I want to make a simple will so do not want to pay for a solicitor,can I do this on my own,if so How do I go about it please?

What you are talking about is called a holographic will. It must be completely in your handwriting, not computer printed or any such thing. To be legal in parts of the UK it needs to be witnessed.

Make a fully legal online Will today » Holographic Wills

Here are some specific instructions about preparing a holographic will.

How to write a holographic will | eHow UK

I would suggest this be witnessed by non family members. Your physician would be a good choice if willing. The next step would be to give a copy to someone you trust to hold in case of your passing. I would also, get a small fireproof box and keep the original in it.

And I would suggest that simply not mentioning someone - I realize you have issues with your adult children - does NOT mean they will not inherit. There is very specific language which must be used if a specific person is "left out" of a Will.

Thank you both very much,I wanted to leave my grandson Josh all that I will have left,I do not own my own house,so it will just be money I have in the bank and my life assurance.If I put that in my will and give Josh a copy will that be OK? He is aware of my wishes.

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Originally Posted by kathmonica

thank you both very much,I wanted to leave my grandson Josh all that i will have left,I do not own my own house,so it will just be money I have in the bank and my life assurance.If i put that in my will and give Josh a copy will that be ok? he is aware of my wishes.

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Not sure if UK life insurance policies work the same as US ones, but in the US if a person is listed as the beneficiary of the policy, then they get the proceeds outside the estate. So consult with your insurance agent on that.

Also, If you put Josh on your bank accounts as joint tenant with right of survivorship, then those accounts will pass to him outside the estate, basically negating the need for a will. The caveat here is he will become an owner of those accounts and he could withdraw all the money on you, so you have to trust him.

Due to the family dynamics as explained on the other thread I think joint ownership - if the Grandson is trustworthy - makes sense. If this isn't a situation ripe for a Will contest I don't know what is.

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Originally Posted by ScottGem

what you are talking about is called a holographic will. It must be completely in your handwriting, ...

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If OP wants to write a will without the assistance of a solicitor, the will need not be holographic. It can just as easily be written on a computer, printed out, and signed according to the requirements for execution of a will in OP's jurisdiction.

I assume that jurisdiction is somewhere in the U.K. As stated in the blog to which ScottGem linked, "In the United Kingdom, unwitnessed holographic Wills are valid in Scotland, but not in England and Wales." Thus, a holographic will, without attestation, wouldn't even work in some parts of the U.K. anyway.