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Wills Solicitors
Making a Will is one of the most important steps you can take to make sure your wishes are clear and your loved ones are protected.
A Will allows you to decide what should happen to your money, property, possessions and personal belongings after your death. It can also help you choose who should deal with your estate, who should care for your children if they are under 18, and whether you want to leave gifts to family members, friends or charities.
Many people put off making a Will because they do not think they have enough assets, they assume everything will automatically pass to the right person, or they find the idea difficult to think about.
Unfortunately, without a valid Will in place, your estate may not be dealt with in the way you would have wanted.
At Watkins Solicitors, our Wills team provides clear, practical and supportive advice to help you make a Will that reflects your wishes and family circumstances.
We advise clients across England and Wales, with offices in Bristol, Bath and Hereford. As a multi-award-winning law firm founded in 1998, Watkins Solicitors has built a strong reputation for providing clear, practical and supportive advice to individuals and families.
To speak to our team, please call 0117 939 0350 or email info@watkinssolicitors.co.uk.
Plain English guidance tailored to your family and wishes.
Sensitive and practical support when discussing personal decisions.
An experienced, multi-award-winning law firm supporting individuals and families.
Advice for clients nationwide, with offices in Bristol, Bath and Hereford.
A Will gives you control over what should happen after your death. It allows you to make decisions in advance rather than leaving your family to deal with uncertainty at an already difficult time.
A Will is important even if your estate is modest. It is also about choosing who should deal with your estate, appointing guardians, recording gifts and helping your family avoid uncertainty.
Even a simple estate can become more difficult to deal with if there is no valid Will in place.
A Will is an important document for anyone who wants to protect their loved ones and make things easier for their family.
A Will sets out what should happen to your estate after your death. It can also name the executors who will be responsible for carrying out your instructions.
Your executors are responsible for carrying out the instructions in your Will, dealing with your assets, paying any debts and distributing your estate to the people or organisations you have named.
When this happens, the law decides who inherits from your estate. This may not reflect your personal wishes or your family circumstances.
Without a Will, your loved ones may face additional uncertainty, delay and stress.
A Will can be particularly important in the following circumstances:
Your partner may not automatically inherit from you.
Clear planning can help protect children and reduce uncertainty.
Stepchildren may need to be included expressly in your Will.
Your legal position may not match your current personal wishes.
These wishes should be recorded clearly in a valid Will.
A Will can identify personal or sentimental gifts clearly.
Legal advice can help you record your wishes appropriately.
Your Will can name the people you would trust to care for children under 18.
A properly drafted Will can reduce ambiguity and help prevent disputes.
Our team can help you consider the people, property and practical arrangements that should be reflected in your Will.
Your executors are the people you choose to deal with your estate after your death.
You should choose people you trust who are organised, reliable and willing to take on the responsibility. This could be a family member, friend or professional executor.
If you have children under 18, your Will can appoint guardians to care for them if you die before they become adults.
You may want to consider their relationship with your child, values, location, family circumstances and willingness to take on the role.
You can leave a share of your estate, money, personal belongings, sentimental items or charitable gifts.
Clear drafting can reduce confusion and the risk of disagreement.
Unmarried partners do not automatically have the same inheritance rights as spouses or civil partners.
A Will can help protect your partner, particularly where you own property together, have children or depend financially on each other.
You may want to provide for a spouse or partner while also protecting children from a previous relationship or including stepchildren.
Legal advice can help you consider second marriages, jointly owned property and the risk of future disputes.
What happens to your share of a jointly owned property can depend on whether it is held as joint tenants or tenants in common.
Advice can help ensure your Will works properly alongside your property ownership arrangements.
A Will should reflect your current wishes and circumstances. It is sensible to review it regularly and after major life changes.
Review how this may affect an existing Will.
Make sure the Will reflects your current relationships and wishes.
Consider guardianship and changes to beneficiaries.
Review how property ownership and gifts are recorded.
