Just to give you all the heads up if you have a will/house deeds with the above company.
My mum paid over £300 in 2004 to above company to write and hold her will - and as her children we were all sent a letter telling us how to contact them in case of her death. In the last year, my uncle passed away (mums brother) and she thought she had mentioned him in her will so she tried to contact The Good Will Company to ask for a copy of her will so she could make amendments - To find that they are no longer at the address or have the phone number which they gave her.
My mum has asked me to let as many people know so that if they have had any contract with this company that they can try and get hold of them, and if necessary make new wills as this will have a huge impact on families in a time when they should be grieving and also the person's wishes will not be considered or upheld without a will.
To those who don't have a will - please consider making one - it is one of those important documents that we do not always think to do and can have a huge impact on the family members you leave behind x x
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
quite agree about the importance of a will, the best place to leave it is with a long established firm of solicitors.
Totally agree - even with a will it can be a challenge, but a will does at least simplify some things and is a real boon. The proprietors of that company should be found and held to account for not keeping customers informed or providing a refund.
Guest 700- Registered: 11 Jun 2010
- Posts: 2,868
70% of British people don't have a Will and in most cases it results in varying difficulties for those left to deal with the property and belongings - IF they can be traced.
If no close relatives, ie. spouse, children, parents, grandparents, it can go down to first cousins, ONLY. If they can be found. But no further, except in Scotland I think.
If no one can be traced who could inherit, then it all goes to the Government- who have millions of pounds income from these sources every year.
Do you want to decide where your money and assets go? or are you happy to leave it to other people to decide?
For the cost of making a will, which is legally drawn up, a lot of heartache can be avoided.
If a will is prepared and left with solicitor or bank (or someone else) then it is wise to have copies made to leave with family/friends etc. So they know where the will is kept.
With less people going through legal marriages, it is even more important to have a will.
---------------------------------------------------
Lincolnshire Born and Bred
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
it has been vital in the past few months to know exactly where everything is meant to be going.
my mum and dad have just updated theirs and are in the process of moving their solictors from cardiff to dover. we have always used the same one as all the family but time to move the accounts we think.
but i know there is a copy in several places so we can access them.. soo vital
that company should have advised they were moving.. or if another company took over, have you checked with companies house?
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
it has been vital in the past few months to know exactly where everything is meant to be going.
my mum and dad have just updated theirs and are in the process of moving their solictors from cardiff to dover. we have always used the same one as all the family but time to move the accounts we think.
but i know there is a copy in several places so we can access them.. soo vital
that company should have advised they were moving.. or if another company took over, have you checked with companies house?
Something else for you to be aware of - though you may have a copy of the will - that will help with some wishes - but you will need to know where the original is as a lot of companies you have to deal with - will only accept the original, so please, please, make sure that you keep it somewhere safe and that your loved ones know where it is kept.
This may seem like a nightmare of a job, and some of us never do one, and some of us do one and never look at it again. But life changes - and children grow up and families fall out - and what once was your wish may not be what you want now - if you have a spare 5 minutes, look at what you have no matter how small - think what you would want to happen to a keepsake you have.
Also if you have children under the age of 18 and are not/were not married to your partner you should look into this too - don't automatically assume that they will go to their father - if something were to happen unless it is stated in your will.
I have seen many families destroyed by wills that have not been updated or even made one - and it is so sad - as I know the person who has passed would not want this misery and suffering it has caused to their families.
Please please please - make sure that you have your wishes carried out by your family/friends as you would want them whatever the case maybe.
