Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. A will is legally valid in England and Wales as long as it's signed by you in the presence of two independent witnesses, who also sign it. How the will was prepared — whether in a solicitor's office or through a phone and online service — doesn't affect its legal validity. We provide clear signing instructions with every will.

Without a valid will, your estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy — a legal framework that may bear no resemblance to your wishes. Unmarried partners receive nothing under intestacy law regardless of how long you've been together. Stepchildren are not automatically included. A will puts you in control of who inherits, who acts as executor, and — if you have children — who would look after them.

Your estate is distributed according to intestacy rules, which may not reflect your wishes. Unmarried partners have no automatic right to inherit, and the division of assets between a spouse and children may not be what you intended. Making a will is the only way to ensure your wishes are followed.

Technically yes, but homemade wills are one of the most common causes of disputes and invalid documents. Errors in wording, signing, or witnessing can invalidate the whole document. Professional help ensures your will is legally sound and says exactly what you intend.

A mirror will is a pair of matching wills made by two people — usually a couple — that reflect each other's wishes. Typically each person leaves everything to the other, and then to agreed beneficiaries such as children. They're two separate legal documents that happen to reflect the same intentions.

At minimum, a will should name your executors (the people who carry out your wishes), your beneficiaries (who inherits what), and make provision for any children. You can also include specific gifts of money or possessions, funeral wishes, and guidance for trustees if a trust is involved. Your will writer will go through all of this with you on your call.

You fill in a short online form, one of our will writers calls you to go through your details and answer any questions, and your solicitor-checked will is sent to you ready to sign. The whole process is handled by phone and online — no office visit needed.

Most straightforward wills are turned around within a few working days of your call. More complex situations may take a little longer. Your will writer will give you a realistic timeframe on your call.

Yes. Every will we produce is reviewed by a qualified solicitor before it reaches you. You're not getting a template — you're getting a professionally checked legal document.

Yes. If your circumstances have changed — a new property, marriage, divorce, children, or a change in who you'd like to benefit — we can help you update your will or write a new one to replace it.

Yes. We handle more than just simple wills. If your estate involves trusts, property, a blended family, or business ownership, our will writers will discuss the right approach with you on your call.

No. Anyone aged 18 or over can make a will with us. Unlike some schemes, there's no minimum age requirement.

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax on the estate of someone who has died. It currently applies to estates above £325,000, with additional allowances available in some circumstances — for example, where a family home is left to direct descendants. The estate pays IHT before assets are distributed to beneficiaries.

There are legal ways to reduce IHT, including making use of gift allowances, leaving assets to a spouse or civil partner, charitable bequests, and in some cases using trusts. The rules are complex and depend on individual circumstances. If IHT planning is relevant to your situation, your will writer will flag it and let you know whether more specialist advice would be beneficial.

Having a valid will makes the probate process significantly clearer and simpler for your executors — it sets out exactly who inherits and who is authorised to deal with your estate. It doesn't remove the need for probate in all cases, but it makes the process considerably more straightforward than dying without one.

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you ever lose the ability to make them yourself — due to illness, injury, or cognitive decline. There are two types: Property and Financial Affairs, and Health and Welfare. An LPA must be set up while you still have mental capacity.

Yes — they cover different things. A will deals with what happens to your estate after you die. An LPA deals with decisions that may need to be made during your lifetime if you lose mental capacity. Without an LPA, nobody has automatic legal authority to act on your behalf — not even a spouse or closest family member.

Your family would need to apply to the Court of Protection for a deputyship order to gain legal authority to act for you. This process is significantly more expensive, slower, and more stressful than setting up an LPA in advance — and gives far less flexibility over who acts for you and how.

Yes, and many people do. It's often more efficient to handle both while the process is fresh, and it means everything is considered together. Ask about our LPA service when you speak to your will writer.

Free Wills Month is a national campaign that runs in March and October each year, offering free simple wills to people aged 55 and over through participating solicitors. The solicitor's fee is covered by a group of UK charities. Spaces are limited and fill up quickly. Find out more about Free Wills Month ›

Not necessarily. Free Wills Month only covers simple wills, has an age restriction of 55 and over, requires an in-person appointment with a solicitor, and is only available twice a year when spaces allow. If you're under 55, need a more complex will, or can't wait for availability, making your will through our phone and online service is a straightforward alternative with no waiting list.

Spaces fill up quickly, particularly in popular areas. If you can't get an appointment, there's no need to wait until the next campaign — you can make your will with us at any time of year, with no waiting list.