•
•
•
an attorney can cost as little as $200, for
an individual and $250, for a couple’s
will.
Using a specialist will writing service
costs around $69 to $125.
You can subscribe to a legal service for
monthly “dues” which would entitle you
to certain legal assistance each month
which would include the writing of a
simple will at no charge.
You can buy a template document in
stationery shops for as little as $20.
But whatever you do, don’t do nothing!
THE MAIN WILL WRITING OPTIONS
USE AN ATTORNEY TO WRITE YOUR
WILL
Attorneys are the experts – they know
their stuff, and they should write you a
watertight will that does exactly what you
want it to.
It’s the most expensive option, but it
will give you most peace of mind, especially
if your affairs are complex.
YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER
AN ATTORNEY IF:
• Your estate may have to pay Estate
Tax (currently, you might have to pay if
your estate’s value is more than $5,490,000)
• You’ve got a complex family situ-
ation, like former partners or estranged
children, and you want to be sure that your
estate can be divided as you wish
• You want to protect someone’s inter-
ests after you’ve gone, like a disabled family
40 HimPower October 2017
member
• You want to talk through the options
with an expert or you need some support
you can trust
USE A WILL WRITING-SERVICE
This is a cheaper option than an
attorney, and offers a fair amount of support
and advice, but it’s very much a case of
getting what you pay for.
If you’re deciding between a will writer
and an attorney, remember that:
• Your will writer won’t necessarily be
legally qualified
• Will writing services might not have
been trading as long as many solicitors’
firms – an important consideration if
you also want them to store your will,
and
• Will writers aren’t regulated in the same
way as solicitors, so there’s less come-
back for you if things go wrong – so try
and use a will writer who’s a member of
a professional organization
Expect to pay: around $69 and