💶 Making a Will - What is the Average Solicitor Fee?

Fishdoodle

An elderly relative of mine now widowed wishes to make a will. She had her original legal documents sent to a new solicitor she was recommended.

This solicitor informed her that the cost for her service would be €4000. That seems excessive to me.

What is the average rate charged for making a will?

L1011

How complicated are they intending to make the estate? And does that fee cover more than just writing the will?

I'm paying a tiny fraction of that for two, albeit with an extremely simple setup, and a known to be lower priced solicitor that I've used for house purchases/remortgage already.

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119610822#Comment_119610822

Thanks L1001! IN this instance it should be simple enough I'm sure. Dividing of assets (she lives a simple enough life - owns a house, has savings and possessions). Just writing a will and perhaps setting up an enduring power of attorney. I can't envisage anything else that she may be charged for.

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058263144/making-a-will-what-is-the-average-solicitor-fee

Robbery, unless its really complex, many will do it for free, in the expectation that they will get the business.

4k is complete bo$$ox, unless she has multiple assets in off shore trusts etc

{ after all it should just read, I leave the lot to Fishdoodle]

Tusky

I have been asked to track down a solicitor for the same purpose, for a very simple will. Can anyone recommend someone with low, or preferably no, fees?

The Continental Op

Does that include a fixed fee for administering the will when she dies or just writing one simple will?

Edit> Going back about ten years it was (iirc) €120 for our solicitor to draw up two wills.

dinneenp

€4k!!!!!!!!

https://www.probate.ie/services/making-a-will-general-info/#:~:text=Cost%20of%20making%20a%20will&text=However%2C%20the%20average%20cost%20of,Wills%20is%20%E2%82%AC150%20%2B%20VAT.

The complexity of your estate will determine the cost. However, the average cost of the most common Wills is €150 + VAT. Before you make an appointment it is a good idea to list the questions you would like answered as well as your instructions regarding your money and possessions. You should also decide how you want your estate divided, as well as your choice of executors and funeral arrangements.

sully123

The enduring power of attorney costs a bit by itself. Maybe nearly 1k. That's all I know

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119610862#Comment_119610862

😂 Seems total robbery to me too!

Trigger Happy

I used these guys.

Will making | Solicitors | Making a willMake My Will Solicitors

Could not fault Susan for the service she offered. And the price was a fraction of what bricks and mortar solicitors were suggesting.

(I have no connection to this business!)

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119610901#Comment_119610901

Thanks! I was just about to ask for recommendations! I'll check out the link.

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119610882#Comment_119610882

Great! -Thanks for outlining the procedure 👍

Thanks also for the link - very informative!

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119610881#Comment_119610881

Thanks, I'm not sure, I'd imagine there'd be some post-death administration to be done ... though nothing complicated or out of the ordinary I can think of.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119610927#Comment_119610927

Normally you just pay for the service like writing the will and setting up the PoA which imo should't come to anything like 4k. So I was looking to see if there was another way that it could all come to 4k and adding in administration of the PoA and then the will is the only way I can see it getting to anything like that amount.

Try another solicitor!

adelcrowsmel

There is a free wills month every year for the over 55's if they can wait until May next year, but if not good to know for others.

https://freewillsmonth.ie/

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119610882#Comment_119610882

I wonder, …with a remote type service the solicitor doesn’t seem to necessarily be present as a witness to the signing of a will.

I’d have thought the solicitor you use would need to be a witness also? Can anyone act as a witness (outside of immediate family I presume) ?

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119610881#Comment_119610881

They can't do that because its up to the executors to decide who gets paid, however if there is no provision for the cost of administering the estate in the will it cant be paid for.

Look over here

https://www.askaboutmoney.com/forums/wills-inheritances-and-gifts.94/

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119611148#Comment_119611148

That’s a great link to an interesting forum! I myself am unfamiliar with a lot of the legal protocols such as grant of probate - I think I’ll learn a lot from that link 👍

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119611148#Comment_119611148

The solicitor can be the executor and in case there is no money they may want paying up front.

Edit> The other side of this is we don't know exactly what the OP's mother actually said to the solicitor. It might have been the usual mammy type of thing like I don't want to bother anyone what will it cost for you to do everything?

dinneenp

On a related note- join your local credit union. When you kick the can, they'll contribute towards the funeral costs, €1,950 I believe.

AnRothar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119611415#Comment_119611415

T & C's apply. Minimum age and maintain a certain balance among others. Check with the CU.

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119611247#Comment_119611247

😅 It was through my mum that I heard about this situation and cost, however, -in a kind of Freudian survival instinct -she’s definitely on my mind as her solicitor is retiring and her will written ages ago!

You’re so right about the Irish mammy thing -they really don’t want to bother anyone!

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119611493#Comment_119611493

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119611415#Comment_119611415

This is something I didn’t know! Reading through the home insurance policy last year I noticed a death benefit mentioned. I’ve always wondered if that might have applied following my dads death some years ago! There are always terms and conditions and the finer print somewhere!

Fishdoodle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119610882#Comment_119610882

I rang the solicitors in Andrews St. Seemed very decent but unfortunately, they’re not taking any more clients for wills.

If anyone has any recommendations in Dublin / (South) would appreciate a PM . Handy to have a walk-in service (but will check the remote type also).

Thanks everyone for your contributions 🙂

steamsey

~€400 inc. Vat for husband and wife's will very recently

ozmo

Got quote from our solicitor- 300 for a basic one page will - And that excluded vat … and expenses… and then was told that would be Each! (Would not do one- had to be separate wills - he mumbled about some new law about equal rights) so about 1000 and just felt a bit scammy.

this is about 5 times what i thought it would cost. Anyone got any recommendations for a law firm thats about 200 all in?

I see unicef and many cat and dog homes do them for free if anyone is interested…here are 2 such links:

“https://www.unicef.ie/support-us/leave-gift-in-will/free-will-making”

https://www.dspca.ie/how-to-help/make-a-will

893bet

I am intent on writing my own this year.

Going to keep it simple. All to my wife and we both die the same time all to children. Will take my fathers will and retype it and get it witnessed by sister and a friend.

The cost can be zero if you wish.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119719663#Comment_119719663

That’s great until one of the beneficiaries decides that they’re not happy and they feel that another beneficiary put pressure on you regarding the will. Or that there’s another will somewhere leaving everything to them.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119721270#Comment_119721270

In my case there are no other beneficiaries that could lay claim. And if there is another will that they suggest then bring it forth with my signature on it.

And having a solicitor write the will is no more legally binding as such. A home will is equally valid if witnessed.

TooTired123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119721361#Comment_119721361

After one of you die, the surviving spouse may very well make an entirely different will to the current will, rendering the current will worthless.

Even if the surviving spouse declines to make a new will then one of the adult children may well challenge the will.

True, this can happen even if the will was created with legal input, but a will witnessed and copy of same held in a solicitors office will withstand a challenge better then a piece of paper from home.

893bet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119721455#Comment_119721455

In that case the will was fully executed at that time. By leaving it to the spouse.

Both wills will have the same legal standing IMO aslong as the terminology used is sound legally.

Now if there was one in solicitors office all along and a new one was scribbled at home in the last weeks of life then yes can see a challenge.

But assuming you are doing a straight forward and “fair” will to traditional beneficiaries (and not cutting someone out that is of equal relationship to another beneficiary) then I can’t see the issue with a home one. Challenges to wills are a rarity.