Who is your Will Writer?
You can get a
will for free, but
is it worth it?
A person is at liberty to draft their own will
if they wish, and therefore pay only for the
ink and the paper required to write it or the
cost of a DIY kit from a Highstreet stationery
shop. Any such “DIY will” will be perfectly
valid as long as it meets all of the criteria set
out in section 9 of the Wills Act 1837. However,
while DIY wills can seem appealing and cost
effective at first, they can cause complex issues
after your death that become expensive to
solve.
All SWW Members will provide up to date
advice in line with current legislation.
All SWW Members adhere to our Code of
Practice.
All SWW Members complete compulsory
annual CPD.
All SWW Members carry at least £2m of
insurance cover.
If you have doubts about an SWW member give us a call on 01522 687888.
If you would like to join the SWW then please email [email protected] for our
information pack or application forms.
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The Society of Will Writers
Baring that in mind, you may instead choose
to seek out expert advice and have your will
drafted by a professional will drafter. You may
even come across a firm who advertises their
will writing services for free! Our advice to
consumers taking up offers of free wills is to be
cautious. Do research into the firm first, check
what the terms of their offer of a free will is, and
make sure you thoroughly read and understand
all documents provided.
When a professional drafter offers to write
you a free will it is often the case that the will
is not truly “free”. Many include in the terms
and conditions they provide that they will be
appointed as executors of your estate (the
people responsible for administering your estate
after you have passed away). Their professional
service as executors will not be free of charge,
and fees can vary wildly. Solicitors, banks, and
trust corporations might charge anywhere
between 1-10% of the gross estate and may
even include an hourly fee additional to this.
There are definitely benefits to appointing
a professional executor if your estate is
particularly large or complex, or if there are
no family or friends who would be suitable
to act. There is no requirement to appoint a
professional executor however. If your estate
is not particularly complex it could be handled
by a family member, and this family member
could seek professional assistance if required –
keeping costs down.
If you do choose to take up the offer of a free
will on the basis that the firm will appoint
themselves as executors make sure you are
clear on their fees and the ultimate cost to your
estate.
Is there any such thing as a free lunch? Possibly,
but its best to make thoroughly sure before
committing.
The Society of Will Writers
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