AldgateChambers Solicitors
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Services

Wills & Powers of Attorney

Putting your affairs in order, so the people you choose are provided for and protected.

How we help

Putting your affairs in order, so the people you choose are provided for and protected. Your matter is handled by a solicitor who knows the file, so the person advising you is the person you speak to.

Select any of the areas below to see what that work involves.

Wills
Preparing a will so that your estate passes as you intend, and reviewing an existing will after a change in circumstances.
Lasting powers of attorney
Appointing someone you trust to make decisions about your property, finances, health or care if you become unable to.
Choosing executors and guardians
Advising on who should carry out your wishes, and on appointing guardians for children under 18.
Reviewing an existing will
Circumstances change. We review wills after a marriage, separation, new child, house purchase or bereavement, and advise whether a new one is needed.
Inheritance tax planning
Advising on the allowances available and how your estate is likely to be treated, so there are no surprises for the people you leave behind.
Safe storage
Arranging for your will to be stored securely, and telling your executors how to find it.

How the process works

Every matter is different, but most follow broadly these stages. We will tell you at the outset which apply to you and roughly how long each takes.

  1. Understanding your circumstances

    We discuss what you own, who depends on you, and what you want to happen — including anything you are worried about.

  2. Advice on the options

    We explain the choices, including guardianship for children, provision for a partner, and the inheritance tax position.

  3. Preparing the documents

    We draft the will or lasting power of attorney and go through it with you before anything is signed.

  4. Signing and witnessing

    A will only takes effect if it is signed and witnessed correctly. We make sure that is done properly, because mistakes here cannot be put right afterwards.

  5. Registration and storage

    Lasting powers of attorney must be registered before they can be used. We arrange registration and safe storage of your documents.

What we will need from you

Having these to hand at the first appointment saves time and cost. Do not worry if something is missing — we will tell you how to obtain it.

  • A list of your assets and debts, in round figures
  • Details of the people you wish to benefit
  • Names and addresses of your proposed executors
  • Names of anyone you would want to act as guardian for children
  • Any existing will or power of attorney
  • Details of property, pensions, life policies and business interests
  • Photo identification and proof of address

Fees for this work

Most of this work is done for a fixed fee agreed in writing before we start.

Wills and lasting powers of attorneyEstimated individually

Disbursements — court, tribunal and Home Office fees, and any experts or interpreters — are payable in addition. See the full fees page for the complete list.

Common questions

What happens if I die without a will?
The intestacy rules decide who inherits, and they may not reflect what you would have wanted. Unmarried partners, for example, do not inherit under those rules however long the relationship. Only where there are no surviving relatives at all does an estate pass to the Crown.
What is a lasting power of attorney?
It lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions for you if you later cannot. There are two types, one covering property and finances and one covering health and welfare. It must be registered before it can be used, so it is best put in place well before it is needed.
Can I not just write my own will?
You can, but most of the problems we see come from home-made wills — unclear wording, gifts that fail, and above all wills that were not signed and witnessed correctly. Those errors usually only come to light after death, when they can no longer be corrected.
When should I review my will?
After any significant change — marriage, separation, a new child or grandchild, buying property, a death in the family, or a change in what you own. Marriage in particular can revoke an existing will unless the will was made in contemplation of that marriage.

The law changes. This page is general information, not advice on your situation. We will advise you on the rules as they stand when you instruct us.

Get in touch

Tell us about your matter.

London 020 4577 3395 · Manchester 0161 566 3492
info@acsolicitors.org

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