A no-obligation call to help you decide which Will is right for you

Before you do anything have a 20 minute, no obligation consultation with one of our experts, either over the phone or by video call. Available between 8am to 8pm on weekdays (or at weekends upon request), you can speak to one of our Estate Planning experts at a time that is convenient to you.

When you write a Will, you are not only deciding who receives what from your estate, you are also ensuring that your final wishes are secured and that your loved ones are protected.

Often, a standard Will is enough to incorporate basic wishes, but everybody’s needs are different. Our qualified consultants can help by providing expert advice tailored to your exact requirements and choices.

A Will ensures that:

• Somebody you trust is appointed to manage your estate
• Any young children are looked after by guardians you know and trust
• Your property can be shielded from any potential future creditors
• Your family and loved ones receive as much of your estate as possible
• You have total peace of mind in the knowledge that your final wishes are in order and your loved ones are cared for.

Traditionally, in order to write your Will, you would need to visit a practitioner’s office or, alternatively, have a home visit. Your face-to-face meeting would discuss your circumstances and what assets made up your estate and you would say what you would like to leave and to whom.

The impact of Covid-19 changed that. To overcome the rapidly-changing lockdown restrictions you can still access professional Estate Planning advice with a free 20 minute video call. You’ll still receive the same expert advice you would expect to receive from an in-home visit, tailored to your exact personal preferences at a time to suit you.

Are Video Call Wills Valid?

A video consultation is a very good way to maintain the personal service Just Wills & Legal Services offers, without the need for a home visit. In July 2020, temporary new legislation was introduced which enabled the witnessing of the signing of a Will or LPA over video, which up until that point was considered unenforceable.

The government website states:

The legislation recognises that:

An increasing number of people have sought to make Wills during the Covid 19 pandemic, but for people shielding or self-isolating it is extremely challenging to follow the normal legalities of making a Will – namely it being witnessed by two people. In response to this the law (the Wills Act 1837) will be amended to state that whilst this legislation is in force, the ‘presence’ of those making and witnessing Wills includes a virtual presence, via video-link, as an alternative to physical presence.

Wills witnessed over video will be deemed legal as long as the quality of the sound and video is “sufficient to see and hear what is happening at the time”.

The Will still needs to be witnessed via video by two witnesses who are not beneficiaries.

The new legislation will backdate to Wills witnessed via video since 31 January 2020 and will apply to Wills made up until 31 January 2022, although the timeframe may be shortened or extended as necessary.

The Ministry of Justice has said that the use of video technology to make Wills should remain a last resort and, where possible, people should make face-to-face Wills as normal.  However, at Just Wills & Legal Services we appreciate that some people’s circumstances still do not allow for an in-person meeting. We therefore offer a range of options and make recommendations as to the most appropriate way to sign your Will legally.