Will Solicitors.
We know that everyone’s assets and circumstances are different. That’s why we offer a bespoke will advisory and will writing service so you can make a will with peace of mind for the future.
Everyone's assets and circumstances are different.
We offer "made-to-measure" services for you.
Our highly experienced and qualified specialist team are conveniently located to make it easy to find will solicitors near me and have years of experience in advising clients from all backgrounds. We can also advise on how to protect assets from potential claims against the estate, succession planning, and how to reduce tax liabilities.
Wills and Probate
Making a will is vital as it enables you to determine what happens to your property, bank accounts, money, and assets after you pass away.
If you don’t have valid wills in place when you die, your assets will be shared according to the law and they may end up being given to someone you did not want to receive them, and some loved ones may end up with nothing at all.
Stating your clear wishes when writing a will can help to secure the futures of your family and loved ones. It can also help to prevent unnecessary expenses, litigation, conflict, and distress for loved ones after you’ve gone.
Download Making a Will leaflet
Bespoke Will Creation
We know that everyone’s assets and circumstances are different. If you are worried about how to make a will, don't be! We offer a bespoke will advisory and writing service.
Our highly experienced and qualified specialist Wills, Probate & Lifetime Planning Team, have years of experience in advising clients from all backgrounds on how to provide for family members or loved ones, including individuals with smaller assets, large businesses, and farming families.
We will also advise on how to protect assets from potential claims against the estate, succession planning, and how to reduce tax liabilities.
Probate Law
Probate is the legal process of executing a will. Our team has vast experience as probate solicitors and supporting the executor of a will to ensure the proper distribution of assets in line with the wishes of the deceased. View our dedicated page to understand how we can help.
Working With Our Service Team
We understand that planning for the future and protecting your loved ones, is one of the most important things we will prepare for. Our trusted and compassionate team are able to advise and put into place all of the foundations for you and your family, keeping you updated at all times.
- Kim Carr
If you have an enquiry in relation to Wills, Trusts and Probate or simply want to speak to a member of our expert team, please get in touch.
The cost of making a will in the UK can vary widely depending on the complexity of the estate, the number of people the will is for (mirror wills), and the method used for writing a will. If you choose to make a will on your own, it may be relatively inexpensive, but could lead to difficulties and issues for your loved ones at a later date.
Using a professional will writing service or consulting with will solicitors typically provides a more tailored and legally sound document. While this can be more expensive, it offers peace of mind that your estate will be handled in the way you want and reduces the risk of issues.
Making a will ensures that your estate is distributed according to your wishes and avoids Intestacy, where the law decides how assets are divided. Mirror wills, where couples create almost identical wills, could be something you wish to discuss. The guidance of probate solicitors and understanding of Probate Law can be valuable, especially for more complex estates.
Each Will is tailored to an individual’s requirements and for some people the complexity of a Will can be greater than another’s. As a general answer we would advise between 4 – 6 weeks. However, once a will solicitor has been allocated to you, they will be able to give you a confirmed timescale.
Whilst you can’t make a joint Will, you can opt to make Mirror Wills. Mirror Wills are used should you and your partner wish for your assets to be distributed identically. This means that no matter who passes first, you can create a Will in which all your estate will be inherited by the survivor.
A mirror will is a pair of wills created by two individuals, usually spouses or civil partners, that essentially mirror each other in content. They typically state that each person leaves their entire estate to the other, and then to agreed-upon beneficiaries, such as children, if the other partner has already passed away.
Mirror wills are often used to ensure that assets are transferred seamlessly within a family and are especially common among married couples. They are often more cost-effective than writing two separate wills, and many will writing services offer packages for creating mirror wills.
However, it's essential to understand that each will is a separate legal document, and either party can change their will independently without notifying the other. Consulting with will solicitors can help ensure that the wills are drafted correctly and reflect the intentions of both parties.
The purpose of having a Will in place is so upon your death, your estate is inherited by the beneficiaries you choose. It allows the person writing the will to choose their beneficiaries, including family, friends, or charities, and specify the share each shall receive.
Making a will ensures that the estate is handled according to the individual's wishes rather than the rules of Intestacy, where the law decides the distribution.
Having a will can also simplify the probate process, reduce potential disputes among heirs, and potentially minimise inheritance tax. If there are specific wishes concerning guardianship for minor children or care for pets, a will can address those needs as well. Consulting with will solicitors or using a professional will writing service can assist in creating a well-drafted will.
If you die without having a will in place, known as dying intestate, your estate will be distributed according to the rules of Intestacy in the UK. These rules may not align with your personal wishes and can lead to unexpected results.
Typically, your spouse or civil partner and any children may inherit your estate, but the exact distribution can be complex and depends on the value and nature of your assets. If you have no surviving close relatives, the estate may go to the Crown.
Dying without a will can also lead to more complicated and time-consuming probate procedures, potential disputes among family members, and possibly higher inheritance tax liabilities. Seeking professional guidance from will solicitors or probate solicitors is advisable to understand the full implications of not having a will and the benefits of making a will.
Whether or not probate is required when there is a will depends on the specific circumstances of the estate. Generally, probate is the legal process of proving and registering the will in the Probate Registry, allowing the executors to administer the estate.
If the estate is small and consists mainly of jointly owned property or assets that pass by survivorship, probate might not be necessary. However, if there are significant assets like property, bank accounts, or investments held solely in the deceased's name, obtaining probate will likely be required to access and distribute those assets.
The process can be complex, so it may be beneficial to consult with probate solicitors or use a probate service to navigate the probate law and ensure that everything is handled correctly.
