I know it has been covered, but the search facility couldn't pick anything up. I am over in the UK next week and want to make a Will. I phoned some solicitors today in my local area and was quoted from GBP 170 to GBP 600 which appears crazy. Has anyone any tips?

That does sound very expensive !
A few years ago I was quoted £50 but, in the end I made a Swiss will as my wife is Swiss.
If you make a UK will and are resident in Switzerland I believe that you should state that you wish the will to be dealt with in accordance with British law.

Hi telandy.
You can buy all you need to make a will at any post office back in the U.K for a couple of pounds,they are legal as my Mum had one and several elderly patients i nursed. As long as you have 2 witnesses and their addresses included at the bottom of the will it is all very much legal. Its just another thought.

I have saved you a few pounds there, so if you would like to include me in your will now, its Linda with an i and not a y....

how does one make a will in switzerland? i'd appreciate your advice. i'm south african, married to an austrian, living here for the forseeable future, with assets in both SA and austria. not that its much, but my current one was made before my daughter was born, and even before my marriage. oops!

sally

First port of call would be to talk to a TREUHAND .who specialises in Beratung zu Testament und Erbverträgen.

Thank you will probably go down this route.

If you want to leave a legacy (can be any amount) to a charity - e.g Cancer Research the will will be drawn up by a locally named Solicitor for free. As Blonaybear said it is very important to stipulate that the will is drawn up under UK law.
Another point that I must make is that who ever you put as the Executor can be legally responsible for any costs. We were executors to a will where they left lots of policies/house etc to someone but not enough cash. As executors we ended up with a bill for £6,000

There are on-line services you can use that are inexpensive, if your wishes are straightforward. I spoke to a Notar about it a couple of years ago, when we bought our house. He said, just get the will according to English law, and make sure that it is known. I.e. TELL you're family you've made a will, and tell them where it is! The Swiss authorities will then deal with it according to UK law (except for taxation issues - that will remain under Swiss law). Now, if any of the beneficiaries are Swiss residents and wish to challenge it, to have it dealt with according to Swiss law - which is DIFFERENT - they can do that.

For us, it's easy. If I die first, Mrs NAT gets everything. Similarly if she dies first, I get everything. After that it's divided equally among out children. If they're wiped out as well, then it goes to any grandchildren, otherwise to any nieces or nephews.

Most people don't make a will. If you're an expat, that's a really bad thing to do. Under Swiss law, you could leave your spouse homeless and your kids in care.

__________________
Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

Are you sure about this as it is contrary to the advice I was given which was, if you are resident in Switzerland and do not leave a will then Swiss inheritance laws apply. See this.

Searching the forum for "Pflichtteil" (legitimate inheritance share) will give you some further information.

I have read the comments and wish to make a will under english law.
Does the text have to be in english or german?
Script or printed?
Any anonymised examples out there?

Grüss