Will Writing Service

Writing a will is the best way to ensure that your wishes will be respected following your death. If you die without a will, you will have no say in what happens to any money, properties or possessions you happen to leave behind.

Technically, yes — as long as you are of sound mind and over the age of 18, you can make your own will without any professional legal assistance. All you need to do is write the will, sign it in the presence of two adult witnesses, and get the witnesses to sign it in your presence.

However, engaging the services of a solicitor is highly recommended because they will be able to ensure that your will is legally valid, greatly reducing the likelihood of a successful challenge to your will after your death.

A professional will writing service can be particularly helpful if there are complicating factors in play. For example:

• If you’re expecting multiple people (e.g. children you had with two or more different partners) to lay claim to your estate after you die
• If you want to bequeath part or all of your estate to individuals who are unable to look after themselves
• If your will includes properties or possessions that you share with other people
• If you’re not a permanent resident of the UK
• If there is a strong chance that someone named in your will may die before you do
• If you own one or more businesses
• If you own properties outside the UK

The main points to address in your will are as follows:

• Who will be the executor of your will?
• Who will be the beneficiaries of your will?
• Who will assume responsibility for any children you leave behind?
• What will happen if any of the individuals named in your will die before you?

It’s common to want to change your will after a major life event – like getting divorced, having children, coming into money, or losing one of the people named in the document. However, you cannot simply rewrite your will after it’s been signed and witnessed. Updating your will requires a codicil, a separate legal document that must be signed and witnessed afresh.

If you do decide to amend your will (or write a new will to replace the existing one), it’s a good idea to seek professional legal advice. Your solicitor will help to ensure that your updated will is not ignored in favour of an earlier version.