Great to see your hand is on the improve seggie - look after yourself so you can chat more often.

I am very  glad (being a Pollyanna type I would now of course)

Seggie's hand is much better!

o.k. o.k. mean me did expect her to at least try

and type with her toes but then again I do have to remember

"I am super clever because I CAN wiggle each toe separately"

Beautiful day here today but I am starting on scrubbing things

I know need scrubbing (just giving Peter a couple more mins.

to read the paper before I nag a bit for help lol.

Life sure is good.

Seggie what happened to your hand ?

Hi Phyl,

I've had a fair bit to do with estates over the last few years (unfortunately) and there's not too many that go smoothly.  My advice would be to get a solicitor and don't leave anything to chance. (or the love and support of your family). It's amazing how many close knit families turn on each other once money is involved. Usually its those you least expect. If you have step children be very clear on your wishes, if you have grandchildren from a separated marriage be very clear on your wishes. If you have a carer or a friend who helps with odd jobs or shopping be very clear on your wishes. If any of these people are to benefit from your estate be clear how much they are to receive. If you do not want any of these people to receive anything then be clear about that as well. I recently watched a battle between a friend and others over a will which initially seemed very straight forward. Then someone who had not been mentioned in the will presented a hand written note  claiming they were a good friend who had helped around the house and they were  to receive a very large portion of the estate. To cut a very long story short he won... which was amazing because we thought a hand written note wouldn't possibly hold up in court.. however he was determined to win and unfortunately my friend was still grieving for her loss and wrongly assumed that the will was rock solid. I've also seen estates held up when son in laws push their wives into contesting a parents will and also grand children who have never had any contact due to divorce. Think of all the options that "may" arise and do what you think is best.  Goodluck

To a layman like me, the best way is to avoid complexity in the Will.  Also to ask what the unintended consequences could be of our directions.  That should involve a prior chat with a tax accountant too.

Avoiding any complexities in a will  sure has to be our first choice

also... and indeed in life in general Nautilus BUT sometimes it is more

difficult and with a second marriage with children and grandchildren

complexities do arrise and the last thing any of us wants is to

think of arguments and courtcases and angst. after we have gone

just because we are able to leave something when our time arrives.

Difficult to say the least.  Thanks for you input.

Thanks Barny. It does seem regardless every "T"  IS crossed

and every avenue gone down,  and  with a Solicitor to boot,

if someone choose to contest a will, they can,  and as Ken Innes

said,  the Estate pays the bills so often.

Peter and I are are SO adverse to paying Solicitors huge

accounts as even a simple photo copy costs many $$$.

..

We will put absolutely everything in the new Will we can think of

and lengthy reasons as to WHY we want what we want realising

20 years ago the simple will we made was wonderful but things

change as we have found and what was, is not what we want now.

Thanks folks. Everyone has made us realise the simple DIY Will

is not for us.

Really appreciate the time everyone has taken to reply and every answer

has helped.

Phyl.