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Why making a Will matters
A Will gives you control over what happens after your death. It allows you to decide who should inherit your money, property and personal belongings, appoint executors to manage your estate, and name guardians for children under 18. It can also help you make provision for unmarried partners, stepchildren or other loved ones who may not inherit automatically, while reducing the risk of disputes, uncertainty and delay. Overall, it ensures your affairs are handled in a clear and legally valid way.
For many people, making a Will is not just about passing on assets; it is about making things easier for family members at what is often a very difficult time.
Make your wishes clear with a professionally drafted Will
Making a Will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and put your affairs in order. A valid Will allows you to decide who should inherit your estate, who should deal with the administration of your affairs, and who should care for any dependent children.
Without a Will, your estate will usually be dealt with under the rules of intestacy. These rules are fixed by law and may not reflect your personal wishes, your family circumstances, or the people you want to provide for, which may create unnecessary uncertainty, delay and stress for those left behind.
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What happens if you die without a Will?
If you die without a valid Will, your estate will usually be distributed according to the rules of intestacy, regardless of what you may have wanted.
This can create real problems in modern family situations. For example, unmarried partners do not automatically inherit, stepchildren are not recognised under intestacy rules, and a separated spouse may still inherit if you are not legally divorced. Children from previous relationships may not be provided for in the way you intended, and family members can face extra cost and delay when dealing with the estate.
A properly prepared Will can help avoid these issues and give you confidence that your wishes have been clearly recorded.
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When should you make or update a Will?
It is sensible to make a Will as soon as you own assets, have dependants or want more control over who inherits from you. It is also important to review your Will regularly, especially after major life changes.
Common reasons to make or update a Will include getting married or entering a civil partnership, separation or divorce, having children or grandchildren, buying or selling property, or significant changes in your finances. You may also need to review your Will if you start a business, acquire business assets, or want to change your choice of executors or beneficiaries.
In some cases, an outdated Will can be almost as unhelpful as having no Will at all. Regular reviews help make sure your Will still reflects your circumstances and intentions.
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Different types of Wills and planning options
The right type of Will for you depends on your personal and family circumstances. Some estates are straightforward while others may need more careful planning to protect assets, manage tax exposure, or balance the needs of different family members.
Depending on your situation, our experienced team can advise on:
- Single Wills for individuals who want to set out their wishes clearly
- Mirror Wills for couples with similar intentions
- Wills involving trusts where extra protection may be needed
- Wills planning for blended families where there are children from previous relationships
- Wills linked to broader estate planning, including tax planning and future care considerations
- Urgent or emergency Wills where there is a pressing need to put arrangements in place
Where appropriate, we can also advise on related services such as Trusts and lifetime estate planning, and Powers of Attorney.
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Why professional advice matters
DIY Will templates and online tools may seem convenient, but they can create serious problems if they are not prepared or signed correctly. The same caution applies to AI-generated drafting tools. A Will is one of the most important legal documents you will ever sign, and it should be tailored to your circumstances rather than based on generic wording.
Errors in wording, execution or witnessing can result in a Will being unclear, difficult to administer or even invalid.
Professional advice can help by:
- making sure the Will is legally valid
- using clear language to reduce ambiguity
- identifying risks linked to family structure, tax or capacity
- recording your wishes in a way that is less vulnerable to challenge
- helping you consider related issues such as executors, guardians, trusts and inheritance planning
For many clients, the aim is not simply to have a Will in place, but to have one that works properly when it is needed.
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The cost of making a Will
In practice, many of those items will not be needed in your circumstances and will not be incurred. To make things clearer, here is an example of a common Will-related service that we deliver and the likely costs involved:
Example: Mirror Wills
- If you and your spouse or partner would like mirror Wills, where the outcome under each Will is the same depending on which of you dies first, our fee for simple mirror Wills is from £340 plus VAT.
- Where the Wills are more complex, usually because of the value of the estate or the type of assets involved, the cost would usually be £450 plus VAT.
- If you and your spouse or partner would both like to add on a Letter of Wishes, the cost will increase by £150 plus VAT.
- If you need a single Life Interest Will, the cost will be from £375 plus VAT.
Our full list of services and prices is available using the button below.
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Wills FAQs
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Do I really need a Will?
In almost all cases, yes. A Will gives you control over who inherits from you and who will deal with your estate and without one, the law decides how your estate is distributed, which may not reflect your wishes or your family circumstances.
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What happens if I die without a Will?
Your estate will usually be dealt with under the intestacy rules which can leave unmarried partners, stepchildren and others without any automatic entitlement, and may produce outcomes you would not have chosen.
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Can I make a Will if I am separated?
Yes, and in fact, it may be more important to do so under these circumstances than if you were still together. If you are separated but not legally divorced, your spouse may still have rights under intestacy rules or under an existing Will, depending on the circumstances.
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How often should I review my Will?
You should review your Will regularly and especially after major life events, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of children, a house move, or significant changes to your finances.
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Can I leave different gifts to different people?
A Will can set out specific gifts, cash legacies and the division of the rest of your estate. You can also appoint different executors and make provision for children or other dependants.
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Do I need a solicitor to make a Will?
You are not legally required to use a solicitor, but professional advice can reduce the risk of errors, ambiguity and disputes. This can be especially important where there are children, property, business assets, tax considerations or more complex family arrangements.
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Is making a Will the same as probate?
No. A Will sets out your wishes, while probate and estate administration deal with what happens after death, including collecting assets, paying liabilities and distributing the estate. At TLW Solicitors, our private client team can also help with Estate administration and probate where support is needed after someone has died.
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Do I also need a Power of Attorney?
While your Will only takes effect after death, a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is used during your lifetime if you lose capacity or need someone to make decisions on your behalf. Many clients choose to put both in place as part of sensible future planning.
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Do I really need a Will?
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How TLW Solicitors can help
At TLW Solicitors, we can help you prepare a Will that reflects your wishes and your individual circumstances. We understand that these decisions are personal, and we aim to provide clear, practical advice throughout.
We can assist with:
- drafting a new Will
- reviewing and updating an existing Will
- advising on executors, guardians and beneficiaries
- planning for blended families and more complex family arrangements
- considering inheritance tax and asset protection issues
- putting wider arrangements in place, including Powers of Attorney and Trusts and lifetime estate planning
- advising families after death on Estate administration and probate, Intestacy and Contentious Probate.
Our role is to help you put the right legal arrangements in place now, so that your wishes are clear and your loved ones are better protected later.
