An online will service may be suitable for some straightforward circumstances, but many people prefer the reassurance of discussing their wishes with someone personally. A professional will writing service gives you the opportunity to explain your circumstances, ask questions and consider options that may not be obvious when completing an online form.
This can be particularly helpful where you own property, have children from previous relationships, want to protect particular beneficiaries, own a business or simply want to be confident that your wishes have been clearly understood.
At Your Will Writers, you deal directly with me throughout the process, with flexible face-to-face, telephone and video appointments available.
Look for genuine client reviews, relevant experience, clear communication and a willingness to explain your options without pressure. It is also worth considering whether the person you are dealing with offers a personal service and is available to answer questions throughout the process.
Your Will Writers has 30 years’ experience in legal and financial services and has built a strong collection of genuine Google reviews from local clients.
No. I believe in being clear and transparent about costs from the outset. Once I understand what you require, I will explain the relevant costs before you decide whether you would like to proceed. If your circumstances mean that additional work or services may be appropriate, these will be discussed with you first.
In England and Wales, there are specific requirements for a will to be legally valid. You must be aged 18 or over, make the will voluntarily and be of sound mind. The will must be in writing and signed by you in the presence of two witnesses who are both over 18, and the witnesses must then sign the will in your presence.
It is also important to ensure that the will clearly reflects your wishes and is executed correctly. As part of my service, I explain the signing and witnessing requirements so that you understand how your completed will should be executed.
A Lasting Power of Attorney must be made while you have the mental capacity to make that decision. Many people choose to put LPAs in place in advance rather than waiting until they are needed, so that trusted people are already appointed if circumstances change in the future.
Yes. You can appoint more than one attorney. You can choose for them to make decisions jointly, jointly and severally, or jointly for some decisions and jointly and severally for others. It is important to consider carefully which arrangement will work best for your circumstances.
A Lasting Power of Attorney does not normally have a fixed expiry date. It can continue until the donor dies or the LPA is ended. There are also circumstances in which an attorney’s appointment can end or an LPA can stop working, depending on how the attorneys were appointed and the circumstances involved.
An LPA allows you to include instructions that your attorneys must follow and preferences that you would like them to take into account. These need to be drafted carefully because inappropriate or conflicting instructions can cause problems when the LPA is registered or used.
If you lose mental capacity without a valid Lasting Power of Attorney in place, nobody automatically has the legal authority to make all decisions on your behalf, even if they are your spouse, partner or close family member. In some circumstances, someone may need to apply to the Court of Protection to become your deputy, which is a different process from putting an LPA in place in advance.
Yes. You can revoke a Lasting Power of Attorney while you have the mental capacity to make that decision. There is a formal process for doing this, and the Office of the Public Guardian and your attorneys should be notified as appropriate.
No. Making a Property and Financial Affairs LPA does not mean that you automatically lose control of your finances. While you have mental capacity, you continue to make your own financial decisions. Once the LPA has been registered, your attorneys may also be able to act for you while you still have capacity if you have chosen to allow this.
A Health and Welfare LPA works differently. Attorneys can only make a particular health or welfare decision for you when you do not have the mental capacity to make that decision yourself.
An LPA must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used. Registration is not immediate and processing times can vary, particularly if there are errors or queries with the application. This is one reason why it can be sensible to put LPAs in place before they are urgently needed.
