What does a Will-writing service involve?
A solicitor’s Will-writing service should do more than insert names into a standard form.
It begins by understanding your family, assets, responsibilities and wishes; identifying
legal or practical risks; preparing clear provisions; and ensuring the Will is executed correctly.
At The Legal Practice Solicitors, our Private Client team is based in Wembley Park and assists
clients across London and England and Wales. Appointments can be arranged in person or by
video, although the final signing arrangements must satisfy the legal requirements.
Before the first appointment
It helps to prepare:
- Your full name, address and family details;
- Details of a spouse, civil partner, partner, children and stepchildren;
- A broad list of property, savings, investments, pensions, insurance, businesses, trusts and foreign assets;
- Details of mortgages and significant liabilities;
- The names of possible executors, guardians and trustees;
- Any specific gifts or charities you wish to include;
- An outline of significant lifetime gifts; and
- Any existing Will, codicil, trust or nuptial agreement.
Exact account balances are not always needed for an initial meeting, but the ownership
structure and approximate estate value can materially affect the advice.
What will the solicitor discuss?
Your beneficiaries
The solicitor will clarify who should inherit, what happens if a beneficiary dies before you
and whether gifts should be held on trust. Particular care may be needed for young or
vulnerable beneficiaries, blended families, unmarried couples and anyone receiving
means-tested support.
Executors and trustees
Executors administer the estate. Trustees may manage money or property held under a trust.
You should choose people who are suitable, willing and likely to work together. Professional
appointments may be appropriate in some estates, with clear information about charges.
Guardians
A parent with parental responsibility may use a Will to appoint a guardian for a child under 18,
but when the appointment takes effect depends on the family circumstances and existing
parental responsibility. The issue should be discussed rather than relying on a simple clause
without context.
Property ownership
A Will cannot always control an asset that passes automatically by survivorship. The solicitor
may recommend checking whether a home is owned as joint tenants or tenants in common and
whether a severance or trust arrangement is appropriate.
Tax and pensions
Inheritance Tax depends on the estate, exemptions, reliefs and beneficiaries. Pension death
benefits and life policies may pass outside the Will. The solicitor may recommend separate
nomination forms, financial or tax advice where appropriate.
Drafting and approval
After the meeting, the solicitor prepares a draft and explanatory advice. Read names,
addresses, gifts, substitute provisions and powers carefully. Ask questions if the language
does not reflect your intentions. The Will should not be signed until the final version and
signing instructions are confirmed.
How must a Will be signed?
For a conventional Will to be valid in England and Wales, the person making it must generally
be at least 18, act voluntarily, have the required mental capacity, put the Will in writing and
sign or acknowledge the signature in the presence of two witnesses present at the same time.
Each witness then signs in the person’s presence.
A beneficiary, or the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary, should not witness the Will
because the gift to that beneficiary can fail. Remote witnessing was a temporary pandemic
measure and should not be assumed to remain available. Follow the solicitor’s current
signing instructions.
Capacity, pressure and vulnerable clients
A solicitor may ask to meet the person making the Will alone for part of the appointment.
This helps establish instructions, capacity and freedom from pressure. Where capacity is
uncertain, medical evidence or additional safeguards may be recommended. These steps
protect the client’s wishes and the Will.
Storage and future reviews
Keep the original Will secure and make sure the executors know where it is. Do not attach or
remove documents, mark the original or store it where it could be lost. A solicitor may offer
safe storage and provide a copy.
Review the Will after marriage or civil partnership, separation or divorce, births, deaths, a
major change in assets, a move abroad or a change in relationships. Marriage or civil
partnership can revoke an existing Will unless it was made in contemplation of that specific
event, so take advice before and after the ceremony.
How much does Will writing cost?
The cost depends on whether the Will is straightforward or requires trusts, tax planning,
business provisions, foreign advice or detailed capacity safeguards. Ask for a written
quotation explaining what is included, VAT and any additional work. Wolfable should link to
the firm’s current Wills fees page and verify all figures immediately before publication.
Frequently asked questions
Can couples make one joint Will?
Each person normally signs a separate Will. “Mirror Wills” may contain similar terms but
remain separate documents and can usually be changed individually while capacity remains.
Can I write my own Will?
It is possible, but drafting or execution mistakes can invalidate provisions, create ambiguity
or cause avoidable disputes. Professional advice is particularly important for property,
blended families, businesses, trusts, foreign assets and vulnerable beneficiaries.
Can I change my Will later?
Yes, while you retain capacity. Changes should be made by a properly executed codicil or a
new Will—not by handwriting alterations onto the signed document.
Speak to The Legal Practice Solicitors
Our Private Client team can advise on Wills, intestacy, probate applications, estate administration, Inheritance Tax issues and estate disputes. We can provide as much or as little support as the circumstances require.
Telephone: 0208 903 7017
Email: jpatel@thelegalpractice.co.uk
Office: 122-126 Wembley Park Drive, Wembley Park, London HA9 8HP
Disclaimer
This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or tax advice or create a solicitor-client relationship. Wills, probate, tax and estate administration is fact-specific and may change. Obtain advice on the individual facts before acting. The law referred to is the law of England and Wales and is stated as at 26 August 2026.
