Do you feel lucky?

Last verified: April 2026 (England & Wales)

Recently, I had a conversation with a kind lady, let's call her Mrs. Smith, who needed a Will and Power of Attorney. Her daughter, a consultant by profession, had dissuaded her from seeking professional assistance, assuring her she could handle the task herself. Mrs. Smith, a retired school teacher, was hesitant but trusted her daughter's judgment.

The daughter had never written a Will or Power of Attorney before and had no legal training. Could I do her job with 100% accuracy within a few hours? Do you think she could learn to do mine in the same timeframe?

She was willing to gamble on her mother's house, her life savings, her future care, and possibly her inheritance.

General home DIY is one thing. Legal DIY is another!

Reported figures suggest DIY injuries have risen by around 47% alongside the growth of online how-to videos and instructions. Some of the DIY disasters tradespeople have been called out to fix:

• Electric socket installations that caused a house fire
• Badly fitted kitchens with cupboards falling off the walls
• Brits are spending between £3,000 and £75,000 to fix bodged DIY. (Source: ECN). That is frustrating when it is a kitchen. It is much worse when it is your Will or your Power of Attorney.

DIY LPAs

According to the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG), thousands of LPA applications are rejected or returned each month. Many more contain errors or restrictions that only cause trouble later.

We also regularly see requests that could have caused confusion, delay or distress for families if left unchanged.

When no workable LPA is in place, families may be forced into a deputyship application through the Court of Protection instead. That is slower, more expensive, and far more stressful than getting the right document in place now. By then, the family is often dealing with a crisis that could have been made much easier.

DIY, online and unrealistically cheap Wills

Published estimates suggest around 10,000 Wills are challenged each year. Many more contain errors that never reach court because the estate is too small to justify the fight. I have never seen a Will that deliberately states, "I would like to leave £24k to litigation lawyers and £170k to HMRC for tax." That is rarely the intention, but it can still be the outcome. That is the risk with DIY legal drafting.

So, "do you feel lucky" enough to gamble with health, care and finances?

Or will you get it done properly, while there is still time to choose the right people, the right powers and the right wording?

If you are still tempted to do it yourself, read 101 Common LPA Mistakes . What Causes Rejection, Delay & Stress and Why a professionally written Will matters first. If, after that, you still want to take the risk, that is your choice. If you would rather get it right first time, talk it through with Fern Wills & LPAs over coffee and we will guide you from start to finish.

This article is general information only, not individual advice.