What is a Will?

A Will is a legal document containing your directions about who should deal with your estate and who should receive the assets in your estate in the event of your death.

Typically, a professional drawn Will includes:

The appointment of Executors to administer the estate
The appointment of Guardians of minor children who will have parental responsibility for them
Gifts of specific sums of money or belongings to friends, relatives or charities
A gift of the remainder of your assets to your chosen beneficiaries
Your funeral directions as to the disposal of your body

A Will must be in writing and signed by you in the presence of two independent witnesses who are aware that they are witnessing a Will.

To make a Will you must be at least 18 years old and have the required mental capacity. You must intend to make a Will, understand the extent of your estate and be aware of any moral obligations you may have.

What are complex Wills?
Complex Wills are considered to be Wills that include trusts which are set up to minimise an inheritance tax liability, protect property from long-term care funding or make provision for a disabled beneficiary. They often include a discretionary trust or flexible lifetime trust. They can also be Wills that deal with a Testator's business.

When Should I Review my Will?

You should check that your Will still reflects your wishes every 3 – 5 years or when there are major changes in your life such as moving house, marriage, divorce, births and deaths.

Changing your Will can be easy. For small changes you can add an additional document called a Codicil. Larger changes may need a new Will.

To speak to a member of our Private Client team, simply select one of the staff profiles below. Alternatively, you can make a general enquiry using the contact details at the bottom of this page or by calling in to any of our offices and making an appointment.