Will Writing Solicitors

Our Will writing service

Making a Will is incredibly important. It’s your chance to decide what happens to your money, property, and possessions after you die.

At Eric Robinson Solicitors, our Will writing Solicitors are specialists in both writing new Wills and amending existing ones. We offer quality legal advice you can trust.

We’re experienced in all aspects of Wills and probate, and we can ensure your estate will go to those who you love most. Call or contact a member of our specialist team online or in person today. We are always ready to discuss your needs by phone and we act on a fixed fee basis.

Making a Will

If you die without making a Will, the important people in your life may not be entrusted to look after your estate when you’re gone, and more inheritance tax may be payable.

• Making a Will also provides you with an opportunity to take tax planning advice, and this ensures that probate proceeds in a tax efficient manner thereby saving your estate from a significant inheritance tax bill.
• You may even want to ensure that someone in your family does not benefit or, that if one of your beneficiaries dies, other family members, or even a charity, should inherit in their place.
• You could also use your Will to write your personal requests for your funeral.
• Wills can also include trusts to protect assets. Will Trusts can be particularly useful if you have complicated family arrangements, a second marriage or cohabit with a partner.

If you want to find out more about the Will writing service we offer, call or contact us online or in person today. We are always willing to discuss your requirements by phone and we offer fixed fee services.

Amendments to existing Wills

Your circumstances will inevitably change at certain points in your life, and you may revise your decisions regarding who you want to leave your estate to.

You should always search for the services of a Will writing solicitor to ensure that your Will is properly amended in order to reflect those desired changes.
It is wise to keep an existing Will and wishes under regular review – for example:

• You may now be separated or divorced meaning you are free to nominate new beneficiaries.
• You may be getting married or entering into a civil partnership (marriage automatically cancels any existing Will) – when you get married you may wish to draw up mirror Wills.
• You may now have children who had not been born when your existing Will was drawn, or your children may now be grown up with children of their own.
• You may now be a property owner with the consequence that you have a significant asset to dispose of upon your death so a Will Trust may now be of relevance.
• You may, unfortunately, find yourself in the position whereby an executor or named beneficiary in your existing Will has died.
• There may have been a number of changes in taxation policies that will affect your probate.

Make sure you check out our Top 10 Tips for Making a Will.

What are the different types of will? 

Simple Will

This type of Will is characterised by a small number of beneficiaries and straightforward instructions.

Complex Will

This type of Will goes beyond the Simple Will and is more complicated. It may include trusts, multiple beneficiaries, complex family structures, and specific asset distributions. 

Mirror Will 

A Mirror Will is a document paired with another Mirror Will intended to reflect the joint wishes of a couple. Each person has their own individually signed Will but the wording is often identical or very similar. Mirror Wills often dictate that the Estate of whoever passes first goes to the other partner, and then when they pass on to shared children or other agreed-upon beneficiaries. 

Codicil

A Codicil is not a Will, it is a document separate to a Will which outlines updates and changes to an existing Will. It must be signed and witnessed like a regular Will. It is a way of keeping a Will up to date without having to re-write the whole document. 

Protection & Planning Will 

Protection and Planning Wills require more thought than a regular Will. It is about more than distributing assets to beneficiaries, it is about safeguarding certain beneficiaries or dependents from mismanagement or financial hardship through the way the Will is structured. They often involve extensive estate planning, trusts and tax optimisation methods. 

Complex Trust Will 

A Complex Trust Will uses trusts to manage aspects of an Estate after the testator has died. This can be to protect assets for minors or vulnerable beneficiaries and can be used to protect assets in the case of more complex family and inheritance structures. This can be beneficial in terms of tax and provide more flexibility in asset distribution.  

Urgent Will

An Urgent Will is created when the testator is under a pressing time constraint to create or update a Will such as being terminally ill. Despite being made in a hurry, these Wills must still meet the same legal standards as a conventional Will to be valid. They must be signed by the testator and two independent witnesses to be legal.

Factors Influencing the Cost of Will Writing

Complexity of the Estate 

Simple Wills with a small number of assets and simple instructions tend to be cheaper because they require less input from a solicitor. Factors such as international assets, trusts, and complex family structures require more detailed planning and the input of an experienced legal expert, hence the higher cost. 

Number of beneficiaries

Wills which include multiple beneficiaries will necessitate extensive planning and complex Will drafting. The extra time and expertise required from a Will Writing Solicitor will cost more. 

Special provisions 

Unique requests or specific conditions mean more careful legal drafting is required. More unusual requirements may mean you need to hire a specialist Will Writing Solicitor who has a particular area of expertise such as in tax planning, international assets, or structuring trusts. Solicitors with this kind of specialism may charge more for their services. 

Why Choose Eric Robinson Solicitors for Your Will?

We understand that making a Will is one of the most important processes you will ever undertake. Whether you’re writing your first Will or revisiting your wishes after a change in circumstances, our expert team is here to ensure your Estate is protected and distributed exactly as you intend. 

It is crucial to employ a solicitor who can handle your specific needs. If you need advice on handling complex family provisions or business matters within your Will, our decades of experience and mix of specialisms within our Will Writing team could be a major benefit for you. No matter what type of Will you require, we offer sound legal advice and compassionate guidance. 

To speak to us and find out more, get in touch with one of our local branches at the following locations: 

• Southampton
• Hedge End
• Chandlers Ford
• Winchester
• Lymington
• Richmond Upon Thames