Frequently asked questions

Our fixed fees start at £95 for a single will and £160 for mirror wills (the pair). Complex wills start at £180, and will packages involving trusts start at £295. Every fee is quoted in writing before work begins.

No. In England and Wales, anyone can write a will — there is no legal requirement to use a solicitor. What matters is that the will is drafted correctly, signed and witnessed properly, and reflects your wishes. Qualified will writers who are members of the Society of Will Writers are trained, insured, and regulated by the Society's code.

Yes, provided it's signed and witnessed in accordance with the Wills Act 1837 — which our signing process ensures. We bring independent witnesses to the signing appointment and walk through the execution step by step so there's no risk of an invalid will.

Your estate is distributed under the rules of intestacy — a fixed legal order that doesn't care about what you actually wanted. Unmarried partners get nothing. Stepchildren get nothing. Close friends get nothing. The rules can leave families in difficulty. See our article 'What happens if I die without a will' for more detail.

Yes, absolutely. For small changes (like adding a new grandchild, changing a charity, updating an executor) we can do a codicil for £35. For larger changes, a new will is usually cleaner, and often cheaper than expected because the core drafting is already done.

A will takes effect only when you die, and controls who inherits your estate. A Lasting Power of Attorney takes effect if you lose mental capacity while still alive, and lets trusted people make decisions about your finances and your health on your behalf. They cover completely different situations. Most clients need both.

Yes. Despite what many people think, a spouse has no automatic legal authority over your bank accounts, pensions, or medical decisions if you lose capacity. Without an LPA, your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection — a process that takes months and costs significantly more.

A trust is an arrangement where trustees hold assets on behalf of beneficiaries under rules you set. Most people don't need one in their will — a straightforward will does the job. Trusts are worth considering for specific situations: protecting a share of the family home from care fees, providing for vulnerable beneficiaries, blended families, or keeping wealth in the bloodline.

It can protect the share of the first partner to die — typically 50% — if it's set up while both partners are fit and well. The survivor's own share remains in their estate and is assessed for care. PPTs set up after care needs are already known are often treated as 'deliberate deprivation of assets' and ignored by the local authority.

Inheritance tax is 40% on the value of an estate above the available allowances. Each individual has a £325,000 nil-rate band plus up to £175,000 residence nil-rate band if leaving a home to direct descendants. Married couples and civil partners can combine — up to £1 million tax-free in the right circumstances. Most estates (about 95%) pay no inheritance tax at all.

Yes, as standard. Home visits are included in the fee — no extra charge. Most clients prefer discussing their will in their own home, and it helps us understand your situation fully. Evening and Saturday appointments are available at no extra cost.

North East England — Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Middlesbrough, Gateshead, South Shields, Darlington, Hartlepool and surrounding areas. North West England — Manchester, Liverpool, Preston, Carlisle, Lancaster, Bolton, Warrington and surrounding towns. For clients outside these areas we can work by phone and video.

Most clients go from first call to signed will in around three weeks. A straightforward single will takes two to three working days to draft once we've met. Mirror wills and more complex drafts take up to ten working days. Signing happens at your convenience after you've approved the draft.

Foreign assets usually need specialist attention — different countries have different inheritance rules, and sometimes a separate foreign will is needed. We flag this during the consultation and, if we can't draft the foreign will ourselves, we work alongside lawyers in that jurisdiction.

Yes. Storage of a second original is included free for the first year, and £10 per year thereafter. You keep one original; we hold the other in a fireproof cabinet. When the time comes, your executors can call us to request the stored copy.

We have a formal written complaints procedure as members of the Society of Will Writers. If we can't resolve a complaint directly, you can escalate to the Society, who can investigate independently. We'd rather resolve any concerns quickly — please ring us first.

Will writing is not currently a 'reserved legal activity' in England and Wales, meaning it's not regulated by the SRA. We are members of the Society of Will Writers and bound by its Code of Practice, we carry £2 million of professional indemnity insurance, and we commit to ongoing continuing professional development each year.

Either call us on 0330 223 7844 or send a message via our contact form. The initial chat is free and takes fifteen to twenty minutes. You'll come away with a clear quote and a sense of whether we're the right fit — no pressure to proceed.