If you have recently been considering making a will then you may have stumbled across one of the many online will writing services.
While this may look like a fast, efficient way to prepare your last will and testament, it may have left you with some unanswered questions.
Here we will take a look at the positives and negatives of using an online service for your will preparation.
Pros
Convenient
Preparing a will online saves a trip to the solicitors office and means that you can write your will in your own time in the comfort of your own home. Giving you time to consider your choices and weigh up the many options that you will need to consider.
Cost effective
Because you are not directly meeting with legal professionals the cost of writing your will online can be substantially less than going the traditional route. Setting up one or more meetings with a solicitor carries an expensive price tag, which online will writing neatly eliminates.
Fast
The speed of creating a complete will is much faster when using an online will writing service. Here at Affio we have professionals on hand to guide you through the process and answer any questions, so you can have your will fully prepared in as little as 1 hour.
Easy to Amend
Being able to access your will digitally means that it is easy to make changes or adjustments. Altering beneficiaries or changing executors can be done with just a few clicks of the mouse.
Fully Legal
An online will is just as binding as any other legal document or will that has been written in the usual way. The instructions contained in your online will are carried out just as any other will would be, there is no difference.
Though there are obvious advantages, there may be a few things to consider before preparing your will using an online service.
Cons
Can be overwhelming
If you have no idea what you want to achieve from your will then it may be overwhelming to get your thoughts and wishes set down. Getting a clear picture of things like who will be your beneficiaries can be helpful.
No legal support
While online will services offer guidance and advice, complex estates may still need to engage the services of a solicitor to talk through options or unravel complicated transactions.
Technical Ability
If you are a complete technophobe then the idea of preparing your will online just may not appeal to you. Although the process is made as simple as possible, some basic technical skills will be needed to complete the process.
Contingency planning
While we at Affio strive to ensure that all bases are covered, some online will writing services may be lacking when it comes to long range plans, that extend the details of your will beyond immediate family or beneficiaries.
Things that will need to be considered for contingency planning are items such as:
What happens if the primary beneficiary dies before you?
What happens to any jointly owned property or financial accounts?
What are the legal processes around guardianship and children under 18?
Will anyone be able to challenge the will?
Even with these drawbacks, writing a will online is quickly becoming a viable option.
People have increasingly busy lives and other obligations, so the option to write a will from a laptop and take care of business quickly has a distinct appeal.
The time-saving aspect alone is a big win for those with demanding work or other commitments that make scheduling time difficult.
Online will services have the benefit of being accessible 24-7, meaning you can write your will at 2am on a Sunday morning if that is the only time you have available.
For many people the ability to store their will securely online is also a bonus. Fully encrypted and secure storage means that your will is safely guarded from prying eyes.
Our secure storage systems use safe encryption that is identical to those used by top financial institutions.
So you can be sure your will is kept completely safe and confidential until you need to access it again.
If you would like to get started then visit Affio's website and find out just how easy it is to prepare your will in less than 1 hour.