What Does Writing a Will Actually Feel Like?

For some people, the hardest part of making a Will is making the appointment, when in reality, that's really easy.

There is a perception that you need to arrive knowing exactly what you want, with every decision already made and a folder full of paperwork under your arm. Add in the fact that you are going to be talking about what happens when you die, and it is understandable why making a Will can keep slipping down the list.

We don't think it should feel like that.

A recent review left for SLS Wills and More summed up the experience we want people to have when they come to see us. The clients had previously used a large law firm to draft and regularly review their Wills, but decided this time to come to us.

They told us:

"Our experience with Sara at SLS Wills and More has exceeded all our expectations."

What stood out to us wasn't simply that they were pleased with the finished Wills. They talked about the experience of getting there.

They mentioned having things explained in plain English, being given plenty of time, receiving information they hadn't previously been made aware of and feeling comfortable in a relaxed environment.

That matters, because making a Will should be a conversation, not an intimidating legal exercise.

You don't need to know all the answers before you arrive

One of the reasons people put off making a Will is that they don't know where to start.

Who should I appoint as my executor? What happens if one of my beneficiaries dies before me? Should I leave particular possessions to particular people? What happens to my home? What if my children are still young when I die?

These are exactly the sorts of questions we are here to help you work through.

You don't need to understand all of the legal terminology and you certainly don't need to arrive with your Will effectively written in your head.

Our job is to understand you, your family, your circumstances and what you would like to achieve. We can then explain the options available, including things you may not have considered.

Sometimes the most valuable part of the conversation is the question you didn't know you needed to ask.

How should you prepare for a Will appointment?

You don't need to spend hours preparing, but it can be useful to have a think about your circumstances beforehand.

Start with the people in your life. Who would you want to benefit from your estate? Who would you trust to act as your executor and deal with things after your death? If you have children under 18, who would you want to care for them if the worst happened?

Then think broadly about what you own. That might include your home or other property, savings, investments, pensions, business interests and valuable or sentimental possessions. You don't necessarily need exact figures for everything before an initial conversation, but having an idea of what makes up your estate can help.

It is also worth thinking about whether there is anything unusual about your circumstances.

Perhaps you have children from a previous relationship. You might own a business, have assets overseas, be unmarried but living with a partner, want to leave money to charity or have particular concerns about how an inheritance should be dealt with.

Tell us.

Something that feels like a small detail to you might make a difference to the advice we give.

"I don't have much. Do I really need a Will?"

This is a question that comes up regularly, particularly with younger people.

A Will isn't only for people with large estates.

As a recent BBC article highlighted, 27-year-old Erin Atkinson decided to make a Will despite renting and not considering herself particularly wealthy. Her Will covers things including her car, a sentimental necklace and a gift to a charity close to her heart.

A Will is ultimately about deciding what you want to happen.

Depending on your circumstances, that can include who receives your estate, who deals with your affairs and who you would wish to act as guardians for your children.

Without a valid Will, your estate will generally be distributed according to the intestacy rules rather than according to wishes you may have expressed informally.

"Is talking about death going to feel uncomfortable?"

It can.

We aren't going to pretend that everyone enjoys thinking about their own death. Some people are very comfortable discussing it. Others have avoided the subject for years.

Both are perfectly normal ways to feel when you walk through our door.

What we don't want is for the process itself to add to that discomfort.

Our clients who left our 91st Google review described the environment at SLS Wills and More as:

"Very relaxed and cosy, not daunting or intimidating."

That's important to us.

There will be serious questions because there need to be, but that doesn't mean the conversation itself needs to feel cold or clinical.

"Can you just tell me what I should put in my Will?"

Not quite.

A good Will should reflect your wishes and your circumstances, rather than somebody else's idea of what a standard Will ought to look like.

We can ask questions, explain the implications of different choices and help you understand the options available. Ultimately, however, they are your decisions.

That is also why we take our time.

Our recent reviewers specifically mentioned that Sara was "very generous with her time and doesn't rush".

We would much rather you ask another question than leave an appointment wondering about something because you didn't want to hold us up.

"Once I've written my Will, is that it?"

Not necessarily.

Life changes.

You might get married or divorced. Children or grandchildren might arrive. You could buy or sell property, start a business, lose someone named in your Will or simply change your mind about what you want to happen.

That's why it is sensible to review your Will periodically and particularly after significant changes in your life.

A review doesn't automatically mean that you need a new Will. It is an opportunity to check whether the Will you already have still does what you want it to do.

What we want you to feel when you leave

We don't expect anybody to leave an appointment excited about having written their Will.

We do want you to leave feeling clearer.

You should understand what you have decided, why you have made those decisions and what your Will is designed to achieve.

You should also feel that you had the opportunity to ask questions without being rushed, that things were explained without unnecessary legal jargon and that somebody took the time to understand your circumstances rather than simply filling in a template.

Perhaps our recent reviewers put it best when they said Sara went "far beyond just helping one with Will drafting".

For us, that's the point.

Writing a Will produces an important legal document, but the process of getting there should also give you clarity and confidence about the plans you have put in place.

If you've been putting off making or reviewing your Will because you're unsure what to expect, get in touch with SLS Wills and More. We can start with a conversation.