Making a Will in Devon & Cornwall

Having a Will is an important step in protecting your family, property and wishes. Learn about Costs, Mirror Wills, Legal Guardians, Intestacy Rules, Probate and how to start making a Will.

A professionally written Will ensures that everything you own is passed on in the way you intend, while also making things far easier for the people you leave behind.

Whether you are just starting to think about a Will, or you already know you need one but are unsure what type is right for you, this guide brings together everything you need to understand in one place.

Explore our Frequently Asked Question page - or simply contact us for a chat.

Do You Even Need a Will?

In most cases, the answer is yes.

You are very likely to benefit from having a Will if you:

Own a property
Have children or dependants
Have savings, investments or personal possessions
Want to choose who deals with your affairs

You can learn more here: Do I Need a Will?

Without a Will, your estate is distributed under strict legal rules rather than your personal wishes.

What Happens If You Don’t Have a Will?

If you die without a Will, your estate is divided according to the Rules of Intestacy.

This means:

Unmarried partners may receive nothing
Children or relatives may inherit in a way you didn’t intend
Family disputes can arise
Probate can take longer and become more stressful

In short, you lose control over what happens to everything you have worked for.

Learn more here: Rules of Intestacy Explained

What a Will Actually Does

A Will (or Last Will and Testament) is a legal document that sets out what happens to your estate when you die.

A properly written Will allows you to:

Choose who inherits your money, property and possessions
Appoint Executors to manage your estate
Appoint Guardians for children under 18
Leave specific gifts or charitable donations
Provide clear instructions to avoid confusion or disputes

Learn more here:
What to Think About When Making a Will

How to Start Making a Will

Many people delay making a Will because they don’t know where to begin.

A simple way to start is to think about:

Who you want to benefit
Who you trust to carry out your wishes
Whether you have children or dependants
What assets you own

From there, we help guide you through the legal structure and ensure everything is correctly written and valid.

Types of Wills

Not all Wills are the same, and choosing the right structure matters.

Common Types of Will include:

Simple Wills – for straightforward situations
Mirror Wills – commonly used by couples
Tailored Wills – for more complex personal wishes
Protective Wills – used for added control and protection

Choosing the wrong structure can lead to unintended outcomes.

If you’re unsure, you can find out more here with our Free 2-minute online assessment:
Planning Assessment

Legal Guardians for Children

If you have children under 18, your Will allows you to appoint legal Guardians.

This ensures your children are cared for by people you trust and there is clarity if both parents pass away because your wishes are legally recorded.

This is one of the most important decisions in any Will and without your choices recorded children can end up in foster care until Social Services decide where they should go.

Protecting Your Estate

For some families, a more advanced structure may be appropriate.

A Protective Will will include a Trust that will protect assets in the event of remarriage or divorce and enable care fee planning.

The right Will can control when and how beneficiaries inherit and by doing so protect assets for children or future generations

This is often useful in blended families or second marriages.

Wills and Probate

When someone dies, their estate usually goes through Probate before assets can be distributed.

This is the legal process of dealing with assets, debts and distribution and can take 6 - 9 months to obtain.

A well-written Will will help reduce delays,stress for family members and avoid disputes

Learn more here: Wills and Probate Explained

We provide Will Writing through our Protection Plans

The appropriate level depends on your circumstances.

Get Started

If you’re unsure what Type of Will you need, the easiest place to start is with a simple assessment of the protection you need for your family and your estate. By answering a few simple questions for us in our online assessment you'll get an inidication of the level fo planning that is right for you.

Start Your Assessment

Or contact us directly if you would prefer personal guidance.

Final Thoughts

Making a Will is not just about legal paperwork.

It’s about making things easier for your family, protecting your wishes and ensuring your estate is handled exactly as you intend.

The right Will depends on your circumstances, your family and your long-term intentions and understanding those options is the first step.

Which Type of Planning Do You Actually Need?

Take our Free, No Obligation Assessment - click HERE to get started

Drop us an email at enquiries@twplan.co.uk and tell us how we can help, book directly or just give us a call on 01822752055

Book Your Free Planning Appointment

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