Simple Will A Straightforward Way to Protect Your Family

So what does a Simple Will do? It names your executor(s), the person you trust to carry out your wishes. It sets out who inherits what, whether that's your house, savings, or a few sentimental items you want to go to a specific person. If you've got children under 18, it lets you choose their guardian. Without that in place, a court could make that decision.

We see this every week. A couple comes to us wanting the same setup: everything to each other first, then to the children. That's classic Simple Will territory. It also covers small specific gifts, which we call legacies, like a piece of jewellery to a granddaughter or a donation to a cause you care about.

• Naming your executor to handle everything after you're gone
• Setting out who inherits your money, property and possessions
• Appointing guardians for children under 18
• Adding specific gifts to named people or charities
• Covering straightforward property arrangements

What a Simple Will does not cover is anything with layers. Blended families, business assets, or protecting your home from care fees are more complex. Not sure if your situation counts as simple? That's really common, and it's exactly what we talk through in your appointment.

A Simple Will isn't right for everyone. Let's be honest about that.

If your family situation is straightforward, a Simple Will does the job beautifully. But if you're a couple who want to protect your home from care home fees, or you've got a child who might need extra support managing money, you need something with more structure behind it.

We see this a lot. Many homes are owned outright by couples in their sixties and seventies. If one of you needs long term care, a Simple Will alone won't stop your half of the house being taken into account. That's where severing a joint tenancy and setting up a Property Protection Trust comes in. Your share is protected for your children instead.

• Blended families where you want children from a previous relationship looked after fairly
• A vulnerable family member who'd benefit from a Vulnerable Person's Trust rather than a straight inheritance
• Business owners who need their business interests dealt with properly alongside personal assets
• Couples wanting to protect property from future care costs through a Property Protection Trust

If any of that sounds like you, we'll talk it through and explain the Discretionary Trust or Property Protection Trust options available. If it doesn't, we won't try to sell you something you don't need. A Simple Will might be all you need.

This is general information, not personal advice. Every family's circumstances are different, so it's worth talking things through before deciding.

Not sure whether a will writer or a solicitor is the better fit for your situation? Our guide walks through the difference.

So how do you know a Simple Will is enough? For many people, it is. If you are single, own your home outright or with a straightforward mortgage, maybe you want your spouse or children to inherit in a clear order, and don't have complicated family circumstances, a Simple Will does the job.

But some situations call for a bit more thought. You might still start with a Will, just one built with an extra layer.

• Blended families, where you want to protect children from a first marriage as well as a current partner
• Property you want to ringfence for your children, which is where a Property Protection Trust can come in
• A vulnerable family member who might need a Vulnerable Person's Trust rather than a straight inheritance
• Business owners who need their Will to account for company shares or partnership interests
• Couples who own their home as joint tenants and want to look at severing that tenancy first

That last one comes up more than you'd think. We often sit with couples who assumed their home would automatically pass the way they wanted. They then find their ownership setup meant otherwise.

None of this means a Simple Will is wrong for you. It usually just means a short conversation first to check nothing's been missed. We take the time to understand your circumstances, then describe the options available to you. The decision is always yours as to which service feels right.

Not sure which camp you fall into? That's common, and it's what a first chat is for.

Looking at free Will schemes as well? Here are five questions worth asking before you choose one.

You don't need a folder full of paperwork to get started. That's one of the biggest myths about writing a Will, and it stops people from picking up the phone.

A little thought beforehand does help. Before we visit you at home, or meet on Teams if that suits you better, have a rough idea of who you'd like to leave things to. Think about who you'd trust as your executor, the person who sorts everything out once you're gone. If you've got young children, think about who you'd want as their guardian.

• A list of your main assets, your home, savings, any life insurance
• Names and addresses of the people you want to benefit
• Who you'd like as executor, and a backup choice too
• Guardian arrangements if you have children under 18
• Any specific items, jewellery, a car, something sentimental, you want to leave to someone particular

Don't worry if you can't answer all of this straight away. We talk it through together, in plain English, with no legal jargon thrown at you. Some folks sit down with us with a clear plan in mind. Others just know they need to sort something out and figure out the details with us as we go. Both are fine.

We come to you, wherever's comfortable, at a time that suits your day.

This is general information, not personal advice. Your circumstances might raise questions worth talking through properly, which is exactly what the appointment is for.

So what happens once you decide to get a Simple Will sorted? It's less complicated than most people expect. We meet you where it suits you, your home, or online via Teams if you'd rather do it from the sofa with a cup of tea. No rushing, no jargon, just a proper conversation about your family and what you want to happen.

• We have an initial chat to understand your circumstances, your family, your property, and who you want to look after things
• We explain the options in plain English, so you understand what each choice means for your family
• We draft your Will and send it to you to check everything's right
• You sign it in front of two independent witnesses. This is a legal requirement
• Your Will gets stored somewhere safe, and you get a copy for your own records

That signing step trips people up more than anything else. Your witnesses can't be beneficiaries. They can't be married to a beneficiary either. Get that wrong and the gift to that person could fail, even if the rest of the Will stands. We'll walk you through exactly who can witness and how to do it properly. There's no nasty surprise for your family later.

Most people worry this is going to feel like admin. It doesn't. It feels more like finally getting something off your mind.

There's no pressure to decide everything in one sitting. You can take your time between appointments if you need to think things through.