Deathbed Wills - Can I Get A Will Drafted In Time?8th Jul 2019
How Long Does It Take To Draft A Will?
Normally it takes up to seven days to complete the first draft of a will. But sometimes urgent family circumstances require immediate action. Our solicitors can draft a will within hours or – if need be – there and then.
We can visit clients at home, in hospital or at a hospice to help them put their affairs in order.
Get Urgent Help, Phone 01202 338800
What Are The Risks Of A Deathbed Will?
Our solicitors are highly experienced at drafting legally watertight wills within a few hours.
Every will should be perfect but especially a deathbed will because sometimes a last minute change can cause simmering family tensions to boil over.
Some relatives may have been expecting to inherit. But they may receive less (or nothing at all) in the new will. What will their reaction be?
They may attempt to contest the will. So you may need to defend it. For more information, contact our disputed wills solicitors – they are accredited by the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS).
Does A Deathbed Will Cost More?
Yes – because our solicitors may need to rearrange everything else they’re working on that day to accommodate a will that’s needed immediately. They may need to work overtime and under considerable pressure.
Furthermore, the meeting with the client is unlikely to take place at the solicitor’s office. So the solicitor may incur added travel expenses.
A deathbed will may also involve more than one lawyer. That is because every will – deathbed or otherwise – must be witnessed by two people.
As a rule of thumb the NHS and hospices are usually unable to provide staff as witnesses. They don’t want to risk becoming embroiled in time-consuming litigation from anyone challenging the will.
Your Coles Miller solicitor can act as one witness. And unless another person can be found to act as the second witness, you may need another member of the Coles Miller team to perform this role for you.
Find out more about making a will.
How Much Does All This Cost?
A normal will for an individual that is not complex and is drafted within seven days is charged at our normal flat fee of £175+VAT.
But a deathbed will cannot be charged at the flat rate. Instead it is charged at the hourly rate of the lawyer who drafts it. You can expect the lawyer to spend at least two hours drafting it at:
- £170/hour + VAT for a legal executive
- £190/hour + VAT for a solicitor
- £230/hour + VAT if that solicitor is an Associate or Partner.
It is important to note that deathbed wills are more likely to be dealt with by a senior and more experienced lawyer because of all the added pressures involved.
Get A Deathbed Will Drafted In A Few Hours
In an ideal world, no-one would ever leave it until the 11th hour to make a will. It is an important legal document that everyone should have.
But life is not always that simple – sometimes events change suddenly. It is at times like this that you and your family need expert advice.
For more information, contact Coles Miller Solicitor Anthony Weber, a Partner at the firm and head of our Wills & Probate Department. 01202 355695.
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This document is not intended to constitute and should not be used as a substitute for legal advice on any specific matter. No liability for the accuracy of the content of this document, or the consequences of relying on it, is assumed by the author. If you seek further information, please contact Managing Partner Neil Andrews at Coles Miller Solicitors LLP.
