Legal 500 Leading Firm 2026 / The Time Best Law Firms 2026 / 40+ Years of Expert Legal Practice in London
Legal 500 Leading Firm 2026 / The Time Best Law Firms 2026 / 40+ Years of Expert Legal Practice in London
A properly prepared Will gives you control over what happens to your money, property and possessions after your death. Lewis Nedas Law's Wills solicitors advise individuals and families on making, reviewing and updating Wills, including complex estates, succession planning and Inheritance Tax considerations.
Call +44 20 7387 2032 for confidential advice or complete our online contact form to speak to a Wills solicitor in London.
Call +44 20 7387 2032 Get in TouchLewis Nedas Law has provided legal services for more than 40 years and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, SRA number 567461. The firm holds independent recognition as a Legal 500 Leading Firm 2026 and is included in The Times Best Law Firms 2026.
Our Wills, Trusts and Probate team advises clients on straightforward and complex private client matters, including drafting Wills and codicils, estate and succession planning, Inheritance Tax planning, probate, high-value estates and cross-border estate administration.
Mary is a Solicitor of England and Wales with extensive private client experience gained at Legal 500 and top 200 law firms. Her practice includes Wills, codicils, probate, estate administration, Inheritance Tax planning, Deeds of Variation and cross-border estates.
A Will lets you record how you want your estate to be dealt with after your death. It can name the people or organisations you wish to benefit, appoint executors to administer your estate and address who should care for children under 18.
If you die without a valid Will, you are said to have died intestate. Your estate will then be distributed under the intestacy rules applying in England and Wales. Those rules may produce a different result from the one you would have chosen. This can be particularly relevant for unmarried couples, blended families and people who wish to leave assets to friends, charities or other beneficiaries.
Making a Will can give your family clearer instructions and reduce uncertainty about your wishes.
Every estate is different, but a Will commonly addresses:
Who should act as your executor
Who should inherit your estate
Specific gifts of money or possessions
Gifts to charities
What should happen to the remainder of your estate
Who should care for children under 18
What happens if a beneficiary dies before you
Trust arrangements where appropriate
A Will does not need to contain an inventory of everything you own. Assets and their values can change considerably during your lifetime. Your solicitor can advise on wording that reflects the nature of your estate and your intentions.
There are strict requirements for executing a valid Will in England and Wales. For most Wills, the person making the Will must:
Be aged 18 or over
Make the Will voluntarily
Be of sound mind
Put the Will in writing
Sign it in the presence of two witnesses aged 18 or over
Have both witnesses sign the Will in the person's presence
The person making the Will and the witnesses must sign the same document.
Choosing witnesses requires care. A gift made to a witness, or to that witness's spouse or civil partner, will normally fail, so independent witnesses are preferable.
Questions about mental capacity, undue influence or whether the person understood and approved the contents of a Will can become significant if the Will is later disputed. Solicitor-led Will preparation can create a clearer record of the circumstances in which the Will was prepared and signed.
Some estates require greater care when preparing a Will. Legal advice may be particularly relevant if:
You own a business or shares in a business
You own property outside the UK
Your permanent home is outside the UK
You have children from an earlier relationship
You have a spouse, civil partner or former partner
You live with a partner but are not married or in a civil partnership
You wish to provide for someone who needs ongoing support
You expect your Will may be disputed
Your estate has significant Inheritance Tax considerations
You want to establish a trust through your Will
For unmarried couples, making a Will can be particularly significant. There is no general concept of "common law marriage" in England and Wales giving cohabiting partners the same inheritance rights as spouses or civil partners.
An executor is responsible for administering your estate after your death. Their responsibilities may include identifying and valuing assets, establishing debts and liabilities, dealing with the estate's tax position, applying for a Grant of Probate where required, paying liabilities and distributing the estate according to the Will.
You can appoint one or more executors. Depending on your circumstances, an executor might be a family member, trusted friend or professional.
