Will Writing
Will Writing is often overlooked, but, with the support of our experienced solicitors, the process can be made quick and simple. The lawyers at Rowlinsons are on your side and by your side to ensure that you receive specialist legal advice.
Our Will Writing Solicitors in Cheshire are renowned across the UK, with multiple awards and accreditations highlighting their expertise and knowledge.
Planning for the future is crucial, but we often leave it too late. Working together with our team of qualified solicitors, appreciative of the sensitivities of writing a Will can ensure your family remains protected upon your passing. Many people do not create a Will because they feel they do not have significant assets or that it’s too expensive. However, not planning for the future can create difficulties for your family at an already distressing time, which may result in your estate not being distributed as you would like.
A Will is possibly the most important legal document any of us will ever have to make, so you’ll want to ensure you seek a trusted partner to take care of all the intricacies surrounding the Will-writing process. Highly commended in the October 2023 British Wills and Probate Awards, Rowlinsons Solicitors has been recognised for its achievements and success in the Wills and probate sector.
Our friendly and highly approachable team takes the time to understand your concerns and circumstances with a view of providing empathetic but straightforward and practical guidance, providing local Will Writing services in Cheshire and beyond. We aim to ensure that you set out your wishes clearly and effectively whilst minimising the risk of future issues for your loved ones.
Along with helping you write your Will, we can also assist with other related matters, including updating an existing Will and providing guidance on gifts, trusts and inheritance tax (IHT) planning. At the same time as writing a Will, we also find that many of our clients want to make a lasting power of attorney and we can also advise on the same.
Our Will Writing Solicitors in Cheshire have helped thousands of people over the years from across the North West to plan for the future. Our expert team can support you when it’s time to consider your will, wherever you live in England and Wales.
Our clients include everyone from those with limited assets looking for peace of mind to those with high-value and complex assets who need specialist support and estate planning advice.
Whatever stage of life you are at, if you are thinking about the future and want to make the best provision for your loved ones, our Will Writing Solicitors will give you clear and practical advice to help you build the plans you want.
To make an appointment, please call 01928 617 054 or click here for a call back.
Many of us tend to push things to the back of our minds that don’t need immediate attention—writing a Will is a prime example. Rather than looking at the subject of Wills as morbid, you could approach the matter as a fact of life and something that will ensure that your home, family and future generations have the protection and care you want them to have in a manner precisely designed by you.
A Will is essential for ensuring your loved ones are cared for after your passing, providing a clear plan for the distribution of your assets, securing tax exemptions or relief for your beneficiaries and setting up protective measures for your estate across generations. It details who will execute your Will and specifies your preferences for your funeral.
Crucially, a Will covers provisions for the guardianship of children, whether they are under 16 or have grown up, ensuring your wishes are respected regardless of when you pass. By organising these critical elements, your family and loved ones will experience a smoother transition and be better supported during a difficult time.
Writing a will can seem like a daunting and difficult process, however our Will Writing Solicitors can ensure you are fully supported and informed throughout, so you can draft a will that prioritises your interests. Each will is unique, and we will tailor the process to your circumstances. However, you will generally go through the following steps.
It is crucial to begin the process by picking the right type of will. Depending on your marital status, family structure, or financial situation, you will likely need one of these types of wills:
A standard will, containing the wishes of one person regarding the distribution of their assets, instructions regarding burial arrangements, and the appointment of executors and guardians.
Mirror wills are two separate wills with similar instructions. Often used by couples who own the same assets and not much else individually.
A single document that contains two wills, which can be used by couples who want to initially benefit each other after one of them dies, and then name final beneficiaries after both of them pass away. Joint wills are extremely uncommon in practice nowadays, and if you have a joint will you should take advice about updating it.
A legal document that specifies medical treatments a person wants to opt in or out of if they are unable to make decisions due to a lack of mental capacity because of a health emergency or accident.
It can be helpful to make a list of all significant assets you own, including money, property, bank accounts and valuable items. More complex estates will require a deep analysis of your circumstances to ensure the best possible plan.
You can then make a decision for each item of this list, and appoint a beneficiary. You may make provisions for civil partners, family members, friends, or charities.
Choose an executor to help distribute your assets to your loved ones. You can choose up to four executors, including a partner, close friend, solicitor, accountant, or charity. You can also choose guardians for minor children.
The will must then be signed in front of witnesses in order to be valid. There is a precedent of wills having been disregarded if signed with no witnesses, so this step is crucial.
The will should be stored securely in a safe and accessible location. You must inform your executor of where the will is stored and how to access it.
Updating your will is crucial to ensure it contains provisions for your most recent circumstances - for example, if you acquire a new property or valuable asset which you may want to include, or if you plan on getting married or entering a civil partnership.
If you’re unsure about which type of will is right for you, or how to draft an effective document, contact Rowlinsons today. Our Will Writing Solicitors in Cheshire have helped countless individuals to draft wills that protect their interests, and give them the peace of mind that their family will be taken care of after they pass. Instructing specialist solicitors for will writing can have a significant impact on your estate planning.
