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Writing your will uk cd

Everyone should have a will, and there are a number of ways to get yours done and drafted. From solicitors to do-it-yourself wills, see what to expect, what you’ll pay, and how to choose what’s right for you.

It’s your choice

You might feel confident getting stuck in yourself, or you might prefer to pay an expert to make everything easy for you.

There are three main options to choose from:

use a solicitor
use a will writing service
do it yourself

Read on to decide which is best for you – then pick one and get started. But whatever you do, don’t do nothing.

The main will writing options

Use a solicitor to write your will

Solicitors are the experts – they know their stuff, and they should write you a watertight will that does exactly what you want it to. It’s the most expensive option, but it will give you most peace of mind, especially if your affairs are complex.

You should definitely consider a solicitor if:

your estate may have to pay Inheritance Tax (currently, you’ll have to pay if your estate’s value is more than £325,000)
you’ve got a complex family situation, like former partners or estranged children, and you want to be sure that your estate can be divided as you wish
you want to protect someone’s interests after you’ve gone, like a disabled family member
you want to talk through the options with an expert or you need some support you can trust

Expect to pay: A single will drawn up by a solicitor could cost between £100 and £200. A joint will for couples could cost between £150 and £300. Make sure the cost you’re quoted includes VAT.

If your affairs are complex, such as involving trusts or overseas properties, it will cost more.

Use a will writing-service

This is a cheaper option than a solicitor, and offers a fair amount of support and advice, but it’s very much a case of getting what you pay for.

Writing your will uk cd need some support you can

If you’re deciding between a will writer and a solicitor, remember that:

your will writer won’t necessarily be legally qualified
will writing services may not have been trading as long as many solicitors’ firms – an important consideration if you also want them to store your will, and
will writers aren’t regulated in the same way as solicitors, so there’s less comeback for you if things go wrong – so try and use a will writer who’s a member of a professional organisation

Expect to pay: around £75 and upwards. Extra services, like looking after your will, are often quoted separately. These costs can add up.

There are also a wide range of charities offering free will writing services but they do hope for a donation, some are only available to the over 55’s and some are dependent on local availability.

For more information, read about cheap and free wills on the MoneySavingExpert website .

Write your own will

The cheapest – and perhaps riskiest – way to write a will is to do it yourself. You can buy templates online or at stationers’ shops.

This is only really a suitable option if your affairs are very simple – for example if you’re married or in a civil partnership, you have no children, and you want to leave everything to your spouse or civil partner when you die.

The template should show you what you need to do to make sure that it is signed, dated and witnessed properly, and that your old wills are revoked.

Writing your will uk cd your will, and
will writers

It is important that these rules are followed, otherwise there is a risk that your homemade will be invalid.

The law about inheritances and how they’re taxed can be complex, and things might change between you writing your will and when you die. That makes it risky to write your own will without any advice at all. But you can do it if you want to.