Wills

[starjammydodger]

Does anyone know of a good solicitor who can do a will for us; we have a 2.4yr old dd with CP and I've heard about making some sort of special will so that she still gets her benefits etc?

[AgnesDiPesto]

Cerebra currently have a grant for wills which include a discretionary trust which pays first £350 legal fees. I think they have a list of solicitors attached to the scheme.

[mumblechum1]

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/small_business_ads/1654092-MARLOW-WILLS-PROFESSIONAL-WILL-WRITERS-RATED-5-BY-MUMSNETTERS

OP, this is a link to the Marlow Wills paid-for advert. We're currently running a special offer on Disabled Person's Discretionary Trusts, if you're interested.

The main advantages of these trusts are that they don't give the child with SN the money directly, instead the trustees are able to pay directly for extra care, holidays, accomodation, equipment etc without the child/adult being the direct recipient, and therefore they are still entitled to means tested benefits.

The other advantage is that the child/adult isn't the target of unscrupulous people who may otherwise gain access to their share of your estate.

[MerryCouthyMows]

Thing is, won't it cost far more than £350 to get a will drawn up?

I don't have ANY spare money to do this with. But given my current health issues, and my DC's SN's, and multiple fathers, not all involved, it is becoming a necessity.

Would I get legal aid to help if I get it done by the end of March? I live quite a way away from London!

[buildingmycorestrength]

It cost us about £80 to get two wills drawn up a few years ago. There is also Will Aid in November where solicitors draw up wills for a donation to charity.

[mumblechum1]

I normally charge £100 for a single, £150 for a pair of mirror wills. Putting a discretionary trust adds about £60 to that.

I very much doubt whether you'd get a discretionary trust will drawn up for free under Will Aid, as they usually only cover standard wills.

I used to charge £400 ish when I was working in High Street practices. I can afford to charge a lot less than that now as I work from home.

[mumblechum1]

Merry, I don't think legal aid covers wills, unfortunately.

I have a special offer on disabled person's discretionary trusts until 28th Feb.

[HairyMaclary]

Mumblechum did our wills last year, was far less painful than I expected (this was why we had put it off for so long) and also much cheaper. I still haven't filed them where I'm supposed to have done, but at least we have them!

[mumblechum1]

Hairy a will is no good unless it's signed, woman! Get it signed and then remember to scan the back page over to me so I can check it's been done correctly before it goes to storage please!

[HairyMaclary]

It's signed! I promise and you've checked them! Just not put in the official storage place and stored in our filing cabinet, I can't remember where the storage place is now either but all the info is together. It's on my to do list ...

[mumblechum1]

Oh that's all right then. (I don't have a clue who you are as I don't cross ref. nicknames and RL names). The link is on the letter I sent with the wills

[sneezecakesmum]

Its me thats not got it signed....... Will see neighbours tomorrow

[mumblechum1]

Make sure you do, young lady! Seriously, it's really important that I check the signing page, otherwise if it goes into storage with a signing error, the will may be invalid. Scan it over as soon as possible, please Sneezecake!

[zebrafinch]

I had made my will but my DSs father kept putting it off. I then found out about the Cerebra grant for making a will, he applied was awarded 350£ and got his will done. If he had not been awarded the grant I really think he would have still kept putting it off.

[zebrafinch]

Mencap organised a local talk on wills with a solicitor we went with someone else in the end. Check the Mencap website, I think they still do a lot of documentation on providing for your child after you have died

[zebrafinch]

It is worth checking out legal aid. I just looked at the UK Gov website, searched legal aid and it says that "legal aid is not usually available for making wills
Unless..

You Are over 70, disabled or have a disabled child"

I expect there will still be a means test to see if you qualify.

[zebrafinch]

We paid more than the quote from mumblechum but less than £350. it was outside London.
The important thing is to stop putting it off

[zebrafinch]

Actually ,we both had to do single wills,( as we are divorced ) the cost was over £200 EACH I can't get to my filing cabinet to check the actual sum I paid.
ex DH did not use the full £350 awarded by cerebra, they paid the actual sum it cost

[zebrafinch]

GIven the mess you could leave behind price should not be the only issue to consider, we only considered using an experienced qualified lawyer (would have considered mumblechum1 on this basis having now checked the website)

[mumblechum1]

zebra yes, I qualified in 1988 so am absolutely ancient. The only reason I can do the wills so cheaply is that I work from home.

[starjammydodger]

Thanks all. Mumblechum1 I have emailed you through your website. Thanks

[WilsonFrickett]

Oh get them done, honestly I know the cost is a factor but you will feel so much better once everything is organised.

[mumblechum1]

Wilson.

Thanks OP, I'll have the whole thing done and dusted for you within 5 days

[mumblechum1]

Just in case anyone's interested, I'm enquiring about joining the Cerebra scheme, so will be able to use their vouchers once that's all gone through.

[mumgoingcrazy]

Another one who has used marlow wills and can recommend. It was far painless than I thought it would be.

Mumblechum, ours are signed however I can't find the info on where to store them. Could You send me the details? Many thanks

[mumblechum1]

Hi mumgoing crazy, if you'd like to email me (I haven't the foggiest who you are in RL ), I'll re-send the letter with the link. I will have emailed the letter as well as posted it if you want to search your inbox.

Meanwhile, thank you very much for your recommendation