What is a will and why is it important?
A will is a legally binding document that allows you to dictate what should happen to your money, property and possessions after your death. Having a will ensures that your estate is distributed exactly as you wish when you pass away. Dying without a will, also known as intestacy, means that the law will decide who inherits your estate instead of your preferences being followed. The intestacy rules do not always reflect what people would wish for, so making a will gives you control over your estate even after death.
A will is the only way to:
Name guardians for minor children – If you have children under the age of 18, a will allows you to name preferred guardians who will care for your children should both parents pass away. The courts won’t necessarily choose those you want without a named guardian in a will.
Give to charity – If you wish to leave a gift or percentage of your estate to a charitable organization, this can only be done through a will. The money will not pass to charities through intestacy rules.
Appoint an executor – An executor is the person or persons who will oversee administering your estate according to the instructions in your will. They are responsible for collecting assets, paying debts and taxes, and distributing your estate to beneficiaries. You need a will to appoint executors of your choosing.
Avoid disputes – Having a will reduces the chances of family arguments after death about how the estate should be distributed. Intestacy rules may not leave wealth to those you wish to benefit, leading to potential disputes between relatives.
Minimize taxes paid – Dying intestate means your estate will pass to beneficiaries according to a set order. A will allows you to pass your estate in a tax-efficient way to minimize inheritance tax paid by loved ones receiving gifts.
Why use Wowcher for will writing services?
Wowcher offers an affordable will writing and estate planning service so you can have peace of mind with all legal matters taken care of at a discounted price. Here are some key advantages of using Wowcher:
Value for money price – Will packages starting from just £49 for a single will or £89 for a pair of mirror wills. This is significantly cheaper than most solicitors’ standard will writing fees.
Convenience – The entire process can be handled online from the comfort of your own home. Simply complete an online form with your requirements and details. No need to visit a law firm.
Trusted partners – Will writing is performed by established legal professionals at LegalBeagles who are regulated by the Law Society. You can trust you are receiving a quality legally binding will.
Expert advice included – As part of the service, you receive unlimited telephone support from experienced wills and probate solicitors to discuss estate planning matters. Queries are answered promptly.
Simple updates – If your personal or financial circumstances change, a new will can be drawn up for a heavily discounted update fee rather than paying the full cost again. Ensures your will always matches your situation.
Express delivery – Once completed, your professionally drafted will document/s will be couriered to your door within 10 working days for your signature. Secure tracking provides delivery confirmation.
Storage included – Wills are securely stored as part of the service. Should the original copies be needed in future, certified true copies can be requested from LegalBeagles at no extra cost. Peace of mind your will is safely kept.
How does the will writing process work with Wowcher?
It’s very straightforward to get started. Follow these simple steps:
Purchase a will writing voucher on the Wowcher website. Select the Single Will option for £49 or Mirror Wills package for two wills at £89.
Redeem your voucher online. You’ll be taken to the LegalBeagles web page for instructions.
Complete an online form. Provide your personal details, details of executors and beneficiaries, along with information about your estate’s assets.
LegalBeagles reviews your form. Solicitors will assess the information and may contact you to discuss provisions or request clarification.
Receive your draft will for approval. Within 10 working days, your drafted will/s will be couriered directly to your home.
Review and sign your will. Check through the document and sign it in front of witnesses provided for authentication.
Return your signed will for safekeeping. Post back your witnessed will/s to LegalBeagles for secure storage as part of the service.
Unlimited support whenever needed. Contact LegalBeagles advisors anytime with questions about your will or estate planning by phone.
The whole process has been designed to be quick and straightforward so you can get on with enjoying life while knowing your will affairs are in order. No complicated forms or need to visit a solicitor in person.
Other estate planning services
In addition to basic will writing, Wowcher and LegalBeagles offer additional bolt-on services to provide a full estate planning solution:
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) – For £69 you can have two LPAs drawn up to allow you to appoint attorneys who can make decisions about your property, finances and health/welfare if you lose mental capacity. Extremely important for future care.
Probate Application Service – For £199 this assists your executors by drawing up the probate application forms and guidance required to administer your estate after death. Saves them time and stress.
Prepaid Probate Package – This bundle includes a will, two LPAs and the probate application assistance for just £249 in total, offering superb value for full planning.
Funeral Planning Documents – Prepare advance decisions about your funeral wishes such as service type, burial/cremation, music etc and provide loved ones instructions for £39.
Free Will Review – Take advantage of LegalBeagles’ complimentary service to check if your existing will still matches your circumstances or needs updating. Expert advice is offered.
So whether you need a simple will or full suite of documents, Wowcher offers an affordable way to arrange all your estate administration requirements with one trusted service. Get all legal affairs attended to with ease.
Why choose Wowcher’s will writing service over a traditional solicitor?
While solicitors remain an alternative option for wills, Wowcher’s online service through LegalBeagles provides certain benefits over traditional face-to-face will writing:
Significant cost savings – Solicitors can charge £250-£500 for basic wills which makes this discounted offer half the normal price point.
Convenience of online submission – No need to schedule appointments, drive somewhere or rely on office opening hours which many find preferable.
Faster delivery – Wills take just 10 working days to receive rather than weeks or months waiting for a solicitor.
Unlimited future support – You can discuss estate administration issues at any time rather than being charged per session like with some solicitors.
Storage and certification included – Your original wills are kept securely and certified copies can be accessed without added charges down the line.
Equally legally binding – Wills are drawn up by regulated solicitors so hold the same legal validity whether done traditionally or through this service.
The main benefit of a traditional solicitor remains face-to-face meetings for complex wealth structures or advice. But for straightforward wills, this low-cost online solution offers an excellent alternative without compromising on quality or peace of mind. Both are acceptable choices depending on needs.
Is it worth buying a Wowcher will writing voucher?
For the majority of people looking to simply put basic will provisions in place at an affordable price without fuss, a Wowcher will writing voucher represents outstanding value for money. At less than £100 for two fully legally binding mirror wills, this service easily saves over £400 compared to average solicitor costs.
Peace of mind from having your estate and wishes arranged is invaluable, so spending less than the price of a night out for that security makes perfect financial sense. The online process also streamlines will production to just 10 days from start to securely stored delivery.
Having your will professionally drafted and stored by a large legal provider regulated by the Law Society additionally removes uncertainty. You and loved ones can rest assured affairs are in good order should the worst happen.
Plus unlimited telephone advice allows discussions if personal or financial circumstances change in future without paying another sizable bill. Revisions can be made.
Overall, Wowcher’s discounted LegalBeagles will writing service provides an exceptional solution for average customers to arrange full legal affairs at budget-friendly prices with no fuss or multiple appointments needed. Highly recommended for straightforward will requirements. Offering such exceptional value, it’s difficult to think of a good reason not to take advantage.
The importance of trusts in estate planning
While not offered directly through Wowcher’s package, it is worth briefly discussing the role trusts can play in more complex estate planning strategies:
Asset protection trust – Used to protect wealth from potential creditors, such as in business or following divorce. Assets are held by trustees rather than owned directly.
Inheritance tax (IHT) mitigation trust – Placing assets in trust can help reduce the IHT rate to 36% from the usual 40% on death. The nil rate band can also be used again after 10 years potentially saving six figures of tax.
Discretionary trust – Trustees have flexibility to decide how income/capital is paid out to any designated
Andrew Stroud