How much does a will cost?

If you instruct a solicitor to prepare your will, the cost can vary depending on the size and complexity of your estate and of course you do not have to instruct solicitors to prepare one. 

However, homemade wills can cause all sorts of problems when it comes to the administration of a person’s estate. For example, there are formal requirements which need to met to ensure that a will is legally valid, and if these requirements are not met, your will could be invalid and your estate would be dealt with under the Intestacy Rules, which may not be what you want, or had intended. 

There are also strict requirements in relation to any changes or alterations made to a person’s will and again, if these requirements are not met, those changes or alterations could be invalid.

There are a number of circumstances when it is advisable for you to instruct a solicitor to prepare your will, such as where you own or share a property with someone who is not your spouse or civil partner, to ensure your share of the property passes to those whom you wish to benefit from your estate. It is also important to seek legal advice where you wish to make provision in your will for someone who is unable to care for themselves.

For peace of mind and  the reassurance that your estate will be dealt with in accordance with your instructions, we strongly recommend that you instruct a solicitor to prepare your will. Other professionals, such as financial advisors, sometimes offer will drafting services. However, will drafting is not their main area of specialisation and for such an important document, you require up to date and expert legal advice.

At Samuels Solicitors LLP, we charge a highly competitive fixed fee for straightforward single or mirror wills. 

If your will involves more complex drafting such as the inclusions of a trust, we will always advise you at the outset if fees are likely to be more than our standard fixed fee rates, so there will be no nasty surprises later on.

If you would like some further information about the cost of preparing a will or what this involves, contact us to speak to a member of our private client department who will be happy to discuss the matter further with you.

We appreciate that not everyone is able to visit a solicitor and if you are unwell or unable to travel, we are more than happy to visit you at home, in residential care or in hospital, within North Devon and the surrounding area.