Protect the People You Care About and Make Your Wishes Clear in Your Will.
Making a Will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and ensure your wishes are followed after your death.
A valid Will allows you to decide who will inherit your estate and appoint Executors to deal with your affairs.
If you have children under 18, it is also the only way to appoint legal guardians, giving you a say in who would care for them if you were no longer here.
If you die without a valid Will, your estate will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy. These rules can be complicated and may not reflect your wishes. This is particularly important for unmarried couples, as partners do not automatically inherit from each other, regardless of how long they have lived together.
Why Make a Will?
A Will gives you control over what happens to your estate and helps provide clarity and reassurance for those you leave behind.
A Will is particularly important if you:
- Own property.
- Have children or grandchildren.
- Are in an unmarried relationship.
- Own a business.
- Have savings, investments or other significant assets.
- Want to leave gifts to friends, family members or charities.
- Have specific wishes about how your estate should be distributed.
Contact our expert term via the Contact Form below for advice today.
Your Will and Estate Planning
What Can Be Included in Your Will?
Your estate may include:
- Property owned in your sole name.
- Bank and building society accounts.
- Savings and investments.
- Personal possessions.
- Business interests.
- Digital assets, such as online accounts
Some assets may pass outside your Will, including:
- Pension benefits, which usually pass according to your nominated beneficiaries.
- Life insurance policies written in trust.
- Property or bank accounts held as Joint Tenants, which usually pass automatically to the surviving joint owner.
As some assets don’t pass under your Will, estate planning is important to ensure your wishes are carried out.
Keeping Your Will Up to Date
Your Will should reflect your current circumstances and wishes. We generally recommend reviewing your Will every three years, or sooner if there are significant changes in your life, such as:
- Marriage or civil partnership.
- Divorce or separation.
- The birth or adoption of children or grandchildren.
- Buying or selling property.
- Changes to your financial circumstances.
- The death of an Executor or beneficiary.
Regular reviews help ensure your Will remains appropriate and continues to provide the protection you intended.
They can also help identify changes needed to reflect new family circumstances, assets or tax consideration.
Making a Will without legal advice can sometimes lead to unclear wording, missed opportunities for estate planning or unintended outcomes.
At Middleton Law, we take the time to understand your circumstances and provide clear, practical advice to ensure your Will reflects your wishes and provides the protection you intend.
Will Writing & Estate Planning Services
Our experienced solicitors can help with:
- Preparing your first Will
- Reviewing and updating an existing Will.
- Mirror Wills for couples.
- Wills for unmarried couples.
- Trusts within Wills.
- Estate planning and asset protection.
- Advice on inheritance rules and intestacy.
- Executor and guardian appointments.
- Digital assets and wider estate planning considerations.
- Lasting Powers of Attorney
Contact our expert solicitors today via this form or call us to discuss your requirements.
