Focus SWW Autumn 2018 | Page 21

the case. A Will Writer will be able to give you in depth advice as to how they access your needs. Where the inclusion of trusts takes place the cost of a Will is likely to increase. Consider also that your Will writer can help you with LPA’s, severing the tenancy on your property, as well as Will storage. These will all have a cost attached to them. Remember that you’re not only paying for the Will but for the advice being provided. Consider the tax savings on the estate as well before coming to the conclusion that it’s all too expensive. In summary, there are no fixed costs for a Will. It depends on your needs, the advice provided, and there are countless variables like location etc. Speak with a Will Writer to get an idea and remember not to feel pressured. Will storage – practical considerations The key considerations when it comes to Will storage are that when the time comes, your executors need to know where your Will is so they can act upon your wishes. We’ve heard countless stories of Will Writers going out of business and clients not being able to find their Will, people storing at home and the Wills going missing or being destroyed by accident. Remember that if you store your Will in a bank deposit vault then your executors won’t be able to access it. If you chose something like The National Will Archive through the SWW then your executors can be provided with ‘credit card’ style records of where the documents are held. You as the testator will be provided with a certificate of safe storage. We store in excess of 100,000 documents. www.thenationalwillarchive.co.uk depending on the other services being offered and what is stored. If updates are included, then it is likely to increase. The difference between storage and registration The Society of Will Writers do not believe in lifetime storage with free updates. There are no guarantees that the Will writing company will be able to guarantee this service or be there to offer the service in years to come. It is important to note that there is a difference between Will storage and Will registration. There is no national register for Wills but Certainty – The National Will Register hold probably the largest record of where Wills are stored. They know the location of over 7.5 million Wills. They don’t store Wills. Will storage is just that; the physical storage of the Wills. If your Wills are stored with The National Will Archive then it is likely that they are registered with Certainty. This will increase the chances of a Will being found should the location not be known by the executors in a Will. Nervous about writing your Will.. Don’t be. Remember, you’re in control and you can ask as many questions as you like. You wouldn’t buy a car if you weren’t happy, so apply the same logic. If you have any questions then speak to the Society of Will Writers by calling 01522 68 78 88. Alternatively visit our website: www.willwriters.com What does storage cost? Typically, Will storage is charged annually. This ranges from £30 to £50 but can cost more The Society of Will Writers 19