Create a Will to protect your family and assets. Without one, the law decides how your estate is shared and who should be guardians to your children. The outcome is often unfair and can lead to broken homes and damaged relationships.
We’re a friendly team of expert Will writers, and we’re proud to have been protecting our local community for 30 years. We create legally-binding Wills which work for you and your family across a range of scenarios.
Let’s get your family and assets protected.
"Attention to detail is the key to creating a watertight Will. One that will stand up in court and produce the desired outcome across various scenarios. We make the process simple but we don’t cut corners. Protecting your family is our priority, so we give your Will the attention it deserves."
Why do you need a Will?
If you die without a Will, the law decides how your estate is shared according to ‘intestacy rules’. This can lead to people you love receiving less than you would have liked, or nothing at all. If you have young children, it may fall to social services to decide their future. Only you know who’ll be able to give your children the best upbringing if you’re not around, and making a Will allows you to make that crucial decision.
We’ve summarised some common scenarios below which highlight the importance of making a Will. Do any of these apply to you?
Are you married or in a civil partnership and have children?
Without a Will your estate will mostly go to your spouse. If your spouse remarries, their new partner could now own some of your estate and your children may never receive their fair share.
Do you have children from a previous marriage?
If you remarry, your entire estate could go to your new spouse. Your children from a previous marriage could end up with nothing.
Are you unmarried but bringing up children with your partner?
Without a Will, your entire estate will go to your children. Your partner may struggle to bring up the children without some inheritance. Parents have even had to sue their own children to get a fair share of their partner’s estate.
Do you own property?
A Will allows you to decide who should benefit from your property once you’re gone. You can also make provisions to protect a share of your property to potentially avoid costs for care in the future.
Do you have grandchildren?
You may want to update your Will so your grandchildren also benefit from your assets when you’re gone. Your money could one day help them to fund their education, get married, or buy their first home.
Do you want to decide who benefits from your hard-earned assets?
You’ve worked hard for everything you own, so you should decide who benefits from it once you’re gone. Don’t leave it to the state to decide, otherwise, people you love could be left out. It’s also your chance to help charities and good causes close to your heart.
COST OF WILL WRITING
We offer set fees for standard wills, with a bespoke fee for more complex situations and requirements.
All prices are suitable for either your first will, or to update an existing will.
Contact us for a free initial consultation to discuss your requirements.
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR WILL
Let’s look at some of the instructions you’ll likely want to include in your Will. We’ll explain each of these in detail during your appointment and make sure you understand the implications of your decisions.
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Who will be the legal guardians to your children?
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Who will be legally responsible for your children’s inheritance?
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Who will inherit your assets and what share will they each get? This includes property, cars, savings, investments, and family heirlooms.
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Who will be legally responsible to sort out and distribute your estate according to your Will? (your executor)
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Are there any charities you wish to donate to and how much?
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How should debts, expenses and taxes be paid?
When should you get advice?
No matter who you are, you should get advice when making your Will. But if one or more of these situations applies to you, then seeking professional advice is even more important:
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You own a property with someone who isn’t your spouse or civil partner.
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You have had more than one marriage, or you have children from another marriage.
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You have several family members who may make a claim on your Will.
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Your permanent home isn’t in the UK.
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You’re a UK resident with overseas property.
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You own a business.
Can you write your own Will?
There are ‘do it yourself’ Will writing services which simply provide a template and leave you to it. But be warned, your family may not be protected if you go down this route.
A Will is a legal document. One day, it may have to hold up in court under the scrutiny of a lawyer, and across different scenarios. It’s common for self-made Wills not to be valid because mistakes can be made, crucial information can be missed, and instructions can be worded incorrectly. Having a self-made Will can be like having no Will at all.
For a document that holds so much responsibility for your family’s future, it’s just not worth the risk. It’s also extremely time-consuming to write your own Will and you may get frustrated, which increases the chances of mistakes being made.
And by the way, we didn’t include this section just to strong-arm your custom. We genuinely believe that self-made Wills put families at risk, and the advice we’ve given you here is the same advice we give to our closest friends.
Why come to us?
There are ‘do it yourself’ Will writing services which simply provide a template and leave you to it. But be warned, your family may not be protected if you go down this route.
A Will is a legal document. One day, it may have to hold up in court under the scrutiny of a lawyer, and across different scenarios. It’s common for self-made Wills not to be valid because mistakes can be made, crucial information can be missed, and instructions can be worded incorrectly. Having a self-made Will can be like having no Will at all.
For a document that holds so much responsibility for your family’s future, it’s just not worth the risk. It’s also extremely time-consuming to write your own Will and you may get frustrated, which increases the chances of mistakes being made.
And by the way, we didn’t include this section just to strong-arm your custom. We genuinely believe that self-made Wills put families at risk, and the advice we’ve given you here is the same advice we give to our closest friends.
