Wills
Wills written by qualified professionals
that will accurately reflect your wishes
Over 60% of the adult population in the UK don't have a Will. Do you?
What is a Will?
A Will is a legal document which outlines how you wish for your money, property and possessions to be distributed after your death. Having a valid Will avoids intestacy, and allows you to express your testamentary freedom.
Making a Will with us allows your wishes to be expressed in a valid Will, helping to avoid delays, disputes, or unintended consequences during the administration of your estate.
It is also your opportunity to nominate who you wish to have the day-to-day control over the administration of your estate and perhaps, most importantly, who you wish to nominate as guardian for any minor children you may have.
Why do I need a Will?
Making a Will isn’t just for the wealthy or elderly. It’s a crucial step for anyone who wants to protect their family and ensure their estate is handled according to their wishes. A Will allows you to:
Decide exactly who should benefit from your estate
Appoint guardians for your children
Make specific gifts or charitable donations
Minimise disputes or confusion among loved ones
Provide clarity and reassurance for your family
Whether you’re single, in a relationship, a parent, a blended family or a business owner, having a clear, legally valid Will in place gives you lasting peace of mind.
What happens if I don't have a Will?
If you do not write a precise and clear Will, your assets may not go to your chosen beneficiaries. If you die without a Will, you are known as dying intestate, and your assets and possessions will be distributed under the law of intestacy, which are rules imposed by statute as to who inherits and in what order.
Unfortunately, this means that people who you never intended to benefit from your estate may inherit, and those you did intend to benefit may not. Making a Will is not expensive and gives you peace of mind and certainty that your wishes will be followed.
Over 50,000 people died intestate last year. Make sure you have a Will.
Wills that reflect your wishes
Whatever your situation, we can write a bespoke Will that accurately reflects your wishes
Single Person
Mirror
If you and your partner have identical wishes, then we can create Wills that mirror each other.
Blended Family
Blended families can create complications for inheritance, so make sure you leave clear instructions in a Will.
Complex Wills
Your Will should reflect your circumstances, no matter how complex.
As a single person you should still consider what you want to happen with your assets.
Why should I use a solicitor to write my Will?
While some Will-writing services may appear cheaper, they often lack the legal protection and oversight that comes with working with a regulated solicitor. Our Wills are drafted by qualified professionals who offer:
Regulation and oversight by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or CILEX
Full professional indemnity insurance for your protection
Expert advice on complex estates, trusts, inheritance tax, and family arrangements
Legally sound documents tailored to your specific needs
A clear complaints process in case of any issues
Transparent fees with no hidden costs
Mistakes in a Will can be costly, emotionally and financially. Using a regulated law firm ensures your Will is accurate, enforceable, and reflects your intentions.
Why choose Claire Nash Solicitors for your Wills?
Our friendly team will guide you through the process and ensure that your Will reflects your wishes.
Our experienced Will team
Claire Nash
Emma Santos
Anna Wakefield
Why haven't you written a Will yet?
Many people delay or avoid making a Will for a mix of emotional, practical, and psychological reasons. Here are some of the most common:
1. Procrastination
The most cited reason is simply, “I haven’t got round to it.” Life gets busy, and Will writing often slips down the to-do list—until it’s too late.
2. Denial of Mortality
Some people avoid the topic because it forces them to confront their own death. There’s even a lingering superstition that writing a will might somehow tempt fate.
3. Belief That It’s Unnecessary
Many assume:
“Everything will go to my partner anyway”
“I’m not wealthy enough to need one”
“I don’t have any family to leave things to”
These assumptions are often incorrect. For example, unmarried partners have no automatic right to inherit under intestacy laws.
4. Cost Concerns
Some believe that writing a Will is expensive. While professional services do carry a cost, the long-term financial and emotional cost of dying intestate can be far greater. A small investment now can save thousands in the long run.
5. Complex Family Situations
People with blended families, estranged relatives, or overseas assets may feel overwhelmed and unsure where to start. Ironically, these are the very situations where a Will is most essential.
6. Lack of Awareness
There’s a general lack of understanding about what happens if you die without a will. Many don’t realise that intestacy rules may leave out children from previous relationships, cohabiting partners, or your chosen charities.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I die without a Will in the UK?
