Westcott Wills

Will writing and lasting powers of attorney; inheritance tax advice; www.westcottwills.co.uk

01/09/2026

After years of working as a non- practising solicitor, I'm proud to announce Westcott Wills is now an SRA-authorised, solicitor-led firm. What that means for our clients is that we can provide a much wider estate planning service with all the bells and whistles.

So it's the same personal service, in plain English, that our clients have come to expect from us, but now backed by the regulatory standards and professional indemnity cover that comes with being a recognised legal body.

For any estate planning needs, including will updates, lasting powers of attorney and inheritance tax planning, that you have been meaning to get around to, but also any lifetime trust advice you require, now is the perfect moment to get in touch.

Our current prices still stand throughout September, but there will be price increases in October, in line with standard legal costs, though we will of course remain competitive.

31/08/2026

This is one of the most persistent misconceptions I come across.
'Next of kin' has no legal standing in England and Wales when it comes to inheritance. It doesn't appear in will law. It doesn't override intestacy rules. It doesn't automatically give anyone the right to anything.
If you're unmarried and you believe your partner will inherit because they're your next of kin, you're wrong unless your will says so. This is exactly why a properly drafted will matters. Assumptions aren't instructions.

30/08/2026

Mirror wills are made by two people, usually couples leaving everything to each other first, then to the same beneficiaries. It’s one of my most common services at just £550 plus VAT at the time of posting.
They're cost-effective and straightforward and for many couples they're the right solution.
But there's something important to understand: mirror wills don't bind the surviving partner. After one of you dies, the other is free to change their will entirely.
For some families, that matters. For others, it doesn't. It's a conversation worth having before you decide.

28/08/2026

A letter of wishes sits alongside your will. It isn't legally binding, but it's often one of the most valuable things you leave behind.
It's where you explain your thinking. The sentimental items and who you'd like to have them. Your funeral preferences. Messages for the people you love.
It gives your executors context. It gives your family something more than a legal document. I encourage everyone to write one. It doesn't have to be long, it just has to be honest.

27/08/2026

K is for Keeping Your Will Safe.
A will that can't be found is almost as useless as no will at all.
I offer a professional storage service that keeps your will in a secure, fire and flood-proof facility ready to be retrieved by the right people at exactly the moment it's needed.
It removes one more thing to worry about. No drawers. No filing cabinets. No hoping someone remembers where you put it.
If you've got a will and you're not sure it's safely stored, it's worth a conversation.

26/08/2026

is for Joint Tenancy.
If you own property as joint tenants, your share passes automatically to the surviving owner regardless of what your will says. For many couples, that's exactly what they want. But for others: blended families, second marriages, people with complex estates, it can produce outcomes nobody intended.
The alternative is tenants in common, which lets each owner control what happens to their share through their will. It's worth knowing which you are. Most people don't.

25/08/2026

I is for Intestacy.
Dying without a valid will means dying intestate. Your estate passes according to a fixed legal formula which assumes nothing about your family, your relationships, or your wishes.
Unmarried partners inherit nothing. Estranged relatives may receive a share. Children from a previous relationship can be overlooked.
I've sat with families dealing with the fallout. It's painful, expensive, and entirely avoidable.
A properly written will costs a fraction of what intestacy costs the people you leave behind.

23/08/2026

H is for Health and Welfare Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).
If you faced a medical emergency tomorrow, who would make your healthcare decisions?
Without a Health and Welfare LPA, the answer is the medical profession or social care service. Not your spouse or your children until the courts get involved. And that takes time no one has in a crisis.
This LPA lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions about your treatment, your care, and your daily life, but only if you lack the capacity to decide yourself.
It's one phone call to me which ends with enormous peace of mind. For you and for the people who love you.

21/08/2026

G is for Guardians.
If you have children under 18, this is one of the most important parts of your will.
If both parents die without naming a guardian, the court decides who raises your children. The court doesn't know your family. It doesn't know who you'd trust, or why, or what kind of upbringing you'd want for them.
This is a conversation I have with parents every week. It's never easy. But it's always worth doing.
Your will is where you make that choice. Get in touch to find out more about what you need to know.

19/08/2026

F is for Financial Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA).
This is the LPA that lets someone you trust manage your money, property, and financial affairs if you're unable to do so yourself.
Unlike a Health and Welfare LPA, this one can be used as soon as it's registered, which means your attorneys can help even before capacity becomes an issue, if you want them to.
Paying bills. Managing accounts. Dealing with your mortgage provider. The utilities. All of it, handled by someone you've chosen rather than someone the court appoints.
It's one of the most practical things you can put in place.

Address

46
Bishops Stortford
CM235NW

Website

http://www.westcottwills.co.uk/

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