Will Writing Service
Our advice to clients is that drawing up a will is good practice. Here are a number of reasons:
- Winding up an estate with a will is both quicker and cheaper than without a will.
- There is a common misconception that a surviving spouse inherits the whole estate if there is no will. This is not true where there are surviving children. The law provides a complex scheme of division of the estate between the wife/husband and children or siblings of the deceased. The only way to ensure that your spouse inherits your entire estate is to execute a will.
- A will removes any doubt over who gets what and any potential family squabbles are minimised.
- A will can be used to provide very specific bequests e.g. antiques, items of jewellery or a sum of money to a favourite charity.
- A will can provide for people outside the family such as valued friends or employees.
- If you have children under the age of 18 a will can set out who you would like to be guardian(s) of your children. The will can also provide for a trust to be set up to provide financial security for any children under 18.
- Check your “letter of wishes” in a Death in Service benefits scheme provided by employers. Any Death in Service benefits scheme should be reviewed on making a will because the will cannot override the scheme.
Basic single wills start at £350 and mirror wills from £550 with additional costs for more complicated provisions. Please complete the attached questionnaire and return it to your Global Wealth Management consultant who will advise you on the full costings.