Wills, Estates & Tax planning
A well-drafted Will and thoughtful estate planning give your family clarity and reduce the administrative burden on your estate.
Wills Fees
Note: The above fees for Wills are on a fixed fee basis. If a Will is complex, however, and includes many gifts and/or trusts, I will take the matter on at my hourly rate.
What’s included
- Initial consultation and witnesses of the Will in the office or via a mobile visit (London).
- Drafting of the Wills, including trusts where appropriate.
- Guidance on executors, guardians for children and letters of wishes.
Looking to Put Your Will and LPAs in Place Together?
If you would like to arrange both your Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney, fixed-fee packages are available.
View Will & LPA PackagesWills and Lasting Powers of Attorney Packages
- Two LPAs and a Simple Will for one individual
- £575 no VAT
- A couple doing 2 LPAs each and Simple Mirror Wills
- £1,100 no VAT
OPG registration fees are additional.
View Will & LPA PackagesUnsure of what the requirements are? Get in touch using the options below.
Submitting an enquiry does not create a solicitor-client relationship. An engagement begins only after the terms of engagement have been agreed and confirmed.
Making a Will: what you need to know
Why make a Will?
A Will sets out who should receive your estate, who will deal with it and, if you have young children, who should look after them. It gives your family certainty at a difficult time and helps avoid disputes.
What happens without a Will?
If you die without a valid Will, your estate passes under the intestacy rules. These may not reflect your wishes — for example, an unmarried partner has no automatic right to inherit, and stepchildren and friends are not provided for.
Executors
Executors are the people responsible for dealing with your estate after your death: collecting assets, paying debts and distributing what remains. You can appoint family members, friends or professionals, and it is sensible to name a replacement.
Guardians
If you have children under 18, your Will can appoint guardians to care for them if both parents have died.
Gifts
You can leave specific items or sums of money to individuals or charities, as well as deciding how the remainder of your estate (the ‘residue’) is shared.
Trusts
A trust in a Will can hold assets for beneficiaries who are young or vulnerable, or protect an inheritance for future generations. Trusts are included in the drafting where appropriate; a Will with many trusts may be treated as complex (see the note above).
Mirror Wills
Mirror Wills are two separate Wills made by a couple, usually on almost identical terms — typically leaving everything to each other and then to the same beneficiaries. Simple Mirror Wills are £600 for both, no VAT.
Letters of wishes
A letter of wishes sits alongside your Will and gives informal guidance to your executors or trustees, such as how personal belongings should be shared. It is not legally binding but can be very helpful.
Estate planning
Estate planning means thinking ahead about how your assets will pass and who will manage your affairs, both after your death and if you lose capacity. A Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney together cover both situations.
Updating an existing Will
You should review your Will after major life events. Marriage or civil partnership generally revokes an existing Will in England and Wales, and divorce affects how your former spouse is treated. Changes should be made properly, by a new Will or a formal codicil, rather than by writing on the original.
Wills and estate planning insights
Martin Lewis and Will Writing: What MoneySavingExpert Says About Making a Will
An independent guide to the free and low-cost Will options MoneySavingExpert discusses, including Free Wills Month and Will Aid, and when a solicitor-drafted Will may be the better fit.
Read articlePensions and Inheritance Tax from April 2027: What Families Need to Know
What the April 2027 pension Inheritance Tax changes mean for estates, beneficiaries, personal representatives and reviewing your Will.
Read articleFrequently asked questions
How much does a Will cost?
A Simple Will is £350 and Simple Mirror Wills are £600, with no VAT. Complex Wills are charged at £220 per hour, no VAT.
Where can the Will be signed?
The initial consultation and witnessing of the Will can take place at the office at 20 The Causeway, Teddington, or via a mobile visit in London.
What makes a Will complex?
A Will that includes many gifts and/or trusts may be complex, in which case it is charged at the hourly rate rather than the fixed fee.
Can I make a Will and LPAs at the same time?
Yes. Combined packages are available: two LPAs and a Simple Will for £575, or Simple Mirror Wills and two LPAs each for a couple for £1,100, no VAT.