Our will writing service is the process of drafting a legally binding document that ensures your estate is distributed according to your wishes.
Single will, mirror wills, complex wills, will amendments, will trusts and estate planning advice.
Our will writing service ensures your will and testament is legally valid under the Wills Act 1837. Each will document is prepared with precision, offering clarity, accuracy, and full enforceability—giving you complete peace of mind. It also ensures your assets don’t pass to the Crown by default.
We hold affiliate membership with CILEX (Chartered Institute of Legal Executives). Our service offers a more affordable option than traditional legal firms. We work with experienced will writing experts to document your wishes clearly and legally.
Putting your affairs in order brings peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Through personalised estate planning, a qualified paralegal documents your wishes—covering wills, trusts, and future care decisions—with clarity and legal validity.
Our streamlined service guides you from consultation to completion—ensuring a valid will without delays or hassle. Trusted in the New Forest — 100% Client Satisfaction Rate.
Estate planning in Christchurch often involves protecting property, preparing for later-life care decisions, appointing trusted executors or attorneys, and ensuring family assets are distributed according to your wishes.
A Single Will is written for one person. Mirror Wills are a pair of matching wills for couples who want to leave everything to each other first, then to the same beneficiaries after that.
Both types can include guardianship wishes for your children if you have them.
We charge a simple fixed fee that covers your consultation, drafting, review and delivery, with no hidden extras:
A codicil is a separate document used to make a small change to an existing will — like updating an executor or adding a gift. It has to be signed and witnessed just like a will.
We don't use codicils at New Forest Wills. We'd rather write you a fresh will that covers everything you want, so there's only ever one document to rely on and nothing gets missed or contradicted.
Yes, if you want your partner to inherit anything. Unmarried partners aren't automatically entitled to a share of your estate, even after many years together. A will is the only way to make sure they're provided for.
Yes. Your will can name who you'd want to care for your children if anything happened to you before they're grown up, so that decision stays in your hands.
Yes — we'll simply write you a new will that replaces the old one and reflects your current wishes.
Yes. We visit clients at home across the New Forest area, including Lymington, Brockenhurst and Bournemouth, and further afield across Hampshire. If you'd rather not meet in person, we're also happy to do the whole process over a video call.
Yes, you don't need a solicitor for your will to be legally valid in the UK. Our service is run by a CILEX-affiliated paralegal working alongside experienced will writing professionals, who draft your will in line with UK legal requirements.
Yes. A will prepared by a paralegal is legally valid in England and Wales as long as it meets the requirements of the Wills Act 1837 and is properly signed and witnessed. Every will we produce is written in line with industry standards set by the Professional Association of Legal Services and the Institute of Paralegals (now part of CILEX), and drafted in collaboration with experienced will writing professionals.
No — solicitors aren't part of our drafting process. Your will is written by experienced, fully insured estate planning professionals who specialise in will preparation.
Yes. Our partner organisation is fully insured and follows recognised estate planning industry standards, with every service covered by professional indemnity insurance.
Wills here are governed mainly by the Wills Act 1837, which sets out how a will must be signed and witnessed, and what age and capacity you need to make one. The Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 can also come into play, mainly if a will is contested. We draft every will to meet these standards, so it holds up when it matters.
Often, yes. When your wishes, beneficiaries and instructions are written down clearly, there's far less room for confusion or disagreement among family members later on.
Probate is the legal process of dealing with someone's estate after they've died — gathering assets, settling debts and distributing what's left. A clearly written will makes this process quicker and less stressful for the people handling it.
A will covers what happens to your estate after you die. A Lasting Power of Attorney lets someone you trust make decisions for you while you're still alive, if you're ever unable to make them yourself.
A well-drafted will covers your personal details, chosen executors, instructions for who gets what, and guardian arrangements if you have children. We'll walk you through each of these so nothing gets missed.
Here is a quick overview of important people and terms involved in a will:
| Role or Term | What it Means |
|---|---|
| Testator | The person who creates and signs the will. |
| Executor | The person appointed to carry out the instructions of the will and manage the estate. |
| Beneficiary | A person or organisation that receives money, property, or gifts under the will. |
| Estate | Everything owned by the testator, including assets and liabilities, at the time of death. |
| Trustee | A person who manages assets placed into a trust created within the will. |
| Guardian | A person named to take legal responsibility for minor children if needed. |
| Witness | An independent person who observes the signing of the will and confirms its validity. |
| Will Trust | A trust created by a will to manage and protect assets for beneficiaries. |
| Specific Legatee | A beneficiary who receives a particular item or specific gift named in the will. |
| Residuary Beneficiary | A person who receives the remainder of the estate after debts and specific gifts are settled. |
| Codicil | A legal document that formally changes part of an existing will. |
| Inheritance Tax | Tax that may be payable on the estate above a certain threshold, potentially reduced with careful planning. |
Several key roles and processes are set out when preparing a valid will:
| TASK | FREQUENCY | GUIDANCE |
|---|---|---|
| Review Your Will | Every 2–3 years |
• Reassess if the will reflects your current wishes. • Review after major life events like marriage, divorce, or a birth. |
| Check Beneficiary Details | As needed |
• Ensure all beneficiaries are named correctly. • Remove or add individuals as relationships change. |
| Confirm Executor Suitability | Every 3–5 years |
• Verify your executor is still willing and able. • Appoint a replacement if necessary. |
| Update Asset Records | Annually |
• Keep a list of your assets up to date. • Include property, savings, pensions, and digital accounts. |
| Reassess Guardianship | As needed | • Review guardians named for children as family circumstances evolve. |
| Verify Will Storage | Annually |
• Ensure your will is stored safely and accessibly. • Inform executors where it is held. |
| Review Inheritance Strategy | Every 5 years |
• Consider tax planning options such as trusts or gifting. • Consult a specialist if your estate value increases. |
| WILL (LAW) SERVICES | RELATED ESTATE PLANNING APPLICATIONS | COMMON WILL FEATURES |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Decision (Living Will) | Inheritance Tax Guidance | Executor Appointment |
| Discretionary Will Trusts | Property Ownership Structuring | Guardianship for Minor Children |
| Funeral Wishes Documentation | Succession Planning for Business | Digital Assets Provision |
| Foreign Asset Provisions | Planning for Blended Families | Specific Gifts and Legacies |
| Severance of Joint Tenancy | Advice on Life Interest Trusts | Residuary Estate Distribution |
| Executor Support Services | Gifting and Lifetime Transfers | Witnessing and Signing Guidance |
| Charitable Bequests Planning | Advice on Intestacy Risks | Funeral Wishes Inclusion |
