This is bothering me. The first will done 2 years ago (w very reputable solicitor firm) took 4 months before I was called in to sign, and it was as simple as. Final will less than 2 pages. Straightforward , no complicated trusts whatsoever, basically bequeath all to partner, and if no partner equally to children divided. It took 4 months before I was called to view a draft. Now, same thing is happening with another solicitor. Same will with a little bit amendment omitting a clause that should not have been there, in fact solicitor virtually works off the copy of the 1st one. (I decided to change solicitors since I had to rewrite it, I decided on one near my place) It's been 16 weeks, and still no email draft for my perusal. Have 'gently' reminded the office 2wice via phone, 2wice via email and all I get is 'being worked upon'. Make no mistake this is a very reputable firm. I'm not reminding anymore, it's getting embarrassing and they must think I am neurotic. Is this a normal time span? If I had died within these months, the new will would not have been in force. I would have expected 6 weeks at most.
How Long Should a Simple Will Take to Draw up? Both Times I Waited 3-4 Mths
Last edited 25/05/2015 - 02:09
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When we had ours done (for free) at the Public Trustee office, they completed them in front of us and we signed them immediately. If you are in Queensland I would highly recommend getting them done through them. Our wills are pretty much identical to the ones my parents paid $600 each for.
A solicitors office should take a week max, I'm guessing they have a back log of work and you are suffering for it. It is poor practice for them to make you wait so long without warning - as you say, you could die in the meantime.
Go to your local post office or newsagency and get one for $30.
legal document.Solicitor approved.
Works a wonder
I got my one done and checked it out with the public trustee as wellI second the Trustee in Queensland.
Why did you go to a solicitor? Do you have other dealings with them?Now I'm truly worried. As you read above, I called them twice in the 4 months, and when I feared being a pest, I ALSO emailed the office twice. Therefore 4X altogether. Didn't come today either. No, I have no other dealings with them, but my bad, I worried about having it done by Public Trustees because of some feedback about their role. In hindsight, I could have saved myself $600+ but it's too late now. (First appointment already done). As for the will kit, once again I was warned if there was any unclear wording or ambiguity, would render the will null and void. I guess I saw the language in the previous will and thought if you are not up to that kind of lingo, you may commit some technical error and then what. So there I went, down the path of a solicitor.
Interesting to see the favourable comments here about Public Trustee. I'm in SA and my relatives have always advised against this, as they take a percentage of the estate when you die, as opposed to a solicitor, who generally charges a fee upfront, leaving much more in the estate (assuming you have a fair amount to leave).
You don't have to appoint the public trustee as your executor. Just use their service to draw up your will.
Yes, that's true. What I should have added is that drawing up the will is free only if you appoint the PT as executor (who then takes a percentage of the estate), otherwise you pay for it (at least in SA).
A suggestion I saw on another forum: Get the PT to draw up the will with them as the executor, then re-make the will the next day without them as executor.
@Dacs: remaking the will in the correct legal way will need to be done at a cost again. :) :) :) by the way that draft I mentioned that was 16 wks late is now 20 weeks late and I've stopped calling. Worst come to worst will fall back on the old will should I kick the bucket, and don't this solicitor dare charge me for the consultation time when there is no signed will to show for. 2 words: unbloody believable
One week at the most. I got my draft for review (Wills, Enduring Power of Attorney and Advance Care Directive documents) by email in about three days and completed everything in 5 working days. You should ask how long it would take rather than keep wondering.