Our First Meeting
Our first meeting is to get to know you, to establish what you’re looking to achieve and to see how we can help. During this meeting we will set out our advice, advise you of our costs and more importantly take time to answer any questions, so that you are in a position to make an informed decision, on how you wish to proceed.
During this first meeting we will take your instructions if you are happy to proceed at this stage.
We will do a Will review if a Will is already in place. We will take instructions for your Will and look into Power of Attorney.
We will look at your funeral planning arrangements and where needed support with a letter of wishes, or funeral plan.
We will explain how and where to store your Will after it has been signed.
The meetings are designed to help you protect, preserve and pass on your assets to the right people at the right time.
Ultimately, we will explain what might stand in the way of this. Of course, the choice is yours.
Our Second Meeting
Signing appointment.
Once you have approved the documents (and checked spellings etc.) the final original documents are prepared ready for signature. The signing process is incredibly important as this is what makes them valid but full instructions will be given. Where possible, we also try to attend the attestation (the signing) to make sure everything is done correctly. During this meeting, the document will be read over to you (not in the presence of witnesses) to make sure you fully understand.
If you have any questions about our procedure, we are happy to help.
Information to prepare
Before an appointment with us please have I.D. ready. We ask for this because we have a duty to ensure that the person or people we are writing the Will or Wills for are who they say they are.
Please also have any previous Wills to hand so that we’re able to see what planning is already in place.
A list of all your assets and approximate values including life assurance and pensions, and any liabilities, such as mortgage, loans and credit cards. We also need to know if they are in sole or joint names.
Things to think about
During the appointment we will enquire about your wishes regarding the following:
Who you would like to be your executors/trustees/beneficiaries.
Whether you need guardians for minor children.
Making provision for pets.
What gifts have been made in the last few years and how much (if it was money). We need to know when they were made, but don’t need to know about Christmas or birthday gifts.
What your funeral wishes are.
What gifts you would like to make.
Whether there are any charities you would like to support.