What will happen if I do not write a Will?
Should you pass without a Will, the law will decide who will inherit your assets under the rules of intestacy, the results of which might not be what you wanted. Consequently, the people you would have wanted to look after your affairs and inherit your possessions may not automatically do so. With this in mind, seeking advice from a Will Writing Solicitor is crucial in setting out your wishes.
The rules of intestacy recognise children, spouses or civil partners, but not step-children or unmarried partners. Therefore, without a Will, your assets will unlikely get passed to those closest to you.
If you have previously been separated but never divorced, your estranged spouse will inherit your estate and be responsible for its administration. If your children are under 18, you will not have a say in who looks after them, nor will you have control over the age at which they receive their inheritance.
You would be unable to donate to your favourite charities, and there would be no provision made for those not directly related to you. The crown could even obtain your estate if the law finds no blood relatives.
To give you peace of mind that your loved ones and their interests remain protected in the future, you should arrange to write your Will as soon as possible.
How do I ensure my will is followed?
If you want to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your passing, drafting a Will is a crucial step. As a Will is one of the most important legal documents you will ever create, it should be drafted correctly to ensure you remain protected. If you don’t do it right, it could render the whole thing invalid.
At Rowlinsons Solicitors, we stress the significance of personalised expert legal guidance when drafting a Will. Our dedicated Will Writing Solicitors will ensure that every aspect of your Will is carefully crafted to meet your specific needs.
If this is your first experience writing a Will, our team is available to offer comprehensive support, offering straightforward and clear advice to give you the peace of mind that your loved ones will handle your estate exactly how you wish.
We can assist you in numerous key areas, including but not limited to:
Making a lasting power of attorney: Alongside your Will, having a lasting power of attorney ensures that, should you become unable to manage your own affairs, there will be someone you trust to do so; this can provide security for your health-related and financial decisions in the future.
Can I update an existing Will?
It is natural for our wishes to change over time. If you already have a Will but find your circumstances are different, you should review and amend your document to ensure it aligns with your intentions.
If you’d like to update your Will, we offer expert guidance on:
Making a new Will: If you require significant changes to your Will, which can happen in some cases, we may advise that you draft a new Will. We can guide you through this process, ensuring your new Will accurately reflects your current wishes, protecting your beneficiaries and providing them clarity.
Should I make a will if I’m young?
Many young people do not realise how crucial a well written will can be, and often avoid making one at all. People often start building wealth in their twenties and thirties, with a first house, a first step into considerable savings, and wages generally rising faster than other periods of their professional career. Without a proper will in place, young people often have less control over how their assets and finances will be distributed if they were no longer around.
Couples are now getting married later in life compared to a few decades ago, and some choose to never officially marry. This means partners could be left out from the distribution of assets according to the rules of intestacy.
With a plan drafted by our Will Writing Solicitors, you can not only guarantee your loved ones are taken care of, but also future proof your will to allow for children and grandchildren who are not born yet. By drafting a will while you are still young, you can take the first steps to ensure the safety and stability of your family in any circumstance.
Making gifts from your estate during your lifetime enables you to see the benefits whilst you’re still here; it can also offer potential tax advantages. However, it is crucial that you take legal advice regarding these gifts. We can advise on all types of lifetime gifts and related issues, including:
At Rowlinsons Solicitors, we aim to provide advice that ensures you can make your generous gestures in the most beneficial way possible for you and your loved ones. Our goal is to make lifetime gifting as rewarding and straightforward as possible.
A trust can potentially allow you to protect assets such as your home from IHT or care home fees whilst ensuring your loved ones remain protected at the relevant time. We can advise you on all of the legal implications that you need to consider, including:
IHT can make a crucial difference to the value of the assets you leave to your loved ones, so it is critical to have a skilled IHT planning solicitor to understand the IHT rules and how to potentially reduce the amount of tax burden on your estate when you pass away.
Writing a will can be a complex process, so having the support of legal professionals with years of experience can take much of the stress away. Rowlinsons’ team of Will Writing Solicitors are an integral part of our wider wills, trusts and estate planning team who support clients throughout the country and prides itself on the excellent level of client care and satisfaction that has made us a leading law firm in the area.
When you choose Rowlinsons for your Will Writing, you can rest assured that your best interests will remain protected, and your estate will be distributed as you wish. Whether you have a moderate estate, own property, or have a portfolio of sizable, valuable assets, we can help you.
Our Solicitors in Cheshire based in our Frodsham and Runcorn (Sutton Weaver) offices regularly help clients through their will writing and estate administration process throughout the Northwest region, including St Helens, Widnes, Warrington, Chester, and Northwich. We can act for clients across England and Wales, so talk to our team today.
Call us today for an initial no-obligation call, or click here for a callback. We also have meeting facilities in North Wales for family law clients.
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