Will Writing & Estate Planning in Norfolk
Don’t just write a Will. Plan your family’s future.
Local. Personal. Face-to-face. Experienced.
When it comes to your family’s future, a standard online Will or a DIY template may not ask the questions that really matter.
Who should inherit your home?
What happens if your partner dies before you?
What about children from a previous relationship?
Could an inheritance create problems for a vulnerable beneficiary?
What happens to your estate if circumstances change?
Could inheritance tax affect your family?
And, perhaps most importantly, does your Will actually achieve what you think it does?
At The WillMaker Group, we believe that good estate planning starts with a conversation.
We provide local, face-to-face Will writing and estate planning throughout Norfolk, with appointments at our office in Dereham or in the comfort of your own home.
Call 01362 288582 to book your FREE consultation.
A Will is more than a document
Writing a Will can look simple.
You can find templates online, answer questions on a website and receive a document through the post.
But your family isn’t a template.
Your circumstances are unique.
You may own your home jointly with your partner. You may have children from a previous relationship. You may have grandchildren, business interests, savings, investments or pensions. You may have concerns about protecting an inheritance or reducing the potential impact of inheritance tax.
These circumstances can make estate planning much more complicated than simply deciding who receives what.
That’s why we take the time to sit down with you, listen and understand what you are trying to achieve.
Only then can the appropriate Will and estate-planning options be discussed.
Five problems we regularly help families think about
1. “I found an online Will. Isn’t that enough?”
Sometimes a straightforward Will may be perfectly adequate.
But the important question is whether your circumstances are straightforward.
Government guidance recognises that professional advice should be considered where circumstances are more complicated, including situations involving businesses, overseas property, vulnerable dependants or other complex arrangements.
The problem with a basic online Will isn’t necessarily that it is automatically invalid.
The problem can be that you weren’t asked the questions you needed to consider.
An online questionnaire cannot sit across the table from you and ask:
“What happens if your spouse dies before you?”
“Do you want your children to inherit immediately?”
“What happens if one of your children has financial difficulties?”
“Have you considered what happens to your home?”
“What happens if your family circumstances change?”
That’s where face-to-face Will writing can make a difference.
At The WillMaker Group, we discuss your circumstances with you before preparing your Will.
2. Your home may be your family’s biggest asset
For many families, the family home is their most valuable asset.
But deciding who should eventually receive it isn’t always straightforward.
Consider a couple who have been together for many years but have children from previous relationships.
They may initially think:
“We’ll leave everything to each other.”
That sounds perfectly sensible.
But what happens when the second person dies?
Will the assets ultimately pass to all of the children as intended?
What happens if the surviving partner remarries?
What happens if the surviving partner needs long-term care?
What happens if the family circumstances change?
There are different estate-planning options that may be appropriate depending on the circumstances, including carefully drafted trusts and property protection arrangements.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer.
The important thing is understanding the options before deciding what is right for you.
3. Blended families need careful planning
Modern families are often complicated.
You may have:
children from a previous marriage;
stepchildren;
a new partner;
grandchildren;
an unmarried partner;
children who have different financial circumstances.
You may want to provide for your partner while ensuring that assets ultimately pass to your own children.
That can require more thought than simply writing:
“Everything to my spouse.”
A professionally considered Will can help you explore different ways of structuring your estate.
Depending on your circumstances, this might involve straightforward Will provisions or potentially the use of trusts.
The key is starting with the family — not the form.
We take the time to understand your relationships, your assets and what you want to achieve.
4. Don’t leave your family with unanswered questions
Imagine your family gathering after your death.
One person says:
“Mum told me I was getting the house.”
Another says:
“That’s not what she told me.”
Someone produces an old note.
Someone remembers a conversation from years ago.
And suddenly your family is trying to work out what you really wanted.
A clear, professionally drafted Will cannot prevent every disagreement.
But good planning can remove unnecessary uncertainty.
Your Will should clearly express your wishes.
Your executors should understand what they are expected to do.
And your family should know that a Will exists and where it can be found.
Your Will is ultimately about the people you leave behind.
Giving them clarity can be one of the greatest gifts you give your family.
5. Estate planning isn’t just about inheritance
Many people think estate planning means:
“Who gets my money when I die?”
It can be much broader than that.
Estate planning can involve considering:
Your property
How is your home owned and who should ultimately benefit from it?
Your family
Who should inherit and when?
Your assets
What happens to your savings, investments and other possessions?
Your business
Do you own a business or business interests that need to be considered?
Vulnerable beneficiaries
Would someone in your family benefit from receiving an inheritance in a more carefully structured way?
Inheritance Tax
Could your estate potentially be affected by current or future inheritance tax rules?
Your lifetime planning
Do you also need Lasting Powers of Attorney so trusted people can help if you lose the ability to make decisions yourself?
This is estate planning.
It is about looking at the bigger picture.
Why choose The WillMaker Group?
