Do I need a will if I have very little of value?

Yes. Without a will, your estate passes according to intestacy rules, removing your control over who benefits and how much they receive. You may also have sentimental items you wish to leave to specific people, and your circumstances may change in future.

Do I need to update my will after marriage?

Yes. In the UK, marriage generally revokes an existing will, so it is essential to create a new will after getting married.

Do unmarried partners need a will?

Yes. Unmarried partners have no automatic inheritance rights. Without a will making provision for them, your partner will not benefit from your estate.

Can an executor also be a beneficiary?

Yes. An executor can also be a beneficiary of the will.

All About Wills

Creating a Will can, for some, be an emotionally charged process motivated by a range of deeply personal reasons. For this reason, Wills are not only a legal necessity, but also an emotional act that will ultimately provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

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Understandably, having to think about these things can be difficult, which is why many people put off making a Will. The downside of course is that none of us know when we will die and without a Will, state laws will determine the distribution of your estate. This may not align with your own personal wishes and could leave loved ones inadequately provided for.
There are in fact many reasons why you should make a Will, but here are some of the motivations we experience when people ask us to draft their Wills.

Preparing to Write a Will

Why Write a Will?

Will planning with Gemini Wealth Group

Planning for the future means more than financial investments or retirement strategies. One of the most vital aspects of a complete financial plan is creating a will. At Gemini Wealth Group, our trusted advisors provide a professional and confidential will writing service to help protect your loved ones and ensure your wishes are honoured.

What is a will and why does it matter?

A will, sometimes referred to as a last will and testament, is a legally binding document that outlines your preferences for the distribution of your estate upon death. It can also be used to name guardians for dependents and specify any personal requests or instructions.

Without a valid will, your estate will be administered according to the UK’s laws of intestacy. These laws may not align with your personal values or intentions, potentially leaving loved ones in difficult or uncertain situations. Making a will ensures that your assets, from savings and property to personal possessions, are passed on according to your wishes.

What should be included in your will?

A well-structured will should cover several key components:

Executors and trustees: Appoint individuals you trust to manage your estate, or opt for professional will writing solicitors near you who can act impartially and competently.
Guardianship provisions: If you have minor children or dependents lacking mental capacity, your will should specify who you wish to care for them.
Gifts and legacies: Clearly list any specific gifts, whether monetary or personal items, you want to leave to named beneficiaries.
Residuary estate instructions: Detail how the remainder of your estate is to be divided once debts, taxes, and specific gifts have been settled.
Digital Assets and Pets: As part of a modern estate plan, provisions for digital accounts or the care of pets are increasingly important.

Types of wills explained

Different personal and family circumstances call for different will formats:

Standard will: Suitable for individuals with straightforward estates and clear distribution plans.
Living will (Advance directive): Allows you to set out instructions for medical treatment and care in the event that you lose mental capacity.
Mirror and joint wills: Often used by couples. Mirror wills are almost identical and allow changes, whereas joint wills create a single document and can be restrictive after the first death.
Testamentary trust wills: Useful if you wish to leave assets in trust, particularly for young or vulnerable beneficiaries.
Emergency or holographic wills: Generally handwritten or drafted in urgent scenarios, these often lack the legal robustness of formally executed wills.

Legal requirements for a valid will in the UK

For your will to be legally valid, it must be written voluntarily by someone over the age of 18 with full mental capacity. It must be signed in the presence of two independent witnesses who are not beneficiaries or married to beneficiaries. Failing to adhere to these formalities can result in a will being contested or deemed invalid.

Relying on DIY solutions or unregulated will writers near you can lead to costly mistakes. Engaging with qualified will writing solicitors near you, such as those at Gemini Wealth Group, offers peace of mind and legal security.

Updating your will: when and how

Life rarely stands still, and your will should evolve accordingly. Whether through codicils (formal amendments) or full rewrites, regular reviews ensure your final will and testament remains relevant.

Events such as marriage, divorce, birth of children or grandchildren, or significant changes in your financial situation should all prompt a review. In the UK, marriage generally revokes an existing will, so it’s essential to revisit your documents during major life transitions.

Why choose Gemini Wealth Group for will planning?

At Gemini Wealth Group, our expertise extends beyond investment and pensions. We offer integrated planning that aligns your will with your broader financial objectives, including trusts, business protection, and estate planning.

Our will writing service is delivered with discretion and care. We break down complex legal language into clear, understandable guidance. Our team supports you from drafting to execution, ensuring your last will and testament is properly witnessed and securely stored.

We also offer ongoing support to keep your plans up to date. With annual check-ins and responsive advice when your circumstances change, our review service ensures your will remains fit for purpose.

Explore how our financial advisors can support your broader goals, or learn more about trusts and estate planning.

If you are searching for a reliable a local will writing service or wondering about the cost of a will, contact Gemini Wealth Group today to begin planning with confidence.

FAQs

If you do not own your own home and have very little savings, you can sometimes believe there is no need to have a Will prepared because you think you do not have anything of any value to gift. However, you may have items that are sentimental that you would like to leave to family members. Without a Will specifically gifting these items, your estate would pass in accordance with the intestacy rules. The intestacy rules are a fixed set of rules on who receives your estate and how much. This would not give you control over who benefits from your estate and how much they get. Also, in the future you may have more assets to your name even if you think you do not have any at present, so creating a Will provides peace of mind knowing that you have taken steps to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes when you pass away.

There are a number of points to consider in readiness for your appointment. Please click this link to find out some of the things you should consider ahead of your appointment.

It is essential to review your Will to ensure it still represents your wishes. Some of the common reasons to update your Will can be found by clicking this link.

Yes, assuming you want your partner to inherit from you. It is very important for unmarried partners to make Wills. Your Partner will not benefit from your estate unless a Will has been prepared making provision for them.

Executors are the people appointed by you in your Will to carry out the instructions in your Will. It would be wise to appoint at least two Executors. Your chosen Executors can be your family, friends or you can even appoint professional Executors (e.g. Solicitor in a firm). Professional Executors will charge for their services.

An Executor has to be at least 18 years of age.

Yes. An Executor can also be a beneficiary.

You should appoint Guardians if you have children under 18 years of age. You should give consideration as to the age of the Guardians, do they have a good relationship with your children, do they have the same views regarding how your children should be educated etc

Yes, it is quite usual for Guardians to also be Executors.

No, but if you want specific objects or certain amounts of money to go to certain people, then these will need to be listed in the Will. However, what you do not identify in your Will (everything else not listed, whatever it may be), is dealt with through distribution of the residue. It is important when leaving gifts, that you give the full name of the recipient and a full description of the gift.

Yes. The full name, address and registered number of that charity would need to be included in the Will.

The residue is everything that remains after specific bequests (if any) and after payment of all debts, taxes and expenses. There is no need to itemise the residue. You can simply decide what proportion each beneficiary is to receive, if you are naming more than one. For example, you may wish to leave the residue to your spouse and if your spouse has already passed away, then for the residue to pass on to your children. If perhaps you do not wish your children to benefit in equal shares, you can state what proportion each child is to receive. If you are single and do not have any children you may wish to leave the residue to other named beneficiaries, for example, 50% to Mr A and the remaining 50% to be shared equally between Mrs B and Miss C.

You may have included a substitute beneficiary in your Will in case your first choice of beneficiary dies. If a substitute beneficiary has not been appointed, then generally it forms part of the reside (as explained above) and will pass to those you have named as beneficiaries to benefit from the residue..

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