Will Writing

Oneball

Member
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11,075
I’ve got a bit lost with this looking online.

Is there an easy way to put a will together to leave everything to the Ms (we’re not married) that’s legally binding?
 

dgmx5

Member
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1,142
How do you hold assets? Jointly or do you sole bank accounts etc?

Where held jointly, it will automatically pass to the surviving partner. Where held solely, absent a will it is open to a claim from anyone who is a dependent.

The principal requirements for a will are that it be in writing and that it is executed in the presence of a witness.

If you simply want to have joint wills passing everything (not held jointly) to the other that is pretty simple. If you have children or anyone else you want to pass something under a will, it will need some more thought.

The other issue is inheritance tax; accountants and solicitors will remain open and may be able to get round the problems of not being able to meet in person as is required to become a new client.
 

iainw

Member
Messages
3,386
I’ve got a bit lost with this looking online.

Is there an easy way to put a will together to leave everything to the Ms (we’re not married) that’s legally binding?
Might be a bad time to get legal advice on this as the largest employer outside the people’s republic of China are all trying to do the same thing!
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
The house is joint but everything else is separate. The Ms’s will is sorted. Me though I’ve never bothered so would just like to sort it. We’ve got no dependants/children.

Do I need to involve a solicitor and accountant?
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
Might be a bad time to get legal advice on this as the largest employer outside the people’s republic of China are all trying to do the same thing!

Yep, bit stupid, I always thought when I had cancer it was like admitting defeat and if it came to it I’d have warning but the current situation is somewhat different.
 

iainw

Member
Messages
3,386
Yep, bit stupid, I always thought when I had cancer it was like admitting defeat and if it came to it I’d have warning but the current situation is somewhat different.
It’s unprecedented times and it makes sense to think differently and plan. She is lucky to have you- and long may it last. Just stay safe through this. Statistically you are likely to be fine if you are sensible and so are others around you
 

allandwf

Member
Messages
10,958
After my traumatic other year, I put mine in place so I could sort everything out between the kids, and they had minimal potential trauma dealing with it. I used a solicitor, only so that they could have a single point of contact, if the wanted, to to deal with everything.
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
After my traumatic other year, I put mine in place so I could sort everything out between the kids, and they had minimal potential trauma dealing with it. I used a solicitor, only so that they could have a single point of contact, if the wanted, to to deal with everything.

Being one of the lucky ones I should have put something in place afterwards but rather stupidly didn’t.
 

MarkMas

Chief pedant
Messages
8,795
I’ve got a bit lost with this looking online.

Is there an easy way to put a will together to leave everything to the Ms (we’re not married) that’s legally binding?

THIS IS NOT PROFESSIONAL LEGAL ADVICE. But I have recently done my Will.

If you have no dependents, ex-wives or other complications, then you just need to write down who you want to leave it all to and make sure it is properly dated and witnessed.

If you have complications, or there is anyone out there who might challenge your will, then you probably need professional advice.

Normally for joint bank accounts, if someone deies the other person is just deemed to own the money, irrespective of any Will, but this can be challenged in Court.

Other 'joint' stuff is more ambiguous, and really needs a Will for clarity.

It can take MONTHS to sort out the paperwork when someone dies, so you should also make sure that the surviving partner has access to ready cash, as the sole bank accounts will be completely frozen on death (apart from funeral expenses).
 

dgmx5

Member
Messages
1,142
The house is joint but everything else is separate. The Ms’s will is sorted. Me though I’ve never bothered so would just like to sort it. We’ve got no dependants/children.

Do I need to involve a solicitor and accountant?

You don't and if things are very simple as you suggest and is all to go your partner and there are no other dependents a very simple document to that effect may suffice.

Ideally you should get advice and since a number of people on the forum are high net worth, it may be advisable to seek professional advice because of the inheritance tax implications.

I am not a private client or trusts solicitor, so the above is general guidance only and not to be considered as legal advice.
 

Oneball

Member
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11,075
Thanks all will make some phone calls to a couple of the solicitors in town in the week.
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,114
I'm supposed to be seeing a solicitor this Friday but with lockdown it wont happen.
Communicating by phone and email and as I have a couple of complications it's hard work in the current situation.
Will just have to see what happens.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,512
A professionally written and witnessed will is worth a couple of hundred quid of anybody’s money.
 

Ebenezer

Member
Messages
4,444
Seriously, just get married. Then there's no quibble. My late uncle was not married to my aunt (having divorced but then got back together) and she would have been left with no home for her nor my two cousins who lived there as well, had they not got married just before he passed.

But perhaps your domestic arrangements are more exotic already! ;)

Eb