I sometimes drop the price for compelling clients, but most of the time I think it is fair. Half of the risk and headaches that come along with wills is the risk that a disgruntled beneficiary will challenge — so there’s no way to really tell what is or isn’t a “simple will”. Yes, it’s a piece of paper, but that piece of paper is used to distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars and coordinate the family members who are left behind.

brad, MF, Novice: Thanks for your comments and tips. I also found this blog that talks a lot about the legal aspects of wills:

http://rulelaw.blogspot.com/

I gave copies of my wills to my executor and back-up executors. A good lawyer will make extra copies for distribution to the executors.

As a practical point too- if you are younger, don’t get a really old lawyer to do your will. He/she is close to closing up shop so the executor will have to contact a law office where the lawyer has either left or passed away and they have to dig through records etc. Just adds another level of grief to the entire process.

In bigger cities, there are family law “boutiques” who do wills, family law etc., they at least have the capabilities to store thousands of wills from various lawyers in a vault.