Wills & Probate

Making a Will is simple. Just call us on 020 8945 0323. We will talk it through with you and let you know the best way to do it.

For many people with straightforward lives, it can all be be done over the phone or by email. But if your life is a bit more complicated or you simply prefer it, you are welcome to come and see us and do it all face to face. If so, our office is at 190 Horn Lane, London W3 6PL. Just ring and make an appointment.

Home and hospital visits Or if poor health or old age prevents you or your friend or relative travelling to see us...we will visit you in your home or in hospital

Why use us? We provide a personal service by fully qualified solicitors. I have over 30 years experience and my colleague over 20 years. We know what we are doing. And if you need anything else, like a Power of Attorney or a Living Will or transfering a property to your child or spouse...we can do that too.

No hidden extras No expensive add ons. We offer all our clients free secure storage for their Wills, if they want it. We won't try and sell you insurance or investments.

Cost. A normal Will is usually £120 plus VAT. Mirror Wills for couples normally £180 plus VAT for the pair. If you need more complicated ones the cost goes up a bit but not too much. For example' wills for parents of a child with a disability and who will need care after the parents have both died are normally £400 plus VAT.

Home and Hospital visits. On top of the cost for the Will we charge extra for the time we spend out of the office. How much depends on how long it takes but normally for someone within 1/2 an hours travel from our office, the extra cost is about £100 plus VAT per visit.

Undecided? If you want to know more about Wills and why you should have one read on.

Introduction

A Will sets out exactly what you want to happen to your property after your death. It also can deal with other things such as who you would like to deal with all the formalities (your executor) and what kind of ceremony you would prefer.

The executor may be a trustworthy friend or relative or if you prefer, we would be pleased to act as your executors . There is no additional charge for appointing us and the charges incurred for administering an estate are the same whether we are your executors or not.

When deciding who to leave property or money to, you should bear in mind who is dependant on you and what you need to do to protect them. Everyone's circumstances are different but common points to consider are:

  • If you are married, you may feel safe in leaving everything to your wife or husband, satisfied that they will be able to look after any other dependants such as children, elderly relatives or the infirm. If you can, then that is enough, subject to one further point. if something happened to you both, who should inherit instead, your children, another relative, a friend or a charity? And who would you like to appoint to be the guardians of any child or children? A Will allows you to choose.
  • If you are single, divorced or widowed you must still consider who is dependant on you and make provision for them. If this includes any children under 18, you should state who is to look after them until they have grown up (a guardian) and who will look after their finances (a trustee). Children under 18 must have two trustees to deal with their money.
  • If your have no dependants, who would you like to make gifts to? All to one friend or relative or charity or split between several. if split, we recommend you do this by proportion or percentages e.g. one-quarter to the a named charity or 20% a particular person.
  • Do you have some items of personal, family or sentimental value you wish to give to a certain person - a ring to a grand-daughter perhaps?

When you have worked out in your own mind who you want to give things to, please consider the following extra points:

What happens if you do not make a will?

  • If you are married with no children - your wife or husband inherits the first £400,000 plus half of the rest of the estate-- over that amount other relatives can make a claim and things can become very complicated.
  • If you are married with children - your wife or husband inherits £200,000 plus a life interest in one half of the rest of the estate. The other half goes to the children in equal shares
  • If you are single, divorced or widowed, your property goes to your next of kin - who is that and do you want them to inherit it all?
  • If you are married but separated, your husband or wife would have a claim - do you want that?
  • If you live with someone but are not married to them they will normally receive nothing from your estate - not even your share of the home.
  • If you have no relatives, your property goes to the Crown.
  • If you have made a Will already but subsequently married, the Will is automatically revoked.

Finally - without a Will you have no control over your affairs, and have to rely upon the rules made by Parliament. Even if these are satisfactory now, Parliament could change those rules at some future date.