Our specialists solicitors in Swindon and Wiltshire create wills for people from all walks of life. We work with business owners protecting their legacy, families safeguarding their home, and individuals ensuring their wishes are honoured.

We understand that families come in many forms. Whether you’re part of a traditional family structure, a blended family with step-children, or an unmarried couple sharing your lives together, we’ll craft a will that protects everyone who matters to you.

Our solicitors take the time to understand what’s important in your life – whether that’s providing for children, protecting vulnerable family members, caring for beloved pets, or supporting cherished charities.

We offer practical guidance on choosing guardians for children, appointing suitable executors, and structuring your estate to minimise inheritance tax. No matter your circumstances or concerns, we’ll ensure your will truly reflects your wishes and protects those you care about most.

The dangers of not having a valid Will

If you die without making a will, the law decides who gets your money, property and possessions – not you. These fixed legal rules, called “intestacy rules” can ignore what you might have wanted and often creates serious problems for your loved ones.

Unmarried partners have no automatic right to inherit anything under these rules, regardless of how long you’ve been together. They may have to make costly legal claims against your estate.

Children might not be properly protected, with no guardianship provisions in place if both parents pass away. Your home could pass to relatives you rarely see rather than those closest to you.

Our Will Writing services

Our specialist solicitors in Swindon and Wiltshire provide a complete range of Will writing services:

• Expert advice on making appropriate Wills
• Preparation of straightforward single Wills
• Creation of Mirror Wills for couples
• Establishment of various Will Trusts
• Preparation of complementary Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Inheritance Tax planning advice
• Home visits for clients with mobility issues

The different types of Wills

Our Swindon solicitors provide expert guidance on which type of will best suits your specific circumstances, ensuring your estate plan accomplishes your precise wishes while providing maximum protection for your loved ones.

Here are the different types of Wills we can assist you with:

• Single Will – A basic will that gives you complete control over who gets your property, money, and possessions. It’s the right choice for single people, widows, or anyone who needs to make decisions independently from a partner. You can name guardians for children, choose your executors, and include specific funeral wishes.
• Mirror Wills – Two separate but matching wills for couples that reflect the same wishes. They typically leave everything to each other first, then to children or other beneficiaries after both partners have died. These are ideal for married couples, civil partners, or long-term partners who share assets and want to protect each other while also securing inheritance for children, including step-children who have no automatic inheritance rights.
• Trust Wills – Wills that include special arrangements to protect assets or beneficiaries:
  • Property Protection Trust – Protects your home from being sold to pay for care home fees. This is important for homeowners who want to make sure their property passes to their children rather than being used up in care costs.
  • Discretionary Trust – Puts assets under the control of trustees who decide how and when beneficiaries receive their inheritance. This works well for parents of young children or those with family members who might not manage money well.
  • Life Interest Trust – Allows someone (usually your spouse) to benefit from assets during their lifetime, after which the assets pass to other beneficiaries (often children from a previous relationship). This is particularly useful in second marriages where you want to provide for your current partner while protecting children’s inheritance.

The will writing process with Awdry Law

Creating your will in Swindon should be straightforward, affordable, and efficient. Our process begins with a conversation about your assets, family circumstances, and specific wishes.

We’ll guide you through exactly what to include in your will, from appointing executors and guardians to specifying beneficiaries for both significant assets and sentimental items.

For straightforward estates, we provide a comprehensive “Will Questionnaire” for you to complete at your convenience. For more complex situations involving business assets or blended families, we recommend a personal consultation to ensure every aspect is properly addressed.

Our expert solicitors take your instructions and draft a legally sound document that precisely reflects your wishes, ensuring all technical requirements are met.

You’ll receive a draft will to review, with the opportunity to discuss any queries or make adjustments. Once satisfied, we arrange for proper signing and witnessing, which is a critical step that many DIY wills get wrong.

Download our Wills and Estate Planning Guide

The benefits of using local Swindon solicitors

Choosing Awdry Law’s Swindon-based will writing solicitors for your will offers distinct advantages over online services or firms from outside the area.

We bring valuable local knowledge, understanding Swindon’s property market and regional inheritance considerations that generic services simply cannot match.

Complex discussions about family dynamics and wishes are often better handled face-to-face, which is why our convenient Swindon location makes the process more comfortable and effective.

As your life evolves, we provide ongoing support for future updates, with the reassurance of our established local reputation that represents accountability and trust.

Our deep understanding of the local community means we appreciate the specific needs and concerns of local residents. While online will services might seem convenient, they lack the personalised guidance and local expertise that ensure your will truly protects your loved ones.

Beyond basic Will Writing

A comprehensive approach to estate planning often includes complementary legal documents.

Lasting Powers of Attorney protect you during your lifetime by appointing trusted individuals to make financial or health decisions if you become unable to do so yourself. These crucial documents work alongside your will to provide complete life protection.

With Swindon property values continuing to rise, inheritance tax planning becomes increasingly important. Our solicitors can help structure your will to minimise potential tax liabilities through strategic use of allowances and appropriate trust structures.

We provide guidance on lifetime gifting and charitable options that complement your will provisions while reducing overall tax liability.

Why wait? Talk to one of our Swindon will writers today…

Creating a will is one of the most responsible actions you can take for your loved ones’ future security. It brings certainty and peace of mind knowing exactly how your assets will be handled after your death.

You can contact our Swindon will writing solicitors on 01793 384140 or email us at info@awdry.law. You can also fill in our quick enquiry form below; it’s easy, quick and one of our expert team will be in touch promptly.

Alternatively, you can pop in to our office at 2 Gateway North, Latham Road, Swindon.