Wills
Will Writing Service
A brief history of wills
Solon the Greek, the first evidence of a Will
The idea of a basic Will seems straightforward. It gives you the legal right to pass on your property and possessions to anyone you like. Perhaps surprisingly, though, people haven’t always enjoyed this freedom.
Invention of the Will is often credited to a statesman called Solon, who lived in Ancient Greece around 600 years before the birth of Christ. Solon’s law lets people leave all the assets held at the time of death to a chosen individual and to protect someone’s interests after death, instead of everything going automatically to family members.
There were a few restrictions, though. You had to be a citizen of Athens, it didn’t apply to women, slaves, foreigners, or anyone who was adopted. Finally, if you had sons – too bad. They’d automatically inherit your estate anyway.
On the other hand, if you had daughters, you had the choice of bequeathing your assets to men other than family members. The catch was that these men were then obliged to marry their daughters, thus ensuring that wealth always stayed in the family.
Roman wills
The concept of Wills was further developed by the Romans, who were also keen to keep things in the family. If you omitted a child from your Will without giving a good reason, it could be considered a dereliction of duty and you will simply be ignored.
One way around this was to leave a pittance to your offspring, as this was proof that you truly were thinking straight at the time you made your Will.
Early Roman Wills were spoken aloud in the presence of seven witnesses. However, this oral method relied on witnesses accurately remembering what they’d heard years later, and so was eventually replaced by written Wills.
Statute of Wills
King Henry VIII
In England, a major development of Wills concerned property rights. In 1540, during the reign of King Henry VIII, an Act of Parliament called the Statute of Wills enabled individuals to decide who would inherit their land.
Previously, land could only be passed to surviving relatives. If there were none, it would automatically go to the crown. Furthermore, landowners were understandably unhappy with this state of affairs, and the Statute of Wills was seen as a compromise with the king.
The Statute of Wills was superseded by the Wills Act of 1837. This unified previous legislation governing land and property with rules concerned with personal possessions.
Rules of Intestacy
Many of the rules introduced in the 1837 Act remain valid today. However, a later Act of Parliament was introduced to govern what happens to people who die without a Will, i.e. intestate. The Administration of Estates Act was introduced in 1925 – less than a quarter of a century after the end of the Victorian era. It’s fair to say that public morals then were very different from what they are today.
It’s probably not too surprising that the Rules of Intestacy outlined in the Act aren’t favourable towards unmarried people who live together. Even now if you die without a Will your estate will go to your blood relatives.
The Rules of Intestacy do recognise civil partnerships as well as marriages. But if the person you share your life with is neither spouse nor civil partner, they’ll receive nothing.
The Intestacy Rules
The Law of Intestacy
Modern Will Writing Services
The basic concept of a Will has remained the same in the modern day. However many people now choose to use a Will writing service. Will writing services involve close interaction with the client to ensure their wishes are expressed as intended. Some choose to write their own Will. However, this can become complex to ensure it takes into account all relevant topics for example each family member, bank account, and estate planning.
Is My Will Legally Binding?
It is also important to consider how legally binding your Will is or needs to be. In some situations, during the Will writing you may seek legal advice. This can be particularly beneficial when it comes to topics such as the process to pay inheritance tax and ensuring your Will is legally binding and complies with the solicitors regulation authority. Legal advice can also be beneficial in complex family situations or for couples in civil partnerships and they may not have the same protection.
Online Will Writing Services
A Will guarantees that at your death the succession is treated according to your wishes. With effective planning, a Will can take care of important loved one’s in tax-efficient ways. A Will writing service allows you to take advantage of years of experience. Whether it is a single Will for yourself, updating an existing Will, or arranging a Will on behalf of a disabled family member a Will Writer is a great option to ensure a valid Will.
Why Choose Our Will Writing Services?
Having offered Will writing services for many years now, we have developed an outstanding reputation both for the quality of our work and our customer service. So, no matter if you’re looking for separate Wills for your partner and yourself, or just your own Will, we would be happy to help.
Our Will writing service can cover exactly what you would like it to. From property arrangements whether it be in the UK or overseas property to bank accounts, we will be there to offer professional assistance. Some of the main reasons to choose our Will writing service are:
We can offer our services from your home, our office or online
We are a well-known Will writing service
We are passionate about our services
We have years of experience
We are affordable and charge at a fixed rate and not by the hour – Call to discuss our fees – 01392 540 996
For all your needs regarding Will writing, please waste no time and be sure to get in touch. We have been providing Will writing services both online and in person for many years now, so no matter your requirements when searching for Will Writers, we will be there to take care of everything.
Your Will is a legal document, so regardless of the personal circumstances or what you would like to have included in your new Will, we will be able to help. Please contact me today – 01392 540 996 to arrange a FREE consultation for your legal documents.
What now?
The easy solution, of course, is to write your wishes into your Will! We specialise in affordable Wills and we’ll even visit your home to take care of the paperwork.
When all’s said and done, we’re in an enviable position compared to our ancestors. Unlike them, we can leave our hard-earned possessions to those we truly love.
Making a Will
When it comes to making a Will, there are many factors to take into consideration. For example, a simple Will could simply outline your funeral plans and what main assets will go your immediate family, whether as more in-depth Wills may look further into assets and funeral plans etc. You can tailor your Will to cover as much as you would like.
Some examples of what you could consider when writing your Will are:
Parental responsibility of your children
The possession of overseas assets
Your funeral plans
All-important assets (ie. property, vehicles, jewellery, personal items etc.)
You could also mention any charities or donations you would like to make
Once your Will has been properly drafted, then you will be able to prove the documents. Here, you will be able to make any amendments. Once your Will has been professionally drafted and has your approval, there will be a fee should any changes be needed at a later date.
Updating Your Will
If you wish to make an update to your current standing Will, then we can also help with this. Reasons for this could be changing and removing former partners, adding new assets or choosing to opt into charity donations. This can be done at your earliest convince.
For more information regarding updating your Will, please be sure to get in touch. Our online Will writing service is legally valid and can be adapted to meet your needs of both new and existing Wills.
Contact Simon Hall for Will Writing Services
For all your needs and requirements for Will writing, please look no further. Our experienced Will Writing services are recognised and have been for many years. Not only that, but we offer you both a face to face and online service.
So, no matter if you wish to have a FREE consultation face to face, either in our office or at your home, or online, then we will be there to cover your needs. Due to our services also being available online, we can work with you across the country.
With that in mind, please feel free to contact us to discuss your needs for Will Writers. Should you have any questions regarding inheritance tax, the solicitors regulation authority, legal cover or financial advice, then be sure to get in touch.
Will Writing FAQs
What questions will I be asked when writing a Will?
When writing your Will, you could be asked various questions including, your funeral arrangements, who will get your properties and assets, what will happen to your debts, who will look after non-adult children and pets. When choosing our Will writing service, we will be happy to offer advice and answer any questions.
Do I need two witnesses to make a Will?
Yes, a Will is not legally valid unless it is signed by both a testator and two independent witnesses. These witnesses should not be family or included in your Will.
What are the 3 tests for mental capacity to make a Will?
The testator must be able to understand three points when writing a Will. These include: the nature and effect of making a Will, the claims of those who might expect to benefit from the Will and the extent of his or her estate.
What cannot be included in a Will?
You shouldn’t include any wishes to future generations, joint accounts, life insurance, business partnership and anything you do not completely own. Upon choosing us for your Will writing, we would be happy to outline more of what you can and cannot include.
Free consultation call
Call now
01392 540996
Connect
Address
Matford Business Centre
Matford Park Road
Exeter, EX2 8ED
