Will Solicitors

At Talbots Law, our Will lawyers are with you every step of the way to give you and your family real peace of mind. Life is full of twists and turns, but making a Will means you stay in control of what happens next.

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None of us knows what the future holds, but making a Will means you can decide what happens to your money, property and possessions when you die.

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Without a valid Will, your estate will generally be distributed according to the rules of intestacy, which may not reflect your wishes or provide for the people you’d like to benefit.

Our Will solicitors can help you put a Will in place that’s tailored to your circumstances, whether you’re making your first Will, updating an existing one or dealing with more complex family or financial arrangements.

Ready to take the next step? Call us on 0800 118 1500 to to arrange a meeting with one of our Will solicitors, or simply complete the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.

What Happens If I Die Without A Will?

If you die without a valid Will, you are said to have died intestate.

The intestacy rules determine who inherits your estate and how much they receive. This may not reflect your wishes, particularly if you have an unmarried partner, stepchildren, children from a previous relationship or other family circumstances that don’t fit neatly within the intestacy rules.

Making a Will means you can make these decisions yourself rather than leaving them to the law.

Find out more in our frequently asked questions below.

Making a Will can bring real peace of mind

By putting Wills and lasting powers of attorney (LPA) in place as early as possible you know your wishes will be respected. Everyone knows making a Will is something we all need to do, yet so many of us just don’t get around to it.

Our little guide is designed to offer simple advice to help you understand the importance of making wills and LPAs, and the problems and conflicts they can help avoid. You can also download our later-life booklet.

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Why Should You Make a Will With Talbots Law?

When you choose Talbots Law, you are in safe hands. With a wealth of experience helping individuals and families, we are experts in will writing. We’re members of the Law Society Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS) an many of the team are also members of the Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP), The Association of Lifetime Lawyers and Dementia Friends.

We know that cost is a huge concern, which is why our highly competitive prices are fixed with you at the outset. A small investment now offers you peace of mind and protection for your loved ones.

With offices across the country and a team of specialists covering a wide range of legal services, we are able to provide practical advice tailored to your individual circumstances. As an employee-owned firm, we are committed to delivering exceptional service, clear communication and legal support you can trust. Our reputation is reflected in the thousands of positive reviews we have received from happy clients. Read our Trustpilot reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Will?

Dying intestate (without a will) results in the law deciding who will inherit your estate and look after your children, and will also mean that any charities and friends may be prevented from benefitting.

Where there’s a DIY will, it could be a false economy – it may not meet legal requirements in order to be valid. It may use language that is confusing or ambiguous. Worse still, the will might not reflect your wishes, potentially leading to family disputes and inadequate provision for a loved one.

Why should I make a Will?

Choose who gets what
You decide who gets your property, your money, your possessions. It doesn’t matter how much or how little you have, you decide who gets what.
Provide for those you leave behind
Making a will ensures your children are looked after by someone you trust.
Choose how to say goodbye
Set out your funeral wishes and your executor will follow those instructions, whether it’s an eco-friendly option or a more traditional one.
Choose who handles your estate
You choose your executor – someone that you know and trust who will carry out your wishes.
Protect your assets
A well-drafted will can substantially reduce the inheritance tax liability that might be payable, ensuring that more of your assets pass to your family. You can also leave a legacy to charity. This is the perfect time to think about helping others once you’ve gone. At Talbots, we support various charities (see our website for further details) but you can, of course, select the charity that’s most important to you.

What should my Will include?

Your Will is paramount in having control over the division of your assets even after you’re gone. It should therefore include as much information as possible regarding who will inherit and how much they are to receive. This includes any financial assets you have such as property, savings and possessions. The key is to be as specific as possible.

If you have any requests for your funeral proceedings, these can also be recorded in your Will.

As well as this, you’ll need to decide who you want to name as the executor of your Will. This person will be responsible for ensuring your wishes are carried out accordingly.

Can I make a Will myself?

There is no requirement to use a solicitor to make a Will, but there are strict legal requirements for a Will to be valid.

DIY Wills and templates may not take account of your individual circumstances and can contain wording that is unclear or fail to deal with important issues. Mistakes can create uncertainty for your family and potentially lead to disputes after your death.

Professional advice can help make sure your Will reflects your wishes and works alongside your wider estate planning.

When should I make or update my Will?

circumstances change.

Important life events that may be a good reason to review your Will include:

Getting married or entering into a civil partnership
Getting divorced or separating
Having children or grandchildren
Buying or selling property
Receiving an inheritance
Starting or selling a business
A significant change in your financial circumstances
The death of a beneficiary or executor

Even if nothing significant has changed, it’s sensible to review your Will periodically to make sure it still reflects your wishes.

Who should I appoint as my executor?

Your executor is responsible for dealing with your estate and carrying out the instructions in your Will.

You should choose someone you trust and who you believe will be able to deal with the responsibilities involved. You can appoint more than one executor, and professional executors can also be appointed where appropriate.