Share your thoughts on Wills with Which? Win £300 voucher or free Will! NOW CLOSED

[RebeccaEMumsnet]

Writing a Will is something that many of us put off, as it’s never a nice subject to talk about and the process can seem confusing, but Which? Wills is hoping to change all that with their online Will writing and Power of Attorney service.

They would love to hear your experience of how you got your Will sorted, or, if you haven’t got around to it yet, what’s putting you off? It would be great to hear your stories of how you decided how you would write your Will, and your tips to those who have yet to do it.

Here’s what Alex Neil, at Which? has to say: "It's important to make a will to ensure that your assets, including your home, savings and belongings, are distributed according to your wishes. It can be very difficult for loved ones to do this if you pass away without having made a will.”

Did the birth of your DCs prompt you to write your Will? Do you think that it’s important to have a Will as a parent, and if so, why?

Whatever your experience (or lack of experience!) of Will writing, we’d love to hear your story so that other Mumsnetters can take advice.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw, and one MNer will win either a £300 Love2Shop voucher or a free Which? Will Writing Service (T&Cs below).

Thanks,

MNHQ
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Which? Wills prize T&Cs

We need to write a will as we now have a 2 yo and another baby on the way. It's something I really need to just get on with but I'm pretty clueless. This looks like a good place to start for info!

I think people need to make wills, as it is the only way your wishes will be met :) I have yet to make one though!!

I think having a will is absolutely essential although there should be an easier way to make one and update it. Made one years ago but had another son since and wish I could just log onto a website, change a few details and hit save.

Having had a mother in law who died a few months after receiving a lump sum divorce settlement, but leaving no will, I realise the importance of specifying what your wishes are after you die, and the impact the law can have if you don't.

I think Wills are important to make your intentions clear - Plus if you don't have a will then it makes the process a lot longer and more stressful for the family that are having to deal with it.

We've not sorted wills yet because we don't have kids and (perhaps mistakenly!) were under the impression that being married automatically transfers our assets to the other and therefore we don't need one yet. But, we're adopting and will definitely be making one asap once all the legal stuff has gone through.

Oh and also we have no exes/stepkids/difficult families to make life complex, which is also why we've just left it till now!

We haven't got around to arranging wills yet but we really need to. With ds and Dr to think of

My worry is my mother who refuses to make a will knowing that certain family members will crawl out of the woodwork making demands!!

We made our wills together when our first child was born and we took advantage of Will Aid month to make it more affordable (you make a donation). I am glad that it has been done, but can see why people put it off.

Wills are a necessity, the problems that can happen and split families if there is not one are too many.

I think they're vitally important to have sorted out. Otherwise you're leaving your loved ones in a real mess at a time when they will be grieving. I wrote my will in my 20s and have updated it as and when needed. I bought a will writing pack and followed the instructions. Even through a solicitor it doesn't need to cost a fortune and its an investment...like an insurance policy...to make sure everything ends up right!

I need a will but feel stuck. I am about to remarry BUT i want to leave my house to my children whilst not seeing my partner homeless if I should pop my cloggs first. Not sure how to go about that one so have kinda avoided the whole will thing for now.

I think even though people dont want to think about writing their will, unfortunately they are super important and if you want your inheritence to go to those you care about the most - you must write a will x

Really must get round to it, as if the whole lot of us go up in a puff of smoke I really don't want a certain relation to go skipping off into the sunset with my money...

DP and I went to see a financial advisor soon after dd1 was born. His advice was to make wills as a priority, as we have no intention of getting married. He recommended a solicitor who worked pt from home just doing wills, so she came to the house. It took two sessions, one to set out what we wanted and another to get them signed. We felt so much better knowing they were in place. At the time we thought we wouldn't have another dc, but I insisted we included 'any future children' just in case. We now have dd2 so I'm glad we did, and we really should get round to amending the wills to name her properly. I also want to specify what happens to some family jewellery since we have two girls.

After going to six funerals so far this year, it's probably time to ensure that not only our wills are properly up to date but also our own funeral arrangements

We are over 40 with a young family - we need to make wills and I know how important a will was when my own mum died last year - but it's finding the time and the money to get it organised. Most importantly I would like to ensure that our son is taken care of.

I haven't done one and i've always been put off by doing one with the solicitor fees and things like that.
Its generally confusing, i have had a quick look about them online before but i don't really understand it.
In an ideal world, i would just like to be able to do it myself and know that that is ok!
xx

Really need to update mine as my circumstances have changed

You should make a will if you have a child, if there was a tragic accident and you and partner died there would be enough grief without families arguing over who was going to look after the children, wondering what your wishes were (or arguing over them).
A will is a must, there are free will writing services for a small donation to charity ever year, so lack of money is not an excuse.
Same with life insurance, if you have children take out life insurance.

As soon as I fell pregnant with my son, myself and hubby got our Wills made. I think it is so important to have, not just financially but when the children are young for custody issues too .

It's not what might happen when you do write a will, it's what will definitely happen if you don't.

Like 90 per cent of the people on this thread, my cousin was in her 40s with a clutch of kidlings; like everyone else, a will was one of those things she and DH were going to get round to.

DH had a heart attack in traffic one Monday morning and died. She and her children had to pay 40 per cent tax on everything he left. His life insurance went to his wealthy mother, who didn't pass it on. They went on benefits. They lost their home. The eldest children had to leave school at 17, miss out on university, and got jobs at the chicken shop instead.

If he'd made a will his family would have been saved all this. A will is a vital defence against poverty and heartbreak.

Not made one yet as we don't have any spare money to cover the costs of doing this, we have sat and written a letter making our wishes clear which is in a safe place but we really should do it properly

I am 35 and have no experience or knowledge of Wills whatsoever!