Counting the cost of DIY and online will writing services
You’ve written a will. Your loved ones are provided for. Or are they? Wills can be more complicated than you think. Phrase a bequest incorrectly and it could lead to expensive disputes. Choose the wrong witness and a will could be invalid. Make amendments without following the correct process and your wishes could be ignored.
Writing or updating a will with the support of a certified solicitor can help you avoid these and other pitfalls. DIY templates and online will writing services rarely come with the same legal safeguards, which can result in costly mistakes that only come to light when it’s too late. According to one survey, 40% of people wrongly believe that all will writing services are regulated.
To help you check the validity and accuracy of your will, our specialist team has put together this checklist. It’s also a useful guide if you’re among the 34% of adults planning to write a will in the months ahead.
What can make a will invalid?
As legal documents, wills are subject to certain rules. These are some of the scenarios that could invalidate a will:
- Using beneficiaries or their spouses as witnesses
- Failing to sign the will correctly
- Making handwritten amendments after signing.
If your will is found to be invalid, the estate may instead pass under the rules of intestacy rather than according to your wishes. This can have devastating consequences for families, particularly where there are unmarried partners, stepchildren or estranged relatives involved.
How should you word bequests in a will?
DIY wills can unintentionally contain vague or overly simplistic wording. Phrases such as “my savings”, “my possessions”, or “divide everything equally” can result in ambiguity. This can lead to disputes between family members and, in some cases, costly litigation.
Verbal promises and informal understandings are rarely enough to resolve disputes after the death of a loved one. Families can spend thousands of pounds trying to remedy issues that could have been avoided with professional will writing advice.
How can you include a blended family in a will?
Modern family structures are increasingly complex, yet many DIY will templates fail to account for this. Second marriages, cohabiting couples, children from previous relationships, estranged family members and vulnerable beneficiaries all require careful consideration.
A simple “leave everything to my spouse” approach may unintentionally disinherit children from an earlier relationship or fail to protect assets for future generations.
Many cohabiting couples wrongly assume that living together automatically gives them the same inheritance rights as married couples or civil partners. In reality, legal protections for unmarried partners are often limited and can vary across the UK.
Why is personalised and professional advice important?
Most DIY wills and low-cost online services are designed to be generic. The problem is that very few estates are “standard” or “simple”. Important issues can easily be overlooked, including:
- Inheritance tax exposure
- Business assets and pets
- Digital assets and online accounts
- Foreign properties and trusts.
Property values, pensions, and changing tax rules mean that many people underestimate the complexity of their estate and the potential consequences of getting things wrong
What happens when DIY wills go wrong?
With 25% of Brits unclear about how to make a will, cheap DIY templates and online services can seem like a great deal. But they can come with a hidden price tag. Fixing the problems caused by a badly drafted will invariably costs more than seeking expert advice at the outset.
Attwaters is a member of various professional bodies and authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. We understand the complexities of will writing and can help express your wishes clearly and carefully while minimising potential tax liabilities.
Our friendly team can also provide assistance with probate, lasting powers of attorney and trusts. To book an initial free consultation, contact us on wills@attwaters.co.uk or 0330 221 8855.
