Why You Should Make a Will Bristol

Creating a will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and ensure your wishes are followed. 2025 is a particularly important year due to upcoming legal reforms that could impact how wills are created and interpreted in the UK.

Without a valid will, your estate is handled under the rules of intestacy, which often don't align with your personal wishes. This can leave unmarried partners, stepchildren, or close friends with nothing. Shockingly, nearly 50% of UK adults haven't a will, and 1 in 10 have started but never completed the process.

How to Make a Will Bristol: Step-by-Step

This involves three clear steps:

  • Initial Consultation - Meet with a professional Bristol will writer to discuss your finances, property, and beneficiaries.
  • Will Drafting - Your chosen professional will draft a legally compliant document that reflects your specific instructions and preferences.
  • Signing and Witnessing - Once approved, the will must be signed in front of two witnesses to become legally binding.

Local firms such as Barcan+Kirby and Rose & Trust offer affordable, fixed-fee services. Prices in Bristol typically start at £90 for a single will and £130 for mirror wills for couples.

Legal Changes Affecting Those Who Make a Will Bristol in 2025

In 2025, the Law Commission is expected to publish significant reforms to UK wills law, which include

  • Electronic Wills: Potential legal recognition of digital wills.
  • Capacity Updates: New rules on how mental capacity is assessed.
  • Age Changes: Lowering the minimum age to create a will from 18 to 16.
  • Marriage & Wills: Reassessing whether marriage should automatically cancel an existing will—a move designed to prevent coercion or predatory marriages.

These changes aim to modernize and simplify the process while ensuring protection for vulnerable individuals.

Keep Updated

Even after completing the process, it's important to review it every five years or after life changes like marriage, divorce, or having children. Small updates can be made using a codicil, but significant changes might require a new will.

Free Will Services Bristol

Several local and national initiatives can help Bristol residents for free:

  • Free Wills Month (March & October): People aged 55+ can create or amend a simple will at no cost through participating solicitors.
  • Update Your Will Week (March 3–9): A national campaign encouraging everyone to review and revise their wills regularly.

Final Thoughts on Why to Make a Will Bristol

If you've been putting off writing your will, now is the perfect time to act. Whether you're starting from scratch or updating an old document, a Will can ensure your estate is handled exactly how you wish. With legal reforms on the horizon, there's never been a better time to speak with a local expert and take control of your legacy. Contact us today on 0117 369 1969 and we will be happy to assist further. Alternatively if you prefer you can request a free consultation on our home page at www.rosetrust.co.uk, or simply email us at info@rosetrust.co.uk.