Can I Update my will to a new solicitor ?

[thewire2020]

Quick question I have my will made but it’s over 20 years old now, it’s with a solicitor in Cork, however can I make a new will in my local town or do I have to remain with the solicitor that has my original and amend the original one ? Thank you

 

[ClubMan]

You don't have to use the original solicitor. You can use any solicitor that you want. Just make sure it's clear that the new will supersedes/overrides any previous will(s). Your solicitor will be able to advise on how best to do this.

 

[thewire2020]

Perfect thanks @ClubMan

 

[TomEdison]

When you make the new will, it's strongly advisable to recover the old will from the solicitor who holds it and, when you get it, destroy it. It's revoked anyway by the fact of making the new will, but you do not want two different wills floating around after you are dead.

 

[Annieindublin]

An elderly cousin died last year… she had 7 wills with several different solicitors dated over the past few decades. Took a while to sort it all out.

What was annoying and avoidable was she kept asking a solicitor to come to see her in the nursing home and she’d get her/him to draw up a new will and get staff to witness it. Then do the same a year later, on 4 occasions same staff, including the home manager, now she seemed to be fully clued in and alert. And it’s her right to do this. And each of the solicitors accepted a fee and each will as properly drawn up.

Sorting it all out incurred more costs. The risk being of course that there was an 8th will knocking around. So all the local solicitors had to be contacted and asked to check. There is a surprisingly large number of local solicitors! And that was in a village in midlands, dunno how that works in a city.

And the final will was beyond messy, but it was legal. Left a mess for her heirs and the net effect looks likely to be another abandoned derelict house in rural Ireland and an ongoing battle between her siblings.

 

[thewire2020]

Great advice thank you, I enquired with two local solicitors and I informed them of my previous will. I asked for a price to draw up a new will one is €150 ( 2 meetings one to draft and one to sign ), the other will charge €400!

 

[T McGibney]

I asked for a price to draw up a new will one is €150 ( 2 meetings one to draft and one to sign ), the other will charge €400!

A better question might be how much do they charge to process wills post death.

I know of a couple who paid £100 for the will and when they eventually died in short succession, the solicitor charged the family €60,000.

 

[ClubMan]

The executor can choose the solicitor - if any - to be used for probate. It doesn't have to be the solicitor who advised on the drawing up if the will.

 

[Des Pondent]

I know of a couple who paid £100 for the will and when they eventually died in short succession, the solicitor charged the family €60,000.

Very true, happens a lot.

But there is no obligation on the executor to give the job to the solicitor who drew up the will.

My parents Solicitor who held the will quoted mad money for probate and house sale.
I got another solicitor to do it for about 60% less.

 

[Protocol]

The problem is when people appoint their sol as the executor.

 

[BlackandBlue]

can I make a new will

Also remember it will be helpful if you tell the expected executor (if you nominate someone) where it can be found.