Consider how you want to protect a partner and other family members.
Appoint suitable replacement executors.
Review what should happen to that gift or share of the estate.
Update arrangements following changes to assets, savings or investments.
Any amendment must be made correctly and clearly.
Record the charity and the type of gift accurately.
Cross-border assets may require additional advice.
Review arrangements after a bereavement, family dispute or other significant event.
You should not make handwritten changes to an existing Will without legal advice. Changes must be made properly, either by preparing a codicil or making a new Will.
It is possible to write a Will yourself, but mistakes can cause serious problems after your death. A Will must be prepared, signed and witnessed correctly to be valid.
A solicitor-drafted Will can provide reassurance that your circumstances and wishes have been properly considered and clearly recorded.
Legal advice can be particularly important if you own property, have children, are unmarried, have remarried, have a blended family, own a business or are concerned about possible disputes.
Our team can talk through your family circumstances, property, executors, guardians and gifts, then explain the options clearly before you decide how to proceed.
Watkins Solicitors advises individuals and families across England and Wales, with offices in Bristol, Bath and Hereford.
We understand that making a Will can feel personal and sometimes emotional. Our approach is warm, clear and practical.
We take the time to understand your circumstances, explain your options in plain English and help you put the right arrangements in place.
Whether you are making a Will for the first time, updating an existing Will, appointing guardians or making arrangements for an unmarried partner or blended family, our team can help.
Watkins Solicitors is a multi-award-winning law firm with more than 50 staff across offices in Bristol, Bath and Hereford. Founded in 1998, the firm has built a strong reputation for clear, practical and client-focused advice.
Our team understands that making a Will is about much more than paperwork. It is about protecting your loved ones, making your wishes clear and giving your family reassurance for the future.
We provide supportive advice tailored to your circumstances, helping you make informed decisions with confidence.
We will guide you through each stage and explain what is needed in clear, practical terms.
Contact us by phone or email. We will take some initial details and discuss the support you need.
We will discuss your family, wishes, assets and any concerns you may have.
We will explain executors, beneficiaries, guardians, property, gifts and other relevant issues.
Once we have your instructions, we will prepare your Will and explain the contents clearly.
We will guide you through signing and witnessing so your Will is completed properly.
We can advise when your Will should be reviewed or updated after major life changes.
Select any question below to read the answer. More than one answer can remain open at the same time.
Yes, a Will can still be important even if your estate is modest. It allows you to choose who inherits, appoint executors, appoint guardians for children and make your wishes clear.
If you die without a valid Will, the law decides who inherits from your estate. This may not reflect your wishes or your family circumstances.
Not automatically. Unmarried partners do not have the same automatic inheritance rights as spouses or civil partners. If you want your partner to inherit, you should make a Will.
Yes. If you have children under 18, you can appoint guardians in your Will. This allows you to set out who you would trust to care for your children if you were no longer here.
Yes. You can leave gifts to charities in your Will, either as a specific amount, a particular item or a share of your estate.
Yes. You can use your Will to leave specific personal belongings, money or other assets to particular people, provided the Will is drafted clearly.
You should choose someone you trust who is organised, reliable and willing to take on the responsibility. This could be a family member, friend or professional executor.
You should review your Will if you are getting married or entering into a civil partnership, as this can affect an existing Will.
Yes, it is sensible to review your Will if you separate or divorce so that it reflects your current wishes.
A DIY Will may be suitable for some very simple situations, but mistakes can cause serious problems. Legal advice is particularly important if you own property, have children, are unmarried, have a blended family or are worried about disputes.
The cost will depend on your circumstances and the complexity of the Will required. We can discuss this with you at the outset so you understand the likely costs before proceeding.
If you would like advice about making a Will, updating an existing Will, appointing guardians for children or protecting your loved ones, please contact our friendly team.
We advise clients across England and Wales, with offices in Bristol, Bath and Hereford.
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