Single Wills
A single will is the foundation of estate planning for any individual. Whether you are single, living with a partner, or married and want a will different from your spouse's, a properly drafted single will ensures your wishes are carried out and your chosen beneficiaries inherit in the way you intend. Our single wills include appointment of executors, appointment of guardians for minor children where relevant, specific gifts of possessions or sums of money, residual gifts, and clear substitution provisions covering what happens if a beneficiary predeceases you.
For many of our clients, a single will is the right starting point — simple, clear and sufficient for their needs. We never overcomplicate. If a single will meets your requirements, that is what we recommend. Our fixed fee for a single will is agreed upfront and includes unlimited revisions during drafting, supervised signing (where practical), and complimentary secure storage.
Mirror Wills
Mirror wills are matching wills made by two people — typically spouses or civil partners, but equally suitable for unmarried couples, siblings, or close friends who share arrangements. Each will mirrors the other: in the classic version, everything passes to the surviving partner, and on the second death, the combined estate passes to the chosen beneficiaries, usually the children.
Mirror wills are efficient but they carry one important feature: they are not mutually binding. Either party can change their own will at any time without telling the other. Where permanent protection is required — for instance, where one partner has children from a previous relationship and wants to be certain that those children ultimately inherit — we discuss alternative structures such as life interest trusts or mutual wills. We will explain the options, the pros and cons of each, and help you arrive at the right answer.
Trusts & Complex Wills
For many Londoners, a simple will is not enough. Property trusts can protect the family home from being taken to pay care fees for a surviving spouse. Discretionary trusts can preserve flexibility where family circumstances are uncertain or where beneficiaries might be vulnerable to creditors, divorce or addiction. Life interest trusts can provide for a second spouse while safeguarding capital for children from a first marriage. Bloodline trusts can ensure inheritance passes down your family line rather than to in-laws.
We draft a full range of will trusts and explain each in clear, practical terms. Trusts are not about avoiding tax or hiding assets — though legitimate tax planning is often a welcome benefit. They are about exercising genuine control over how your estate is used after you are gone. Our writers have extensive experience with property trusts, discretionary trusts, flexible life interest trusts, and trusts for disabled or vulnerable beneficiaries.
Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs)
A will only takes effect when you die. But what if you lose capacity while still alive? Without a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, your family cannot make decisions on your behalf without a lengthy and expensive application to the Court of Protection — and even then, the appointed deputy might not be the person you would have chosen.
There are two types of LPA, and most clients benefit from both. The Property and Financial Affairs LPA lets your chosen attorney manage your bank accounts, pay bills, deal with property and handle investments if you cannot. The Health and Welfare LPA allows your attorney to make decisions about your medical treatment, care arrangements and, if you wish, life-sustaining treatment. We draft both documents, guide you through the registration process with the Office of the Public Guardian, and make sure your attorneys understand their duties.
Probate Support for Executors
When someone dies, the person named as executor has a substantial job ahead. Probate — the legal authority to administer the estate — must usually be obtained before banks will release funds, property can be sold, or investments transferred. Inheritance tax may need to be calculated and paid. Debts and creditors must be addressed. Beneficiaries must be traced. Accounts must be prepared. It is often a lonely and stressful responsibility, particularly when the executor is grieving.
We support executors through this process with clear, practical guidance. For straightforward estates, we can walk you through the application in person or on the phone. For more complex cases, we can handle the full administration on your behalf — liaising with HMRC, financial institutions and beneficiaries. Our fees are fixed or transparent-percentage depending on complexity, so you know from the outset what the estate will pay.
Professional Executor Services
Some clients prefer to appoint us as professional executor rather than burdening a family member. This is particularly helpful where family relationships are difficult, where no single relative is well placed to act, or where the estate is complex and unlikely to be straightforward to administer. A professional executor brings neutrality, experience and accountability. We act only in the beneficiaries' interests and we are insured and regulated for the role.
Secure Storage & Periodic Reviews
The best will in the world is useless if nobody can find it when it is needed. We store original wills in fire-resistant secure storage at no additional charge for the lifetime of the document. We record its location in a way your executors can access, and we provide you and them with a certificate confirming where the original is held.
Life changes. Marriages, divorces, births, deaths, house moves, career shifts, inheritances received, new businesses, retirement — any of these can affect whether your will still reflects what you want. We recommend reviewing your will every three to five years, and after any significant life event. We contact our clients proactively every few years for a complimentary review. If no changes are needed, the review is free. If changes are needed, we agree a fixed fee for any amendments.
Specialist Situations We Handle
Beyond the core services above, our writers have considerable experience with specialist situations that Londoners often face:
- Blended families — where children from previous relationships are involved.
- Unmarried couples — who have no automatic inheritance rights under intestacy rules.
- Business owners — including business property relief planning and succession.
- Overseas assets — property or accounts held in other jurisdictions.
- Non-UK domiciled individuals — with different inheritance tax implications.
- Charitable bequests — including gift aid and potential tax benefits.
- Digital assets — from cryptocurrency to social media and online accounts.
- Vulnerable beneficiaries — where a simple inheritance would cause problems.
Whatever your circumstances, we are confident we can help — and if for any reason your needs fall outside our expertise, we will tell you honestly and point you in the right direction.