Will Writing Solicitors

Our Will Writing Solicitors in Manchester (Stockport) are highly skilled specialists. We have a deep understanding of the law surrounding Wills, and can advise you on the best way to plan for the distribution of your assets for the future.

Making a Will is one of the most important decision making processes any of us will face, especially when considering what’s best for those you love and planning for a time when you are no longer around.  Making sure your wishes are clearly outlined and securely enshired by law is crucial and demands the expertise of a qualified Will Writing Solicitor.

With the support of our Will Writing Services, you can make sure that your family and your loved ones are taken care of, and that your estate is not reduced by excessive tax, expenses, or unnecessary disputes.

Contact us today to begin the process of writing a will with Mounteney Solicitors. We can also witness your signature and act as executor if required.

A Will is a legal document made to ensure that your wishes are carried out in relation to your assets, funds, and body after your death. It is a formal document subject to complicated technical requirements. 

Making a will is sensible as it should ensure that:

1. Those you wish to benefit from your possessions (especially your partner and children) do so, and not someone else (or the Crown, if you have no close family)
2. That your affairs are concluded properly and quickly, and do not, for example, give rise to unnecessary disputes between your loved-ones or complicated legal processes.

It may be helpful to regard your will as being a Deed of Gift of your property that you make conditional on the gifts only coming into effect after you die. You have exactly the same freedom to do with your property on your death, as you could have done while still alive – e.g. if you wish, you could give all you possess to charity.

You might feel more inclined to be generous with gifts in your will than when you are still alive, when you may feel you need your possessions to live from yourself.

If you die without having written a will, the rules of intestacy will apply. There are many misconceptions about what these rules dictate, which often mean people avoid making a will, thinking their assets are safe.

My spouse or civil partner will get everything

In many circumstances, your estate may be divided between relatives in shares dictated by the law, and could result in your spouse receiving less than expected. If you are not married your partner may receive nothing.

My sibling will sort things out for me

The order of priority of who can act as administrator under an intestacy are: 

1. Spouse 
2. Children 
3. Parents 
4. Siblings 
5. Grandparents 
6. Uncles and aunts or their children.

Intestacy also makes probate more difficult and more expensive. In contrast to the situation dictated by intestacy, making a Will can: 

• control where your property goes after your death
• control who takes charge of your affairs
• ensure that your affairs are concluded properly and quickly
• reduce the amount of tax payable 

Making a will is one of the most important jobs you will ever do. The benefits of a plan for the future division of your assets are clear, and apply to everyone.

People who should make a will include those who:  

• Have children and want to appoint guardians
• Own property and want to ensure it passes to their loved ones
• Are planning for their future against uncertain situations
• Experience major changes in financial  or personal circumstances
• Experience any change of wishes or objectives in relation to their estate
• Want to avoid the costs, delays and unpredictability of intestacy

Unfortunately many people leave making a will until it is too late, which is a decision their loved ones often regret. Having a will written by specialist Will Writing Solicitors is the best way to ensure your wishes are carried out, and your family and loved ones are looked after.

If your will fails to make provision for people who are your close family members or dependants, they may have the right to apply to the Court to get some benefit from your estate. If this is a possibility for your circumstances, then your will could anticipate it, for example by including a letter explaining why certain people have got (or not got) certain bequests from your estate.

Depending on your circumstances, the value of your estate and possessions, and your connections to your loved ones, there are different types of wills which may be the best option for you. At Mounteney Solicitors, we have decades of experience dealing with special requirements for succession planning and wills, and our Will Writing Solicitors in Stockport, Bramhall, Cheadle, and Heald Green are always available to provide specialist advice.

Single Wills

Single wills are the most common type of will. These are documents outlining how you would like your estate to be divided or handled after your death. They are generally better suited to people who are not married, or if the other spouse in a marriage has a single will in place already. There are a number of situations in which a single will can be the most appropriate option even if you’re married and have children, as it allows for more detailed control of your assets.

Mirror Wills

Couples can often benefit from mirror wills, which carry identical instructions on both spouses’ copies. They generally call for the survivor of the couple to receive the estate, and for this to be distributed according to the will’s instructions once both spouses have passed away. It’s important to consider that mirror wills can be edited once one spouse has died, so trust between the couple is fundamental.

Trust Wills

Trust wills allow for the funds and assets in the will to be transferred to a trust. You can name trustees, who will manage the trust, and beneficiaries, who will be entitled to its contents. This can be a great option to ensure that loved ones who are unable to manage funds and assets, such as children, still receive some of your estate and possessions. Trust wills can also protect your estate from excessive Inheritance Tax and creditors, as they will be unable to access its contents.

Living Wills

A living will, also known as an advance decision, is a document outlining your wishes regarding medical treatments to be used in case you become unable to communicate or make decisions later in life, or for any reason you are not of sound mind. They are legally binding, and medical staff must follow their instructions.

If you feel that your estate may have slightly more sophisticated requirements we can still assist so please contact us for a free consultation or further information.

Having the will that we prepare executed in our office is an option included in the price, which we recommend you take advantage of. Choosing not to have your will executed in the presence of a solicitor increases the possibility of any challenge to your will being successful. If you choose not to have a solicitor present at the execution of your will, then we will have provided a “transcription only service” and we exclude all other liabilities for the making of such a will.

The time our work takes to conclude will depend on precisely what we are asked to do, but we would generally expect to have taken your instructions within two days of you having bought this product, and we would normally expect to have produced a usable template within 7 working days of your decision to buy the product. Special dispatch may be available where necessary (possibly at extra charge in some cases – please ask).

First we will find out from you the full circumstances surrounding your estate, executors/trustees and chosen beneficiaries. We will then produce a draft Will or Mirror Wills for your approval. Once the document has been approved we will arrange a meeting to guide you through the execution of the will or wills.

After the will has been executed we will check that its execution appears to be legally compliant. If you wish, we will securely store the original for you, providing you with a copy for your records at no extra cost.

Your supplier is Mounteney Solicitors, regulated by the Solicitor Regulation Authority, that charges VAT some customers may be able to reclaim.

Our work will be charged at a fixed-fee of:

• £300 including VAT (£250 + VAT) for a single Will, or
• £498 including VAT (£415 + VAT) for a simple pair of Mirror Wills
• £480 including VAT (£400 + VAT) for a single Will with a Trust.
• £825 including VAT (£687.50 + VAT) for a set of couples mirror Wills with a Trust.

Please note that there may be supplements based on additional Trust arrangements which you would be advised about at your free consultation. There is more about our fees on our website here.

If you have any questions, require any further information, or would like to engage us on the T&Cs linked Our Terms in the footer below, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.

You deserve the peace of mind to know your interests are in the best hands.  No law firm is better placed to protect you than Mounteney Solicitors.

Our Will Writing Solicitors in Stockport are experienced and qualified professionals with a deep understanding of the law, and can advise you on the best solution for your circumstances. You will always be able to speak to someone who knows what is going on with your work and who will ensure you get up-to-date information. Any solicitor may boast of being better than the average – but we back our promise by our ten specific commitments.

We have been helping people in Stockport, Manchester, and across England and Wales for many years, from our offices in Bramhall, Heald Green, and Cheadle.Once you have made your will you should review it every 3-5 years, for changes in circumstance and / or wishes. Whilst making a will it is usually a good idea to consider whether Lasting Powers of Attorney or any form of estate planning is appropriate, too. Contact Mounteney Solicitors today to find out how we can help you plan for the future.