Making a Will

Making a Will

Helping With All Aspects of Making a Will 

By making a Will you can make sure that your money, property and assets will be distributed in the way you choose upon your death. Even if you believe that your property and assets are straightforward, you will still benefit from a professionally drafted Will. A Will allows you to nominate people you trust to carry out your wishes and administer your estate.

If you do not have a Will, the law will determine how your assets will be distributed, regardless of what your wishes might have been. If you want to leave money or particular items to family, friends or charities, you can specify this in your Will. Our solicitors will ask you who you would like to benefit from your estate and offer you advice about what your Will should include.

Our Specialists

Person Image

Harleen Hanson

Partner, Solicitor - Kings Lynn

Person Image

Holly Webb

Private Client Executive - March

Person Image

James Davies

Solicitor, Associate - Wisbech

Person Image

Kim Neal

Partner, Solicitor - March

Person Image

Rebekah Crockford

Associate Solicitor - Wisbech

Person Image

Seema Solanki

Partner, Solicitor - Ely

Person Image

Tony Barratt

Partner, Solicitor - Downham Market

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Page 1 of 5

do I Need a Solicitor?

     

It is possible to draw up your own Will but this is not advisable. There are strict formalities that need to be followed for a Will to be valid. The more complicated your circumstances, the more important it is to get proper legal advice from a firm you trust.

The last thing you want is for a mistake to create problems for your family and friends after your death and using a legal professional can help to make sure that you have a valid Will that reflects your wishes. Contact Fraser Dawbarns for more information on how we can help you.

Reasons for Making a Will

If you have children or dependants, or if you wish to protect your estate from a large Inheritance Tax bill, it is important that you make a Will. There are a range of circumstances where Wills are essential: 

  • You are in a relationship or marriage where there are children from previous relationships.
  • There is discord within your family.
  • You have parents or children suffering from a disability.
  • You wish to protect particular assets or reduce potential Inheritance Tax liability. 

Unmarried People

If you are not married to (or in a civil partnership with) your partner, it is particularly important that you make a Will. The law does not automatically give partners the same rights to inherit as spouses and civil partners. If you do not have a Will, there is a risk that your partner will inherit nothing from you. Unmarried couples living together can also benefit from making a cohabitation agreement.

Making A Will To Provide For Your Children

If you have young children, you will want to specify a guardian to look after them in the event of your death. Making this choice in your Will, can help avert family disputes and ensure your wishes are carried out.

You may also want to invest money in a Trust until a child reaches 18 or older. We will recommend the best way to provide for this in your Will and help you to appoint suitable Trustees. 

Taxes and Trusts

It is a misconception that making a Will is only for wealthy people. Most people will benefit from having a Will, and it may be that your assets are worth more than you thought. At Fraser Dawbarns we can offer advice and guidance on how best to plan your estate, taking account of potential Inheritance Tax. Our solicitors can help maintain your assets to benefit your family and beneficiaries.

Our advice is practical and actionable whether your estate is smaller or larger and more complicated. With specialists in Trusts, Income Tax and elderly care, we have the right person to deal with your case. We provide an advice service on wealth management, Inheritance Tax and Trusts. We will give you the information you need to ensure that your wishes are met when writing your Will and planning for Inheritance Tax. 

Avoiding Challenges to Your Will

Using a solicitor to write your Will is a good way to protect yourself against future disputes regarding your estate. A solicitor will understand what could potentially be challenged and can advise you on making a Will that is legally valid and less likely to be disputed. 

Intestacy

     

If you do not have a valid Will when you die, this is referred to as dying intestate. Your estate will be subject to intestacy rules which govern what will happen to your assets. There is a good chance that these rules will not be how you would have chosen to divided your assets. Read more about the intestacy rules here.

https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will

Keeping Your Will Up to date

     

You should review your Will every 5 years or after any major life change, such as marriage, divorce, having children or moving to a new house.

If you need to make a major change to your Will, it is often best to have a new Will drawn up. If the changes are less significant you can make minor alterations to your existing Will with a separate document (a Codicil). Our solicitors will provide advice on the best way to make any necessary changes. 

Keeping Your Will Safe

     

Once you have finalised your Will, it is essential to keep it safe and to tell your executor or a close friend or family member where it is. At Fraser Dawbarns, our clients benefit from a free storage service so they can be sure that after making a Will, it will be kept safe. As well as storing your original Will for you, we will send you a copy.

Other Related Services

Lasting Powers of Attorney

Making a Will allows you to specify what will happen to your assets on your death, but you can also make provisions in case you are incapacitated through an accident or ill health. You can appoint a trusted family member or friend who will look after your financial affairs, including paying bills on your behalf, or to make health and welfare decisions on your behalf. Find out more about our Lasting Power of Attorney services.

Executor service

Executors deal with your Estate in the event of your death. You need to decide who you want to carry out the wishes expressed in your Will. We can help you with your decision and if you wish, a partner from the firm can act as your Executor. Find out more about our Probate services.

Wills and Estate Disputes

If a dispute has arisen around an existing Will, and you would like help with this issue see our Will and Estate Disputes service page.

Making a Will With no Hidden Charges

Fixed Fee Wills

Fraser Dawbarns offer a fixed price Will writing service for a straightforward Will and when writing mirror Wills for couples. At Fraser Dawbarns you will know in advance exactly how much your Will is going to cost you. Please contact us for details of the fixed fee.

If you have more specific and complex requirements from your Will, we will give you an estimate of the cost when taking your instructions. We are transparent about our fees and we will never add any hidden charges. 

Free Initial Consultation

We are happy to meet with you for a free of charge consultation. This will help us to understand your circumstances, find out what matters most to you and provide an estimate of the costs involved. Call or email us today to find out more about our free consultation.

Testimonials

I cannot thank Samantha enough for helping me through what is a very stressful time having lost my dear husband in hospital and all the paperwork that is involved. I am grateful for her understanding.
Client - Downham Market Office
01
02
03

Why Choose Fraser Dawbarns to Help You?

We offer a confidential and personalised service and are one of the largest and most well-established firms in the region. We care about our clients and will use our extensive legal expertise to give you total peace of mind that everything will be in order after your death.

We will advise you about everything from what to include in your Will, to setting up trusts and the potential effect of Inheritance Tax on your estate. 

Pricing Options

We offer a choice of pricing options to our clients. By offering the choice between undertaking work on either a fixed fee basis or at an hourly rate, we give you the freedom to pick the pricing option that best suits you. 

Giving you Total Peace of Mind

With offices in Wisbech, King’s Lynn, Downham Market, March and Ely we are close by if an urgent issue arises or if you need to sign something at short notice. If you need us to make a home or hospital visit, we will be pleased to come and see you.

If you would like any further advice on making a Will or any related issues, get in touch now and see how we can help you.

Contact Us Today

Our team will help you from the beginning of your case to the end, giving you total peace of mind. If you would like friendly, client focused advice on a wide range of legal issues, get in touch and see how we can help you.

Call or email us today and find out how we can make your life easier. 

Wisbech: 01945 461456
 
March: 01354 602880
King's Lynn: 01553 666600
 
Ely: 01353 383483
Downham Market: 01366 383171
 
Email: info@fraserdawbarns.com
Search Icon Search
Telephone Icon Phone Email Icon Email
Menu Close Icon