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Will Writing Solicitors

Will Writing Solicitors based in Sheffield, Barnsley & Rotherham

For many of us, death, or the prospect of death is something they would rather not think about making a Will. We know from discussing with our clients that some people are not comfortable around death – whether it’s thinking about your own or preparing for a loved one’s. For these reasons we put off making a Will.

However, someone will be left with the stress of sorting out your estate and will need to take care of your property and affairs, therefore making a Will should be viewed as a positive. If you don’t have a Will, your money, property, and possessions will be shared out according to the law instead of your wishes.

Howells Solicitors has one of the most highly regarded Will writing teams in South Yorkshire, with a track record of outstanding service and client feedback. We rank as one of the top law firms in South Yorkshire for Wills, Trusts and Probate on reviewsolicitors. We also rank as one of the top law firms for Estate Planning Solicitors on the Three Best Rated website.

Speak to our team today

What is a Will?

A Will is a written document which directs how a person’s possessions and estate will be distributed when they die. Among other requirements, a Will may appoint executors to administer an estate, name a guardian for a child, and/or make arrangement for payment of duties.

It is advised to instruct a professional Will writing solicitors to make sure your Will is valid and to avoid any disputes, delays, or additional costs later.

Find out more in our Making a Will – What you need to know advice guide.

Making a Will

Writing a Will is one of the most important documents you will ever have to do. Our fixed cost Will writing services include free, secure storage. The fixed fee we quote for your Will is the fee you will pay. There will be no nasty surprises.

Our friendly team of Will writing solicitors can offer you Will writing advice as well as a Will writing service, and they help you create a Will that does the following:

Make sure your money and property go to the people you want them to go to.
Minimise inheritance tax that will be paid.
Name trusted people as executors to sort out your affairs when you die.
Appoint legal guardians for any children.
Reflect changes in your life circumstances, such as marriage or divorce, or the birth of children or grandchildren.
Ensure gifts of personal items are left to the right people.
Set up trusts to protect your assets for future generations.
Leave provisions for any vulnerable or disabled dependants.
Make gifts to charity.
Outline your funeral wishes.
Decide what happens to your pets.

What Happens If I Die Without Making a Will?

Usually, without a Will your estate will follow the intestacy rules and will be left with your next of kin. Your next of kin may not be the person who you think it is. If you are estranged from your next of kin or have not had a conversation with them about what you want to happen with your estate, what you want to happen may not happen.

What Are Intestacy Rules?

When a person dies, everything they own is either inherited under the ‘rules of intestacy’ or inherited by the wishes of the person who has passed away, which is outlined in a valid Will. Without a valid Will, the intestacy rules will dictate which family member inherits your estate. The priority order of who can inherit are:

Spouse or civil partner.
Children
Grandchildren/great grandchildren.
Parents
Siblings
Grandparents
Aunts and uncles.
Half aunts and half uncles.

Only married or civil partners or close relatives can inherit under the intestacy rules. If you have stepchildren or if you and your partner are unmarried, they will not inherit if you don’t have a Will.

Find out more in our The Rules of Intestacy advice guide.

To avoid leaving any family member of loved one out of your Will, it’s advised to instruct a professional Will writing service, such as a Will writing solicitor.

What if I Don’t Have Anything to Leave in a Will?

Many people are under the impression that they don’t need to make a Will until they are older, because they have nothing to leave, but this is not true. Every person owns assets, which can be property, a car, furniture, computer systems for example, and every person earns money and has a bank account.

Find out why you should make a Will, even when you’re young, in our Benefits Of Making A Will While You’re Young advice guide.

Can I Write My Own Will?

The truth is you do not need a solicitor to make a Will. You can make a make a basic Will using a DIY Will kit. Whilst writing a Will yourself may appear a more cost-effective option now, a DIY Will may cause various issues later. This includes your Will not being valid due to errors or it being poorly drafted. It also may not be properly signed and witness, making the Will invalid.

It is strongly advised to instruct a Will writing solicitor to ensure the validity of your Will.

Find out more in our The Dangers of Making a DIY Will advice guide.

Writing a Will If You Have Young Children

We know that it’s a hard and uneasy thought to have, but do you know who would look after your children if you died? If no guardians have been appointed, your child/ren would become the responsibility of the Court. It is possible that the children may be taken into care until the Court appoints a guardian of its choosing.

If you have parental responsibility for your children, then you can appoint a guardian (or two if it is a couple) for your children in a Will.

Find out more in our Who Would Look After Your Children if You Died? advice article.

Can I Include Funeral Wishes in my Will?

Your Will is focused more on your property and assets and who will inherit your estate. Your executor or next of kin would be the decision maker for any funeral arrangements, however you can leave instructions for your funeral in your Will.

Find out more in our A Letter of Wishes Explained advice article.

