Will Writing
Will Writing
Will Writing Services
Planning for the future is one of the most thoughtful ways to care for your loved ones. Writing a Will protects your family and provides support during challenging times. Clearly documenting your wishes offers peace of mind to those closest to you, reducing the burden of difficult decisions during their time of grief.
At Bradgate Financial Solutions, we are committed to providing expert Will Writing services to help you plan your estate, protect your family, and secure your legacy.
Personalised Will Writing Assistance
Writing a Will can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to do it alone. Our team offers one-on-one support, guiding you through every step of the process. We take the time to understand your unique circumstances, listen to your needs, and help you make informed decisions to clearly document your wishes.
Whether you're newly married, have children from a current or past relationship, or own significant assets, our team tailors your Will to your specific requirements, protecting your loved ones effectively.
Comprehensive Estate Planning & Trusts
Estate planning is about more than just writing a Will; it's about creating a secure future for your family. We simplify the complexities of estate planning and trusts, helping you to:
- Wealth Distribution Distribute your wealth according to your wishes.
- Beneficiary Protection Protect vulnerable beneficiaries.
- Dispute Prevention Minimise potential disputes among family members.
What Makes a Will Legally Valid
In England and Wales the formal requirements are short, strict, and the usual reason a homemade will fails.
The will must be in writing. It must be signed by you, or signed by somebody else in your presence and at your direction, with the intention of giving effect to the document. Your signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses, both present at the same time, and each of them must then sign in your presence.
The requirement that both witnesses are present together is where DIY wills most often come apart. Signing in front of one person in the morning and another in the afternoon does not satisfy it, and the will fails entirely.
There is a second trap that catches even correctly executed wills. A witness, or the spouse or civil partner of a witness, cannot benefit under the will. The will itself remains valid, but any gift to that person fails. Asking the couple next door to witness a document that leaves them something is a common and entirely avoidable mistake.
You must also have the mental capacity to make the will and be acting free of undue influence. Where capacity might later be questioned, a contemporaneous medical opinion is worth having on file.
Types of Will
Single wills
are made by one person and deal with that person's estate alone.
Mirror wills
are two near-identical wills, usually made by a couple, each leaving the estate to the other and then to the same beneficiaries. They are separate documents: either person can change theirs at any time, including after the other has died. This surprises people who assumed the arrangement was fixed.
Wills containing trusts
are used where an outright gift is not appropriate — a beneficiary who is young, vulnerable, or receiving means-tested support, or where you want your share of a property to pass eventually to your own children while allowing a surviving partner to remain living there.
Mutual wills
are genuinely binding on the survivor. They are rare, and rarely advisable, because they cannot be undone when circumstances change decades later.
Which of these fits is a question about your family rather than your assets, and it is worth taking properly.
Divorce, and What It Does Not Do
Marriage revokes an existing will unless it was expressly made in contemplation of that marriage.
Divorce works differently, and the difference matters. Divorce does not revoke your will. Instead, your former spouse is treated as having died on the date the marriage ended — so gifts to them fail and their appointment as executor lapses. The rest of the will stands.
That sounds tidy until you consider what happens to the residue. If everything was left to a spouse who is now treated as predeceased and no substitute beneficiary was named, that part of the estate can fall into the intestacy rules regardless of the will you made. Separation alone changes nothing at all — until the divorce is final, a former partner may still inherit everything.
Storage and Keeping It Findable
A will that cannot be found does not work, and probate proceeds as though it never existed.
Keep the original somewhere secure and durable — a solicitor's or will writer's storage, a bank, or the Probate Service's own deposit facility. Tell your executors where it is. Consider registering its location on a national will register so it can be traced.
Two practical points. Do not attach anything to the original with a staple or paperclip; removed fasteners leave marks that raise questions about a missing document at exactly the wrong moment. And do not store the only copy in a safe that nobody else can open.
A Will Is Not a Power of Attorney
A will takes effect only on death. It does nothing if you are alive but unable to manage your own affairs, which is the gap most people do not realise they have left open.
That gap is covered by a Lasting Power of Attorney, a separate document appointing somebody to act for you during your lifetime. There are two types: one for property and financial affairs, one for health and welfare. Each must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used, and registration takes time.
Without one, your family may have to apply to the Court of Protection — slower, more expensive, and decided by a court rather than by you. The two documents are usually best considered together.
Effective tax planning is a critical aspect of Will Writing and estate management. Without careful preparation, your family could face unnecessary tax burdens. We provide expert advice on:
Our goal is to maximise the value of your estate for your loved ones while ensuring that your wishes are carried out in full.
At Bradgate FS we aim to make choosing and applying for a mortgage, protection, loan or insurance as stress-free as possible.
Writing a Will doesn't have to be daunting. With expert guidance from Bradgate Financial Solutions, you can create a Will that protects your family and secures your legacy.
Contact us today to get started on your Will Writing journey. Safeguard your loved ones with a clear and legally sound Will tailored to your needs.
- Minimising inheritance tax
- Setting up trusts to protect your assets
- Ensuring legal and financial compliance
Common questions
Do I need a Will if I don't own significant assets?
Yes, a Will is not just about wealth. It ensures your personal belongings and any specific wishes, like guardianship of children, are addressed.
What happens if I die without a Will?
If you die without a Will, your estate is distributed according to UK intestacy laws, which may not reflect your personal wishes or family situation.
How often should I update my Will?
You should review your Will whenever you experience major life changes, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or acquiring significant assets.
Can I include funeral wishes in my Will?
Yes, although funeral wishes are not legally binding, including them in your Will can help guide your family during a difficult time.
Is a DIY Will legally valid?
While a DIY Will can be valid, mistakes can lead to complications or disputes. Professional guidance ensures your Will is clear, legally sound, and reflects your intentions.
Related
Important information
Will writing is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
This page is general information, not legal advice. We are not solicitors.
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