Having a Will ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your death. Without a Will, your estate will be divided according to intestacy rules, which may not reflect your intentions. A Will also allows you to:

• Name guardians for minor children
• Make specific gifts to loved ones or charities
• Create trusts to protect vulnerable beneficiaries
• Appoint executors you trust to handle your affairs
• Minimize inheritance tax
• Avoid potential family disputes

You should review your Will every 3-5 years or whenever there’s a significant life change, such as:

• Marriage or divorce (note that marriage automatically revokes a previous Will unless made in contemplation of that marriage)
• Birth of children or grandchildren
• Death of a beneficiary or executor
• Significant changes in your financial situation
• Purchase or sale of major assets
• Changes in tax laws that might affect your estate

We offer a Will review service to ensure your Will remains up-to-date and fit for purpose.

Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate. It involves gathering assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the remaining estate according to the Will or intestacy rules. Probate is generally required when:

• The deceased owned property in their sole name
• The deceased had significant financial assets (typically over £5,000) held in their sole name
• Financial institutions require a grant of probate to release funds

Some assets may not require probate, such as jointly owned property passing by survivorship, life insurance with named beneficiaries, and small bank accounts where the bank is willing to release funds without probate.

The probate process typically takes 6-12 months for straightforward estates, but can take longer for complex estates. Factors affecting the timeline include:

• Complexity of the estate and assets
• Whether inheritance tax is payable
• Any disputes or claims against the estate
• Current probate registry processing times
• Complexity of the Will or intestacy situation

Our team will provide realistic timeframes based on your specific circumstances and keep you updated throughout the process.

Executors have significant responsibilities, including:

• Registering the death and obtaining the death certificate
• Locating the Will and beneficiaries
• Valuing the estate’s assets and liabilities
• Applying for the grant of probate
• Calculating and paying any inheritance tax
• Collecting assets and settling debts
• Distributing the estate according to the Will
• Keeping accurate records and preparing estate accounts

Our probate service can handle all these responsibilities on your behalf, saving you time and stress during a difficult period.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows you to appoint one or more people (attorneys) to make decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so. There are two types:

Health and Welfare LPA – Covers decisions about medical treatment, care, and daily routine. This can only be used when you lack mental capacity.

Property and Financial Affairs LPA – Covers decisions about managing your money, property, and financial affairs. This can be used with your permission while you still have capacity, or when you lose capacity.

LPAs must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before they can be used. We recommend setting up LPAs alongside your Will as part of comprehensive life planning.

We offer clear, transparent pricing for all our services:

Will Writing

• Single Will: Fixed fee starting from £250+VAT
• Mirror Wills for couples: Fixed fee starting from £375+VAT
• Complex Wills including trusts: From £450+VAT

Lasting Powers of Attorney

• Single LPA: Fixed fee from £350+VAT plus registration fee
• Both types of LPA: Fixed fee from £550+VAT plus registration fees

Probate Services
We offer both fixed fee and percentage-based options depending on the complexity of the estate and level of service required. We’ll provide a clear quote after an initial consultation to understand your specific needs.

While it’s possible to make a DIY Will, we strongly advise against this for several reasons:

• Even minor errors or omissions can make your Will invalid
• DIY Wills often fail to consider tax implications
• Complex family situations require careful drafting
• Homemade Wills are more likely to be challenged after death
• Incorrect witnessing is a common problem with DIY Wills

The cost of professional Will drafting is minimal compared to the potential problems and costs an invalid or poorly drafted Will can cause for your loved ones after your death.

If you die without a Will (intestate), your estate will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy. These strict legal rules determine who inherits based on family relationships, regardless of your wishes or circumstances.

The intestacy rules can lead to outcomes you wouldn’t have chosen, such as:

• Unmarried partners receive nothing, regardless of relationship length
• Spouses/civil partners may not receive everything
• Step-children are not included
• If you have no close family, your estate may go to distant relatives you never met or to the Crown
• No provision for friends or charities
• No guardians appointed for minor children

Having a valid Will ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes, not government rules.