Writing a Will?

[CupcakesHay]

Hi

I'm a bit novice at things like this - and just thinking ahead, as currently preg and think it's probably worth getting something in place for worse case scenario.

how much does it cost, roughly, to write a will?

And is it as simple and saying if me and Dh die baby goes to so and so and cats go to so and so and money goes with baby?

any advice would be great

[Jaybird37]

Probably cost about £100-150 with a solicitor. Presumably you and DH are making reciprocal wills

It is basically as simple as you say, but there are a few things I would bear in mind.

Firstly, make sure that you ask whoever you want to take your baby in the event of you and DH both dying.

Secondly, once you have made a will you are unlikely to update it, so if you are planning on extending your family, you need to say that you would money divided between them.

I was also asked to think about what I would do if one of my two kids died, but left grandchildren, would I want all the money to go to the surviving child, or divided half to surviving child, and 1/2 to be divided between grandchildren, or equal shares to children and grandchildren.

There may be some items, like jewellery or personal items, which you want to leave specifically to either your child, or a friend, sibling etc.

[CupcakesHay]

Thanks jaybird. Really helpful - and yes asking my friend to look after baby if we die is on my to do list this week!

[mumblechum]

BTW, the reason that you should appoint separate Guardians and Executors is to avoid any potential conflict of interest. If the same person is both Guardian and Executor, then the danger is that they could take money from the trust not just for your child, but for the whole family. The classic example of this is where the Guardian/Trustee takes funds from the trust to pay for a family holiday, whereas if there are separate Trustees, the Guardian asks the Trustees for sufficient funds to cover just your child's share of the holiday costs.

[CupcakesHay]

Hi Mumble - thanks - i've saved your email address. I'm not due til 31st jan 2011 - so I'll sort something out after baby is born... but all very very helpful. :)

[mumblechum]

That's fine. What you could do, though, is make a will before the baby's born to cover any children who survive you (I don't name children individually, so as to avoid the possiblity of later children being inadvertently excluded).

[ChoccyJules]

Mumblechum has just done our wills and we were very pleased with her service.

[mowbraygirl]

We are currently having our wills prepared by Marlow Wills and would recommend them.

[knackeredknees]

We just had ours done last week and got a fantastic service.

//www.marlowwills.co.uk

[WhenDoISleep]

Mumblechum also did pur will last year - fantastic service.

[WhenDoISleep]

our wills

[mumblechum1]

Ooh my ears are burning!

Thank you all very much for your very kind recommendations. Anyone who's dithering still, have a look at my advert over on Classified Small Business ("5* will writing service recommended by Mumsnetters").

Ihave to put my prices up on 5th April so you'll need to get your skates on