Home - Services for Individuals - Wills
Simon Greener LLB
Director, Solicitor
Has someone you care for passed away, and you need help with the legal paperwork? At Davis Gregory we can take care of all these concerns for you. We offer a full service including:
The services we offer are important, whether you are planning arrangements for yourself, or you are trying to cope with the care of a parent or other loved one. We also specialise in helping those who are alone, without family or friends who are able or willing to look after them.
We can often work on a fixed-price basis, or to a budget we agree with you. For example, our normal charge for a straightforward Will for an individual is just £300 + VAT, and mirror wills for a husband and wife is £550 + VAT.
Home - Services for Individuals - Wills
Simon Greener LLB
Director, Solicitor
A will is a legally binding document that lays out what happens to your money, property and possessions after your death. It also outlines your wishes regarding the appointment of guardians if you have young children. Wills need to be formally witnessed and signed to make them legally valid.
Making a Will is extremely important, as it is the only way to control what will happen to your estate when you die. ‘Estate’ means everything you own, including savings, property, furniture, vehicles and other assets. A will allows you to choose which family members should benefit, what gifts to make to particular friends or charities, what arrangements should be made for your children, and even what your funeral arrangements should be. If you make a will you can also make sure you do not pay more Inheritance Tax than you need to.
You need to make a Will that is legally binding. To do so, it is important to have this prepared by a specialist Wills solicitor, who can
A solicitor specialising in estate planning can provide expert advice, ensure your will meets all legal requirements, and help minimise potential future challenges if you go for a 'DIY Will'. If your estate is complex or you have specific concerns, it's essential you seek legal guidance for your will, to ensure it accurately reflects your wishes and protects your loved ones.
When writing a will, you will appoint one or more people to serve as executor. When someone dies, the executor of the will becomes responsible for administering your assets. If you have been appointed as executor, you first need to obtain the grant of probate (a document giving legal authority to an executor to administer the assets of the deceased person). You then need to distribute the assets according to the wishes laid out in the will. This can be a confusing process, especially in a time of grieving, so we can guide you through this process and take care of any of your concerns. Please find out more about the services Davis Gregory Will department offers.
At Davis Gregory we are expert Cheltenham Wills Solicitors who have for many years provided a specialist Will-writing service. We will discuss with you your requirements, advise you if you are uncertain about what to do, then prepare your Will and make certain it is legally valid. If you wish, we will store the original Will for you free of charge, and provide you with a copy.
If you do not make a Will, then the law says you have died ‘intestate’. This means that despite any wishes you expressed in your lifetime, your estate may not go to who you want. For example, it can mean your estate does not all pass to your husband, wife or civil partner; step-children can end up receiving nothing and your estate will pass to the Crown (the government) if you don’t have close relatives. This is why it’s very important to make a will! Find out more about what happens if you die without a will.
Yes, you can change or update your will during your lifetime. Life events such as marriage, divorce, new grandchildren, moving house, or changes in your financial situation may necessitate updating your will. It's essential to keep your will up to date to reflect your current wishes accurately. In fact, it’s advised to review your will every 5 years. Davis Gregory are on hand to support you through your life journey, so please contact us if you wish to make any changes to your will.
If you have minor updates to make to your will, the original document will be unaltered but a codicil will be added. This must be signed and witnessed in the same way as the will, although the witnesses don’t have to be the same as the original ones. If anything substantial needs to be changed, you should make a new will and cancel your old one.