Wills and lasting powers of attorney in West Hampstead, London
Making or updating a will, and choosing who can make decisions for you through a lasting power of attorney.
Overview
We prepare wills and lasting powers of attorney for individuals and couples across London and the rest of England and Wales, and advise on estate planning.
If you are dealing with the estate of someone who has died, please see our probate and estates page.
What we do
Wills
We prepare wills that set out who should receive your estate and who should deal with it. If you are a parent with parental responsibility for a child under 18, your will can also appoint a guardian for the child. We also review and update existing wills when circumstances change.
Mirror wills
Matching wills for a couple, usually leaving everything to each other and then to the same people.
Lasting powers of attorney (LPAs)
We advise on and prepare lasting powers of attorney, for property and financial affairs and for health and welfare, which let you choose who can make decisions on your behalf. A lasting power of attorney must be registered with the Office of the Public Guardian before it can be used.
Estate planning, trusts and inheritance tax
We look at what you own, where it is held and who you want to provide for, and advise on trusts and on how inheritance tax may apply to your estate. This includes cross-border estate planning for clients with assets or family outside England and Wales, where advice on the law of another country may also be needed.
Fees
A standard will for one person costs £450 plus VAT (£540 including VAT). A lasting power of attorney costs £550 plus VAT (£660 including VAT) per LPA, plus disbursements, including the Office of the Public Guardian's registration fee of £92 per LPA (no VAT).
If you need more than a standard will, we confirm the fee in writing before we start.
Timescale
A will or LPA is usually ready to sign within 2 to 4 weeks of your instructions. The Office of the Public Guardian then registers an LPA, which it says takes 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes in the application.
How to start
Please call or email us with a short outline of your matter. Before we begin, we confirm the scope of the work and our fee in writing.
We can meet you at our office, by video call or by phone.
Need a will or a lasting power of attorney?
Monday to Friday, 09:30 - 17:30. West Hampstead, London NW6.
We respond to all enquiries within one business day.