Why should I use Strong Wills?

There are a lot of DIY and online Will kits on the market. These are cheap to buy but you won’t get any advice on content, so you may not end up with the Will that best suits your circumstances. It is also imperative to draft, sign and witness a Will correctly, as failure to do so can invalidate the Will, a fact that might not be discovered until it is too late.

What do you charge?

This will depend on the complexity of the Will, for example whether any trusts are needed or any additional instruction is required. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

What are your hours of operation?

Appointments take place in your own home at a time that suits you best. We can arrange daytime, evening and weekend appointments, dependant on location and availability.

What areas do you cover?

We are happy to travel to locations in Essex, Hertfordshire, London and other locations within 25 miles of our head office in Loughton, Essex. If you live outside of this radius, it may be possible to arrange a virtual appointment via Skype or FaceTime.

Can you carry out virtual appointments?

We are happy to conduct appointments via Skype and FaceTime.

Who can act as witnesses when the Wills are signed?

At the signing, you will need two independent witnesses present, who will also need to sign the Will. Neither of these witnesses can be under 18, be a potential beneficiary of the Will that they are signing or be married to a potential beneficiary.

Will my partner (or ex-partner) automatically become guardian of our children if I die whilst they are minors?

This will depend on whether your partner (or ex-partner) has parental responsibility for the child. The child’s birth mother always has parental responsibility. The child’s father only has parental responsibility if he was married to the birth mother at the time of the birth (or subsequently marries her); or if he was awarded parental responsibility through a parental responsibility agreement with the birth mother or through a court order; or if the child was born after 1st December 2003 and he is named on the child’s birth certificate.

Unmarried fathers of children born before 1st December 2003 do not therefore have automatic parental responsibility. If the birth mother wants the natural father to look after their child after her death, she must appoint the father as guardian in her Will.

In the event that the child’s mother wants to appoint someone other than the natural father as her child’s guardian in her Will and this is disputed by the child’s father, it will be for the Family Court to decide, taking into account the child’s welfare and best interests.