What is a Mirror Will?

A Mirror Will is a Will a couple (married or not) may make which simply mirror each other. They are generally the most popular option for couples when considering estate and future planning as they typically may say, for example, that the couple leaves everything to one another and then to their children.

Should You have a Will if You’re Unmarried?

As Inheritance laws do not make allowances for partners who aren’t married or in a registered civil partnership, if you would like an unmarried partner to inherit from you after you die then you will need a valid Will stating your wishes.

How Does Getting Married Affect Your Will?

When you get married or enter a registered civil partnership, this automatically voids any existing Will you have. If you have got married or entered a civil partnership, it’s important to make a new Will.

Can My Will Be Challenged?

Yes – all Wills have the potential to be challenged. You can reduce the risk of your Will being successfully challenged by getting your Will professionally drafted with the help of a Will writing solicitor.

Reviewing or Changing Your Existing Will

Key life events can have a major impact on the validity and effectiveness of your Will. You should review your Will with a Will writing solicitor if the following happens:

You separate from your partner or file for divorce.
You get married or enter a civil partnership.
Your children marry, get divorced or have children and you wish to make changes to how your inheritance will be left.
You have had a child.
If you, or anyone who you have left inheritance for has changed address.
If you buy or sell property.
You inherit money/property.

Even if none of the above have happened, it is advised that you review and possibly update your Will every 5 years.

What is a Trust Will?

A Trust Will is a legal agreement written into your Will that sets up one or more Trusts to manage specific assets after you pass away. Find out more on Trust Wills here.

Our Will Writing Solicitors

Our Will writing team cover the entirety of South Yorkshire and have physical offices in:

– Sheffield

– Barnsley

– Rotherham

You can arrange appointments face to face, or we offer telephone or video call options available. If you can’t reach our office, we could arrange for a member of the team to visit you at home.

Lasting Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney is a legal document that enables a person you trust, such as a family member or otherwise, to make important decisions on your behalf. This includes decisions made regarding your health, welfare, and finances.

Wills and Power of Attorneys are different. You can leave specific instructions for after you have passed away. However, a Lasting Power of Attorney is created to protect your interests while you are still alive. Find out more on Lasting Power of Attorneys here.

Can I Nominate Howells Solicitors to be my Executor?

Yes you can. We offer a professional executor service. This is a popular option with people who don’t want their loved ones to have to deal with all the legal and financial responsibilities of probate after they’re gone.

Will Writing Fees

Please find a full list of our fees for Will writing services here.

Included in the fee is:

An initial appointment to discuss your requirements.
Advice regarding your options.
Drafting your Will and sending it to you to consider.
Meeting with you again to sign your Wills or sending it to you for you to make your own arrangements to sign it.
Providing you with a signed copy of your Will; and
Storing the original on your behalf.
Time scales for Will drafting.
After we have received complete information from you we aim to draft your Will and send it to you to consider within 7 days. After you have approved your Will, we will then arrange another appointment with you to sign your Will. Most Wills are usually completed and signed within a few weeks.

Will Writing Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Will if I don’t own a house?

A lot of people think that a will is not worthwhile making if you don’t own your home, but this is not the case as a will deals with far more than property ownership.

Can a solicitor store my Will?

Yes, at Howells we can store your will and ensure it is kept secure from the risk of theft, fire, or water damage. It also means it is easily accessible after your death, giving you and your family members some peace of mind.

What happens if my circumstances change?

You can change your Will as often as you like. It’s advised to make changes to your Will if major life changes occur, such as a marriage or a divorce, you have children or grandchildren or you inherit money/property.

Where should I store my Will?

You can store your will in a safe place at home or with your solicitor. We will store your Will free of charge.

What happens to my house if I died?

It will depend on how the property is owned, whether it is joint tenants or tenants in common. If your house is owned under a joint tenant’s agreement, the other person who jointly owns the property will own the entire property regardless of a Will. If the agreement is a tenants in common, then either your next of kin or who ever you outline in your Will inherits your share of the house. Find out more in our What Happens to Your House When You Die advice guide.

What will happen to my social media accounts?

You can log into your social media accounts and change settings to reflect how you would like your profiles to be dealt with after you die. Or you can leave instructions what you want to happen to your social media profiles, and any digital assets you own, in your Will. Find out more in our What Happens to Digital Assets When You Die? Advice guide.

Do I need a Will after buying a house?

Your house is likely one of the most significant investments you’ll make in your lifetime. Having a Will ensures that this investment is protected and allocated according to your desires. Find out more in our Do I Need a Will After Buying a House? advice guide.

How can we help? Contact us today

Contact us on 0114 2743 481 and one of our advisors will be in touch to discuss your situation. We will take some initial information and if we can help, we will book you in for a consultation with a legal professional.

Will Writing Solicitors