Wills
We make Will writing easy with our range of Will writing services, including online Will writing, telephone and face to face services. Our fixed cost Will writing services is the fee you pay. There will be no nasty surprises.
As part of the Will & Estate Planning Company, our values of openness, honesty, social responsibility and caring for others are core to the service we provide.
Why do I need a Will?
- To have complete control of what happens to your assets when you die.
- To ensure your family, friends and any dependents have the security they deserve.
- To be able to make a donation to a charity or good cause of your choice.
What happens if I do not have one?
- Without a Will, your assets will be divided according to the law, which may not meet your wishes.
- If you are married with children, your spouse may not automatically inherit everything you own.
- Instead, your assets may be divided between your spouse and your children.
- If you are not married, your partner may not get any of your assets.
How can WEPC help?
- A personal and professional Will writing service.
- Our trained Will & Estate Planning Consultants are here for you and will hold your hand throughout the whole process form start to finish.
- We are able to guide you through the whole process from taking instructions for your Will right through to signing and storing the final document.
Dying without a Will
If you die without writing a Will in England and Wales, your property and money will be shared out according to a legal default, rather than your own expressed wishes. Dying without a Will is known as dying 'intestate', a word with Latin origins that essentially means 'without a testament'. It doesn't matter how close you are to certain relatives; if no Will is made before you die, your assets and money will be allocated according to the same intestacy rules as anyone else.
What is a Mirror Will?
A Mirror Will is actually two separate Wills, one for the original Will writer and one for their Spouse or Partner. It's not a joint Will: both of you will be able to make a personalised Will that reflects your separate wishes, only matching each other where you agree.
Where should I store my Will after I've signed it?
Once your Will has been signed and witnessed it's important to keep it in a safe place and let the executors know that you have done a Will and where it is.
- At home: This is free... but it's important to keep your Will somewhere secure and memorable. You don't want to accidentally throw it away or get it lost or damaged.
- With us: We will keep an electronic copy of your Will. You can make updates and changes whenever circumstances change for as little as £20
How often do I need to update my Will?
Here at the Will & Estate Planning Company we give all our clients a free annual review every year just to make sure all your circumstances are all up to date, and still reflect their current circumstances. We recommend that you review your Will every 3-5 years at least. It's also important to update your Will whenever there is a significant change in your life, such as when:
- A new child is born.
- You get married, engaged, or divorced.
- You buy, inherit, or move into a new house.
- One of the people mentioned in your original Will dies, or becomes less suitable (such as the executor dying, or guardians moving away or splitting up).
- You have something new that you would like to pass on.
- You change your mind about who should inherit what (it happens).
What is a beneficiary?
Your beneficiaries are the people you choose to inherit some part of your estate when creating your Will. Anyone - apart from the two witnesses who sign your Will - can be a beneficiary.
What is an executor?
The executor of your Will is responsible for making sure that your wishes are carried out and that your estate is settled properly after you die. The executor of your Will can be anyone aged 18 or over. They don't have to be a solicitor, and they can be a beneficiary as well as an executor. You can also have multiple executors. People often choose their partner and/or their children. The important thing is to choose someone you trust. This role can, however, be a significant amount of work and stress for a loved one, so we offer a fixed-fee hassle-free executor service, which you can choose during the Will-writing process.
What is a guardian?
When you choose a guardian for your children in your Will, you are choosing who will look after them if both you and their other parent die before they turn 18. A guardian for a pet is a similar thing, but with pets (who can not come of age, and do not have other 'parents' - at least, officially speaking), you are choosing a guardian for as long as your pet survives. Guardians can also be executors and beneficiaries.
Why do I need to appoint a guardian in my Will?
Designating guardians in your Last Will and testament ensures that your children will be taken care of if both parents pass away. It also enables you to choose and control who will look after your children. If you do not name guardians for your children in your Will, then they can become a ward of court and the court will decide who will be given custody after your death.
How to appoint a guardian for my children?
Guardians are appointed through a Will. As soon as a child is born, parents should create or update their Will to appoint a guardian.
You may choose to have more than one guardian, but make sure the people you choose will agree on what is best for your child. For example, one guardian can be in charge of taking care of the child and living with them, while another guardian can be appointed to manage the child's assets.
It is also advisable to name an alternate guardian in your Will, in the event that the appointed guardian is not able to fulfil their role. Before appointing the guardian, make sure the person in question is willing to take on such a crucial role.
