The DIY Will Disaster
Alan and Maria downloaded a free will template, signed it at the kitchen table, and put it in a drawer. One small procedural mistake invalidated the whole thing.
“We just wrote it ourselves, it's the same thing, isn't it?”
Alan and Maria downloaded a “free will template” online. They completed it at the kitchen table, printed it, signed it, and put it in a drawer.
When Alan passed away, something small but vital was missing: the two witnesses signed at different times.
That meant the will was invalid. Legally, Alan died intestate — with no will.
Everything went to Maria's stepchildren, not Maria. She had to move out of their home.
All because of a simple procedural mistake.
Why professional drafting matters
With professional drafting, the will would have been valid, binding, and enforceable in minutes. Home-made wills are the number one cause of probate disputes in the UK.
Visit Wills provides clear guidance, proper witnessing instructions, and a correctly executed will, every time.
Want to chat it through?
15 minutes on the phone, free, no obligation. I'll answer your questions and you decide what to do next.
— Anita Elliott
Solicitor of England & Wales · Visit Wills · Blackpool
Originally posted on Nextdoor. General information, not legal advice for your specific situation.