have.

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?

Yes, and being able to do it online rather than going to all the hassle of making an appointment, going to see someone, etc is a massive plus

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?

It's got to be cheaper than going to an actual solicitor.

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?

Yes, definitely

[Halmo]

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?
  

Very easy and straightforward to use.

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?
  

Yes, finally got it sorted! Have been putting it off for years thinking it would be too complicated to sort out.

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future? Yes, however I think that £20 per year is expensive as i don’t expect to need to make changes for some years.
  
• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service? Excellent value for money
  
• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families? Yes. It’s so easy to use

[marymanc]

Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?
It was very easy and quick to use.

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?
  

It is good as a temporary will but my husband and I are still looking into a solicitor one. Beyond seems a good website but it is not regulated by any legal society. What will it happen to the will if they close down?

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?
  

This seems a good service and it is reassuring.

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?
  

I am not sure if I will pay £135 for a joint will in real life in particular if it is not written by a solicitor.

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?
  

Yes. Every family should have a will and this is a quick service.

[ruthr79]

Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind? yes it has
• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future? yes great feature
• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service? good
• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families? yes i would very easy and straightforward

[cwitchard]

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?
  

Yes, the process of filling in the details is quick and simple. I did have to use the chat to ask questions, but these were answered relatively quickly (but being able to keep going back to it was a big plus as life gets in the way!)
I did find it a little unclear when it came to completing a joint will. I came back here to ask others what they had done and got the answer, but it could definitely be made clearer that once one will has been made and paid for (joint fee), a message is sent to the partner for them to complete theirs.
It took Hubby less than 15 minutes to complete his as the text is copied from the original will for him to change, or not as he decides.

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?
  

Most definitely - we have been saying we would do one since we found out we were having our first (almost 4 years ago!) so knowing that this big and important job is done, puts my mind at ease. It's not something you really want to do, but it is so very important!

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?
  

This is a great idea and for £20 a year after the initial free year, it seems like a fair price. Things will change in the future and knowing you can easily update the wills is very reassuring, although, I'm not sure if they need to be re-witnessed every time they are updated??

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?
  

I think it's a fair price, considering my parents paid over £200 to have theirs written. It has also saved us having to find time to go to a Solicitor, and then pay them for every future update.

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?
  

Yes, and already have!

Thank you for the chance to use this service. It is probably something we would have just kept putting off until it was too late!

[HoneysuckIejasmine]

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?

Incredibly so! Very fast, very user friendly.

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?

Absolutely. I know my wishes are completely clear and legally enforceable.

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?

Yes, as I can easily amend my will to reflect changes in circumstances.

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?

It was £135 for partner wills which would be very reasonable if I was paying. I had expected £200+.

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?

Definitely!

[boo2410]

Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?
I can't believe how easy it was, I was expecting it to be much more difficult.

Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?
Definitely, I have MS and it is possible that I will pop off before my husband. It's nice to know my affairs are in order. It's something I'd been meaning to get around to but never quite managed to do.

Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?
Yes very reassuring, and £10 per year is peanuts. I will have to find out whether my will will need to be re-witnessed when the time comes.

How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?
Although this didn't cost anything (thank you Mumsnet), £90 is, I think, a very reasonable cost.

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?

Absolutely, especially for the cost and ease of use.

Thank you Mumsnet for the chance to make a will, I'm a bit of a "put it off-er" so I'm really pleased I've done this.

[cupofteaplease]

Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?
Incredibly easy. It took me about 20 minutes in total and everything was explained clearly.

Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?
Very much so. I’ve been wanting to write a will since my divorce, but I never got round to prioritising the expense in my budget. It’s always been a nagging thought, what would happen to my children? Now I have something in writing, it’s a relief.

Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?
Yes. It’s a handy function to have.

How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?
Good, because it can be done in the comfort of your own home without making an appointment with a solicitor, which would be more expensive.

Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?
Definitely, it’s so easy to use, I have already mentioned it to two people!

[Thorilicious]

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use? Far easier than expected. I kept putting it off, but it took no time at all.
• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind? Very much so. It also made me consider things I hadn't before, such as who would look after the kids.
• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future? Yes, it made decision making easier, as I know it can be changed if necessary.
• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service? Brilliant value for money, I went for the wills for me and dh, and thought it was a really good price.
• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families? Yes, absolutely.

[MuddlingThrough1724]

Hi everyone!

I am just filling in the details for my will for the product test. I followed the link from the email and selected to do wills for both my partner and I (they will be a mirror of each other). I've filled in my details to the point it is asking me to pay, but it hasn't yet asked what my partner wants to do for his will. Is this correct? Have I somehow selected only to do mine? Is his info after the payment stage? Or have I missed the point entirely and when asking how easy it is for my family, do mumsnet just mean me??! Can I upgrade to include my partners will after payment if so? Thanks in advance!

[MuddlingThrough1724]

Have just seen that @cwitchard has already answered my question upthread!

[AngryBudgie]

Thanks for the opportunity to try this service.

• Did you and your family find Beyond's online will writing service easy to use?

Really easy, I managed to do all from my phone, rather than having to log in in my computer. In each section you're guided through the process step by step. There is also a handy chat button where you can talk to an advisor if you needed it (although this was only available during office hours).

• Do you feel that it has helped your peace of mind?

Yes, it has been at the back of my mind ever since I've had my children that I need to get it sorted. I can now relax knowing that I have guardians in place for them should the worst happen. I also have peace of mind now know that my estate will go to who I want it to when i die.

• Is it reassuring to know you can easily update it any time in the future?

Yes for an extra £20 you can update the will when ever you need to, which is helpful should my circumstances change.

• How do you rate the value for money of the will writing service?

£90 for a single and £135 for a joint I think is very good value for money for a basic will

• Would you recommend Beyond’s will-writing service to other families?

Yes I would recommend this service to any one who has a simple estate to administer.

If however your circumstances are more complex then this is probably not the service for you as the step by step nature of the process is inflexible and you're limited to the options a available. For example I was wanting to select further people to give my estate to if my husband and children to died (which could happen if we all died in a car crash for example) but I was not able to do this.

Over all if you have a simple estate then this is a great product.