Secure storage facility – All the wills are stored at a professional facility near Bath. The facility itself was once an underground WW2 bunker which has now been converted into a professional document storage facility that is guaranteed against fire and flooding damage. As you can imagine, a WW2 bunker is pretty secure by definition! In its second life, it is now professionally managed, temperature controlled and completely secure, so that everything contained within it is as safe as it can be. All documents are electronically registered so that retrieving a will for amendments or at the time of death is a quick and easy process.

Certainty Will Search – Every document that we store is registered with Certainty, which is the national will register and will search service. This means that our clients can have the peace of mind of knowing that any documents that are stored with us are also recorded on the UK’s most commonly used will search service. In the case that the family of the deceased doesn’t know where the will is located (which is quite common), a search of the Certainty database would identify us as the registered holder of the document.

Why make a will?

1. Make sure your money goes to the right people.

If you die without a will, any money you leave behind will be distributed by the rules of law, called the laws of intestacy. This might not work out the way you’d like – inheritance usually passes to your spouse or your closest living relative.

If you have no living relatives, all your money could even go to the state. You can name exactly who you want to inherit in your will.

2. Save your family additional stress.

If you don’t leave a will, the law decides how your estate should be divided – no matter how close you were with family members or what you may have promised them.

This may cause distress for the loved ones you leave behind. The process can also be more complex and require additional paperwork or legal advice.

3. Appoint a guardian for your children.

Writing a will not only lets you decide who gets what from your estate; it also gives you a say as to who should look after any dependants. If your children are under 18, you can appoint their legal guardians in your will. If you don’t, the decision could go to the family courts, and they may not choose what you’d like for your children.

4. Provide for the future of your children.

Make sure the money you leave to any dependants aged under 18 is used to bring your children up the way you’d have liked.

For example, you could allocate a certain amount each year to clothing or hobbies and set aside funds for further or higher education and for learning to drive and buying a car.

5. Leave an inheritance for your stepchildren.

Your stepchildren may have been a big part of your life or even be your only children, but the law states that only spouses or blood relatives can automatically inherit if there is no will.

If you want to provide for your stepchildren, you’ll need to include them in your will.

6. Protect your partner if you’re unmarried.

Unmarried partners aren’t entitled to anything from your estate unless specifically stated in your will-no matter how long you’ve been together. Writing a will ensures your partner will get their share.

7. Create a legal will if you’re recently married.

When you marry, your existing will automatically becomes invalid in England and Wales. According to the rules of intestacy, this means your estate could end up split between your new partner and children from a previous marriage, causing potential arguments.

In Scotland, on the other hand, prior wills are not automatically invalidated by marriage-so if you die, your new spouse may not inherit anything if your old will does not include them.

To divide up your estate in the way you think is best, you need to write a new will every time you marry.

8. Safeguard your family home.

If the family home is in your name, your unmarried partner and stepchildren aren’t automatically in line to inherit it if you die without a will – meaning they may lose their home. You can leave them a share in the property or a right to reside in the property.

9. Choose the right executors.

Choosing your executor helps them to get ready in advance and saves any additional surprises. You can choose the right person to carry out your final wishes, based on who is best suited to the task.