Local Norfolk advice — from a real person!
We are not a faceless online Will-writing website.
We are a local Norfolk Will writing and estate planning service, based in Dereham.
You can meet us:
At our Dereham office
or
In the comfort of your own home
We believe that sitting down with you and understanding your circumstances is one of the most important parts of providing a quality Will-writing and estate-planning service.
Experienced and qualified
Estate planning deserves proper attention.
The WillMaker Group has experience helping individuals, couples and families with:
Wills
Trusts
Lasting Powers of Attorney
Estate Planning
Inheritance Tax Planning
Property Protection
Probate
Estate Administration
We are members/affiliated with recognised professional organisations including STEP, the Society of Will Writers, CILEX and the Federation of Small Businesses, providing clients with the reassurance of dealing with an established professional service.
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all Wills
Your circumstances are different from your neighbour’s.
So your Will should be considered around your family, your assets and your wishes.
A straightforward estate may need a straightforward Will.
A more complicated family may require more detailed planning.
Our role is to help you understand the issues and the available options so you can make informed decisions about your family’s future.
What happens during your consultation?
We start by listening.
We’ll discuss your:
Family
Who are the people you want to protect?
Property
What do you own and how is it owned?
Assets
What savings, investments and other assets do you have?
Existing arrangements
Do you already have a Will, trusts or LPAs?
Concerns
Is there anything you’re particularly worried about?
Wishes
What would you like to happen?
From there, we can discuss the appropriate estate-planning considerations and the type of Will or other documents that may be suitable for your circumstances.
You don’t need to know all the answers before you contact us
Perhaps you’ve been putting off making a Will because you don’t know where to start.
Perhaps you already have a Will but haven’t looked at it for years.
Perhaps you’ve written an online Will and now you’re wondering whether it actually does what you intended.
Perhaps your family circumstances have changed.
Perhaps you’ve remarried.
Perhaps you’ve bought another property.
Perhaps you’ve had children or grandchildren.
Perhaps you’re simply getting older and want to make sure everything is in order.
You don’t need to have everything worked out before you come to us.
That’s what the consultation is for.
Your family’s future deserves more than a tick-box exercise
A Will may be one of the most important documents you ever sign.
So don’t simply ask:
“Where can I get a cheap Will?”
Ask:
“Have I properly considered what my family will need when I’m no longer here?”
That’s the difference between writing a Will and planning an estate.
Local Face-to-Face Will Writing in Norfolk
If you’re looking for:
✔ Will writing in Norfolk
✔ A Will writer in Dereham
✔ Face-to-face Will writing
✔ Estate planning in Norfolk
✔ Wills and trusts
✔ Property protection
✔ Inheritance tax planning
✔ Lasting Powers of Attorney
then we’d be happy to have a conversation.
Dereham Office
Meet us at our local office.
Home Visits
Prefer to talk things through at home?
We can visit you.
Video consultations
If a face-to-face appointment isn’t convenient, we can also discuss your requirements by video.
Book Your FREE Consultation
Don’t leave your family’s future to chance.
Whether you need your first Will, want to update an existing Will or need help understanding your wider estate-planning options, we’re here to help.
Call 01362 288582
to book your FREE consultation
Or visit:
The WillMaker Group
Local Norfolk Face-to-Face Will Writing & Estate Planning
Dereham | Home Visits | Norfolk
Good honest advice. No pushy sales tactics. Just professional, personal estate planning designed around you and your family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a solicitor to write my Will?
No. There is no general legal requirement that a Will must be prepared by a solicitor. However, where circumstances are complicated, professional advice can help identify issues that a simple DIY or online Will may not address.
Are online Wills legally valid?
An online Will isn’t automatically invalid simply because it was prepared online. However, it must satisfy the legal requirements for a valid Will, including the rules concerning signing and witnessing. More importantly, the Will needs to properly reflect your intentions and circumstances.
Is face-to-face Will writing better than an online Will?
The important consideration is not simply how the document is produced. Face-to-face advice gives you the opportunity to discuss your individual family circumstances, assets and concerns with an experienced professional before the Will is prepared. For straightforward circumstances an online Will may be sufficient; more complex situations can benefit from professional advice.
Can you visit me at home?
Yes. The WillMaker Group provides home visits across Norfolk, as well as appointments at our Dereham office.
Can you help with more than just Wills?
Yes. We provide wider estate-planning services including trusts, Lasting Powers of Attorney, inheritance tax planning, property protection, probate and estate administration.
How much does a Will cost?
The cost depends on the complexity of your circumstances and the type of planning required. We provide clear pricing before you proceed.
Protect What Matters Most
You work hard for what you have built.
Your home.
Your savings.
Your business.
Your family.
Your future.
Don’t leave the important decisions until someone else has to make them.
Speak to a local Norfolk Will-writing and estate-planning professional today.
Call 01362 288582
Book your FREE consultation
The WillMaker Group — helping Norfolk families plan for the future.