Making a Will is one of the most important things you will ever do. It ensures that your estate is distributed according to your wishes after your death, that the people you love are provided for, and that trusted individuals are appointed to carry out your instructions. Despite this, the majority of adults in the UK do not have a valid Will in place. BW Solicitors provides expert Will writing services to clients across Ilford and London — making the process straightforward, personal and affordable.
Important Notice
What a Will Can Do for You
A professionally drafted Will gives you control over what happens to your estate after your death. It allows you to choose who receives your assets, appoint executors to administer your estate, appoint guardians for any minor children, make specific gifts of personal possessions or sums of money to particular individuals or charities, and set up trusts to protect assets for vulnerable or young beneficiaries. It also allows you to express your wishes about your funeral arrangements.
- Appoint executors you trust to administer your estate
- Specify who receives your property, savings, investments and personal possessions
- Appoint guardians for your minor children
- Make specific gifts to family members, friends or charities
- Set up a trust to protect assets for a vulnerable beneficiary or young children
- Provide for an unmarried partner who has no automatic right of inheritance
- Express your funeral wishes
- Minimise the risk of family disputes after your death
Types of Will
The most appropriate type of Will depends on your personal circumstances, the nature and value of your assets, and your family situation. A simple single Will is appropriate for many people. Mirror Wills — where two people (typically a married couple) make identical Wills leaving everything to each other and then to the same beneficiaries — are widely used by couples. More complex Wills may incorporate discretionary trusts, life interest trusts, or specific provisions to protect assets from care home fees or to minimise inheritance tax.
- Simple single Will — for straightforward estates
- Mirror Wills — for couples wishing to leave their estates to each other
- Wills with life interest trusts — protecting the family home for children
- Wills with discretionary trusts — flexibility for complex family situations
- Wills with testamentary trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries
- Updating an existing Will — a codicil or a new Will
Testamentary Capacity and Validity
For a Will to be valid, the person making it — the testator — must have testamentary capacity at the time of making the Will. This means they must understand the nature of making a Will, the extent of their estate, the claims of those who might expect to benefit, and the effect of the Will. Where there are concerns about capacity — for example, due to age, illness or cognitive decline — our solicitors will take the necessary steps to assess and record capacity carefully, protecting the Will from future challenge.
Why Choose BW Solicitors?
A Will drafted by a qualified solicitor provides far greater certainty and protection than a DIY Will or a template document. Our solicitors take the time to understand your personal circumstances, explain all the options available to you, and draft a Will that reflects your exact wishes and is properly executed to ensure its validity. We serve clients across Ilford, East London and Greater London.