I’ve had a few calls recently, asking me to deal with a quick update of Wills.
If these requests were from my existing clients, this can be a quick process. If a new client requires a new Will, there are no shortcuts. It’s never a case of glancing at a Will and then changing one clause, without looking at the whole Will.
What I personally suggest, when this query comes up, is that the person considers returning to the adviser who prepared the current Will. Sometimes, people say “duh, why didn’t I think of that?” and I wave them on their way, encouraging them to discuss fixed fees for minimal changes.
Occasionally, a client will tell me that they didn’t like the previous adviser, sometimes because the adviser made mistakes, or worked slowly, or because they simply weren’t listening. It varies. The reality is that when one of my clients needs a change made to existing Wills, I can conduct a review efficiently, and then following that refresh, I can prepare new Wills at an economical rate.
With new clients, it can never simply be, chop that person out, change an address, swap this for that or promote the kids as executors. There’s always more to it, and we need to go through my firm’s thorough process. That’s partly what you’re paying for when you start your journey with a new adviser.
If you need to make changes to your Will, please consider returning to the adviser you already connected with, who has your Will and details on their system. They ought to be an economical option.
If you want to chat your requirements through with a new adviser, then feel free to contact Jane at Jane@jcwillsandprobate.co.uk or give her a ring on 01727 840 240. But please don’t expect any shortcuts from Jane.