I know it is a funny kind of question to be asking but I am wondering if any of you have ever used the Will kits available from post offices etc.Your suggestions are welcome.Cheers.Ibbo
I had a good look at these a while back and they are only OK and provided you have a simple will ie you are leaving everything to 1 person. As soon as your estate has to be say divided between say 3 offspring or 2 or 3 wives etc then it's a little more complex. You do not need a will kit a will can be written on anything and it does not need to be registered with a solicitor. You do need to appoint an executor to get it sorted once you die. In each state the public trustee (in Canberra it is the curator of deceased persons) who will administer your will for you for a fee however they usually include drawing up your will in that fee so you pay nothing up front. Also worth considering is "enduring power of attorney and enduring guardianship" while you are at it. The thing is that if you do not take the step of deciding what you want then someone else will and they may not do what you want. I can give you the wording for a will split between a spouse who survives you with disbursments for any number of kids and also including any weird wishes you may have eg having your pets ashes scattered with you, but it's best to let a legal person do it for you. So to answer your question.... no not really, you only have to put one ambiguous remark in it to cause havoc when you die "i give my piano to aunt nell" as an example, you have to be very specific especially if any of the items have any value attached. It's not a funny question, far too many of us leave it till it's too late - far better to do all this sort of stuff we don't like discussing while you are mentally competant to do it. We all die in the end so planning for it should be made compulsory. In NZ I belive that wills are compulsory and if you don't have one the state takes the lot.
-- Edited by Basil Faulty at 15:44, 2009-02-23
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Thanks Basil.I appreciate your very worthwhile answers to my question.I think that a will has to be done with a solicitor.It all seemed so easy with the Will kit promo.Cheers.Ibbo.
We recently made a will and paid over $250.00 and the solicitor said the will kits... after we parted with out money....are fine but can become a little complicated, but as Basil said if there are several parties who are going to be benefactors then it's best left to the experts. In our case it was a simple will, I left all my wordly goods to her ............nothing! and vice versa !
As with any will if someone wishes to dispute who gets what and who gets left out then Sh@t fight starts and the lawyers are the only winners. Have seen 2 million wasted disputing a 2 million estate and guess who got paid first.
Had ours done along with the enduring power of attorney for each, all up about $300. With only two kids and 8 gran kids to split it with not a real complex issue for a lawyer.
Make sure you talk with your kids or other next of kin on what you want to happen with your remains , NO GOOD ,stating it in the will as that normally only sees the light of day well after the worms have ya. Also tell whoever it concerns where the will is lodged so they can make the right contacts and get the true certified copy of your will so they can get their grubby little hands on you loot ASAP.
If using a will kit don't rub or cross out, it makes the whole thing open to a legal dispute after you out of of the picture for good.
No matter how simple you try to make it for those left behind as sure as God made little apples they will stuff it up , but who cares it's your rest in peace is what it's all about not theirs
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Thank you for your replies to my post.I guess that in my own mind a solicitor is the best way to go.Hate to think that I had booked a return trip.Cheers.Ibbo