If you die without a Will, you are said to have died intestate. This means the law, not you, decides who inherits your estate. The rules of intestacy follow a fixed order of priority, starting with a spouse or civil partner, then children, then other relatives. If you are not married or in a civil partnership, your partner has no automatic right to anything, regardless of how long you have been together. Friends, stepchildren and charities receive nothing under intestacy unless specifically named in a Will. The process of administering an intestate estate also tends to be slower and more complicated, which adds cost and stress for the family left behind. Making a Will is the only way to ensure your wishes are carried out.
How much does it cost to make a Will with a solicitor?
The cost of making a Will varies depending on its complexity. A straightforward single Will for an individual with a simple estate is generally more affordable than a complex Will
involving trusts, business interests or international assets. At Claire Nash Solicitors, we offer clear, transparent pricing with no hidden charges. We would be happy to discuss your circumstances and provide a quote before any work begins. We also offer mirror Wills for couples at a combined rate. Please contact us to arrange an initial chat.
How often should I update my Will and what life events trigger a review?
There is no fixed rule, but reviewing your Will every three to five years is a sensible practice. Beyond that, certain life events should prompt an immediate review. Getting married automatically revokes any previous Will in England and Wales, which surprises many people. Divorce does not revoke a Will but removes your former spouse from it, which can leave unexpected gaps. Having children, acquiring property, receiving an inheritance, starting a business, or a significant change in someone you have named as a beneficiary or executor are all good reasons to revisit what you have written. Digital assets such as cryptocurrency and online accounts are also worth addressing in a Will review, particularly since the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 formally recognised them as personal property.
Can I write my own Will, or do I need a solicitor?
You can write your own Will in England and Wales, and it will be legally valid provided it is signed in the presence of two independent adult witnesses who also sign it. However, the risks of getting it wrong are significant. A poorly worded clause, a missed signature or an incorrectly witnessed signature can render a Will partially or entirely invalid. Will writing services are not regulated in the same way as solicitors, which means there is very little professional accountability if something goes wrong. A solicitor who makes an error in drafting a Will can be held liable. A will-writing service cannot. For most people, the cost of having a Will professionally drafted is modest relative to the value of the assets being protected and the peace of mind it provides.
What is the difference between a simple Will and a mirror Will?
A simple Will sets out one person's wishes for their estate. A mirror Will is a pair of Wills made by two people, typically a couple, that reflect each other's wishes. In most cases, each person leaves everything to the other and then to the same beneficiaries if the first to die has already passed. Mirror Wills are a straightforward and cost-effective option for couples with straightforward estates and the same wishes. However, they do not prevent either person from changing their Will after the other has died, which can be a concern in blended family situations where there are children from previous relationships. In those cases, a trust arrangement may offer greater protection.
How do I make sure my stepchildren are included in my Will?
Stepchildren have no automatic right to inherit from a stepparent under the rules of intestacy. If you want your stepchildren to benefit from your estate, you must name them explicitly in your Will. It is not enough to refer to your children generically, as this may be interpreted as referring only to biological or legally adopted children. If you have a blended family, it is also worth thinking carefully about what happens to assets after your death and after your partner's death, to ensure that children from both sides are treated as you intend. Trust structures can be particularly useful in this context, as they allow you to provide for a surviving spouse during their lifetime while protecting assets for children from an earlier relationship.
What happens to my digital assets and online accounts when I die?
Since December 2025, the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 has formally recognised digital assets, including cryptocurrency, email accounts and other electronically held assets, as personal property in England and Wales. This means your executor now has clearer legal authority to deal with them as part of your estate. However, without a record of your accounts and passwords, accessing these assets in practice remains very difficult. Social media accounts do not disappear automatically, and financial assets held online may be lost permanently if no one knows they exist. We recommend keeping a digital inventory alongside your Will, listing your accounts and where login information can be found, and updating it regularly.
Can a Will be contested, and on what grounds?
Yes. A Will can be challenged on several grounds in England and Wales. The most common are lack of testamentary capacity, where the person making the Will did not have sufficient mental capacity at the time; undue influence, where someone exerted pressure on them to leave their estate in a particular way; lack of knowledge and approval, where the person did not fully understand what they were signing; and improper execution, where the formalities of signing and witnessing were not correctly followed. A claim can also be made under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 if certain people feel they have not been adequately provided for, even if the Will is otherwise valid. Having a Will professionally drafted by a solicitor significantly reduces the risk of a successful challenge.
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