The role can carry significant responsibilities, particularly where an estate contains property, investments, business interests, overseas assets or complex family arrangements. Our solicitors can explain what the role involves when you are deciding whom to appoint.
Your Will should reflect your current circumstances rather than the position that existed many years ago. A review may be sensible following a major life event, such as:
Marriage or entering a civil partnership
Separation or divorce
The birth or adoption of a child
Buying or selling significant property
A major change in the value of your estate
The death of an executor or beneficiary
Starting or selling a business
Changes to your family relationships
Marriage or the formation of a civil partnership will usually revoke an existing Will, subject to limited exceptions, such as certain Wills made in contemplation of that marriage or civil partnership.
Changes to a signed Will should not simply be handwritten onto the original document. A formal codicil can be used for certain amendments and must meet the relevant signing and witnessing requirements. For substantial changes, preparing a new Will may be more appropriate.
A Will can form part of wider estate and succession planning. Inheritance Tax is a complex area and the position can depend on the value and composition of an estate, lifetime gifts, property ownership, available exemptions and reliefs, family circumstances and the beneficiaries involved.
Our private client solicitors can review the relevant circumstances and discuss how your Will interacts with your wider estate planning.
Tax legislation, thresholds and reliefs can change. Any Inheritance Tax advice should be based on the rules applying to your circumstances at the relevant time.
Lewis Nedas Law was established in 1984 and has more than four decades of legal practice behind it.
The firm's Legal 500 Leading Firm status provides independent recognition for clients considering an established London law firm.
Lewis Nedas Law is included in The Times Best Law Firms 2026.
Our team advises on Wills, probate, estate administration, Inheritance Tax planning, LPAs, Deeds of Variation and complex estate matters.
Lewis Nedas Law Limited is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA number 567461.
Our head office is at 24 Camden High Street, Camden, London, NW1 0JH.
Our published fees include:
| Service | Fee | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Individual Will | £525 | £105 |
| Basic Mirror Wills | £900 | £180 |
| Basic LPA | £750 | £150 |
| Health and Welfare LPA | £425 | £95 |
| Property and Financial Affairs LPA | £425 | £95 |
| Both LPAs | £795 | £159 |
| Both LPAs for partners | £1,550 | £310 |
Fees for non-standard or complex Wills require further discussion. Other charges may apply depending on the work required. We recommend confirming the applicable fee, VAT and any third-party charges with the firm before instructing us. Further information on Lasting Powers of Attorney.
Your estate is distributed under the intestacy rules. The people who inherit under those rules may differ from those you would have chosen. Unmarried partners, for example, have no automatic right to inherit under intestacy.
Yes, but it must meet strict legal requirements to be valid. Professional advice is particularly valuable where your estate or family circumstances are complex, or where there is any risk the Will could later be challenged.
Two adults can witness your signature. A gift to a witness or their spouse or civil partner will normally fail, so independent witnesses who are not beneficiaries are preferable.
Marriage or civil partnership will usually revoke an earlier Will. Limited exceptions apply, including certain Wills made in contemplation of marriage. It is advisable to review your Will after any significant change in family circumstances.
GOV.UK recommends reviewing a Will every five years and after major life changes, such as marriage, divorce, having a child or moving home. Our solicitors can advise on whether your existing Will reflects your current circumstances.
Making a Will can provide greater certainty about how your estate should be dealt with and who should benefit after your death. Our London Wills solicitors can advise on straightforward Wills, complex family arrangements, estate planning, Inheritance Tax considerations and changes to an existing Will.
To discuss your circumstances with Lewis Nedas Law, call +44 20 7387 2032 or complete the firm's online contact form to arrange a confidential consultation.
Call +44 20 7387 2032 Arrange a ConsultationThis page provides general information about Wills and succession law in England and Wales. It does not constitute legal or tax advice. Legal outcomes depend on individual circumstances and the law applying at the relevant time.
