How do we do a will?

We just did the free one with Public Trust online - have a look at their website it has all the details and is really easy. Later on if we actually end up with some money and assets we will do another one, but for now thats all we need as just wanted it for same reason as you.

Anyone who is an executor can always ask an accountant or other for advice anyhow. It wouldn't be that difficult, just has to be someone you trust. And let them know where to find your Will

We found it very difficult to decide on guardians... I mean, we're the best, right? Also both our parents still have kids at home and none of our siblings had (have now) settled and had any kids. Got there in the end! We were motivated by bickering parents - I just know that if anything happened to us, there'd be two conflictors and two try-to-be-peace-makers amongst our parents!

I know our law firm charges about $80 for a basic one and they keep it on site permanently so if you die its there ready to go.

Just be careful about personal things that aren't witnessed etc... they can be contested in court. We had one of those and our lawyer said it was potentially worthless so we got new wills written (I'm lucky though that as an employee I get free legal work *yay*) but $80-100 isn't bad for peace of mind.

And your executor is anyone you trust that isn't named as a beneficiary in your will (otherwise it's a conflict of interests).

I might look up an internet one and just do one of them for now. DP doesn't think we have to worry about people contesting custody of Livvy but I really want one in place to be safe.

I guess we can always do another one later that is more thorough.

With the power of attorney thing, does it not come down to your partner anyway? or do you state it so that there isn't any conflict with your family?

No POA doesn't automatically go to your partner, and if they are away for some reason (take my Dh in the army) I can do whatever I like with his money as I have POA Makes life a lot easier, all you have to do is take the POA if you need to do anything. Piece of cake.

I don't trust PT... cheaper in the long run to pay a lawyer than have them take a part of your estate when you die.

$100 for a properly done will with a law firm is worth it. It is also held in a deeds safe and they do a search is you pass on if need be. They will also do probate etc normally and will assist family members after you pass.

We do not support the internet ones and have seen many of those not completed and executed properly.

Public trust is fine - both PT and law firms will charge executor fees if they are executors of wills and need to exercise that role after you pass.

If we don't have a lawyer can you just rock on up to one and ask them to do this for you as a one off thing? Sorry, we just haven't had to do anything like this before and don't know the ins and outs of it all.

Guilty conscience - I keep putting this off. In our case it's free since DH is a lawyer. You can go with Public Trust, but I wouldn't (DH has had lots of experience dealing with them and their stupidity/ignorance). We've done EPOAs for finance and health just in case it's ever an issue. I really recommend getting EPOAs done - I work in health and see lots of families where they don't have them and in some cases the issues end up in court (cos the person is severely brain injured and has reduced decision making capacity) which costs a bomb, often b/c the paperwork isn't done.

There was an interesting article in Little Treasures recently about young widows. One of the comments was that if you have life insurance and you don't have a will specifying the money goes to the partner, then the money is split between the kids and partner. We have life insurance so that if one of us dies, the mortgage would be paid, so that's one reason to have a will spelling it out.

We'll give everything to the each other; if we die it will be split between kid/s and probably held in trust till they're 21 or something. Guardians - one of my sisters and their husbands (not sure which yet and it's an interesting way to start a conversation!). In the will, you probably want to specify if they get anything to assist with the costs of an extra mouth/s. You can also include stuff like where you want to be buried. Executors - we'll probably have the partners in DH's law firm.

Yes, just ring round some local law firms. They usually have flat fees for wills/POAs as long as they're not complex.

My reason for putting it off is that I'm hugely hormonal at the moment, and the thought of DH dying and this all being a reality is just too much, so I'm avoiding it!!