Thinking about the future and discussing your plans with your loved ones can be hard. It may never seem like the right time to have such a difficult conversation. But you should consider the heartache and worry which can be caused when we don’t.

What’s more, arranging your Will and LPAs without the guidance and advice of a professional can be both overwhelming and complicated.

To help you plan for your future with as much ease as possible, Key offers a bespoke, personal service giving you the tools you need to make sure that you’re prepared... whatever the future may hold.

Having the correct legal documents in place and up to date helps to safeguard your wishes so that your estate is taken care of by those you trust and as you intended. At Key, we provide a professional service to give you the peace of mind that your requirements are clearly set out.

These services include

Arranging your Will
Incorporating Trusts within your Will, where applicable
Drawing up a Living Will
Putting together Lasting Powers of Attorney
Recommending a document security service to keep your legal paperwork safe until it is needed

Creating your legal documents is important. Carefully consider each of your loved ones and what you want to leave them, as well as thinking about what might happen in difficult medical situations.

To help you with the whole process our estate planners will guide you through these steps:

Advice - Speak to one of our qualified estate planners who will use their experience to help you thoroughly plan for whatever the future may hold. They will assess your personal situation and then advise you on which services you need. Remember, we will never sell you anything you don’t require!
Ask questions - We understand that tackling legal matters can be confusing, which is why when you speak to your estate planner your questions will be answered clearly and without jargon. Ask us anything and we’ll give you no nonsense answers
Understand your options - Discuss your thoughts with your estate planner. We will make sure we fully understand your intentions and will talk to you about all of the implications before you go ahead
Consider talking to your family - Some people like to discuss with the family, whilst others want to keep it private – this is entirely at your discretion
Fixing a price - Your estate planner will give a fixed fee price to draw up your legal paperwork. Here at Key, unlike many high street establishments, we don’t charge for any further help and advice, no matter how long it takes
Stipulating your wishes - Once you have clarified your wishes, your estate planner will take your instructions over the phone, whilst giving further advice where necessary
Creating your documents - Upon receiving your final instructions, we draw up your documents and clearly mark where they have to be signed, dated and witnessed. Your witnesses are usually friends or neighbours who are not mentioned in the Will or named as attorneys
Storage - Once your Will has been written, it needs to be kept safe. You can either keep the Will safe at home or storage can be arranged free of charge
Amendments - It’s important to keep your paperwork valid so if you need to amend or update your documents in the future, we can do this for a nominal fee (starting at £69 including VAT), as we already have your original instructions stored electronically

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Why do I need a Will and LPA?

Writing a Will is one of the most important documents you will make in your lifetime. Failing to make a Will means that you have no control over what happens to your estate. Your assets will be distributed according to the laws of intestacy, which may not be the way you planned.

If there comes a time in the future when you don’t have the mental capacity to make decisions, and you haven’t got a valid LPA it may be necessary for the Court of Protection to become involved. This can be a lengthy and costly process, and your appointed attorney may not be the person you would have chosen.

What you can expect from Key

Expert advice - our estate planners are experienced and fully qualified. They are also members of the Society of Will Writers
Honesty - we won’t recommend anything that isn’t necessary for you and your family
A personal service - you will deal with the same estate planner throughout the process and beyond
Attention to detail - we'll ask the right questions to ensure your wishes are fully documented and there's nothing forgotten
Care for your legal documents – we can organise safe storage

With Key you'll receive...

A hassle-free service
A recommendation for a Will, only if it's right for you
No nasty surprises or hidden costs
Independent customer feedback
Everything in plain English
Personal representatives
Technical experience you can trust
Security of your documents
Wills certified by The Society of Will Writers
Years of experience and care

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Estate planning is all about arranging your personal affairs in a manner that suits your wishes. Getting the correct documentation in place can feel like a daunting task, but Key are here to guide your through the entire process. Here are some answers to the most common questions that we get asked, answered without any jargon!

What happens if I don't have a Will?

If you die without a Will (intestate) your estate is automatically passed on to the appropriate person/s as defined according to the Laws of Intestacy.

What types of LPA are available?

A health and welfare power of attorney is there to act on your behalf should you become unable to communicate or mentally incapacitated. It covers aspects of your care such as your medical care and where you live.

A property and financial affairs power of attorney deals with your money and property, and can be used when you still have full mental capacity.

You can choose to set up just one type of LPA, but in order to be fully protected you will need both kinds.

What happens if I don't have an LPA?

Should you become unable to make decisions for yourself and you do not have an LPA, then the only way someone can take control of your property and financial affairs or health and welfare will be to go through the Court of Protection (CoP). This could make it difficult for your wishes to be carried out if you lose the capacity to express them for yourself - and even when family members are able to take control of your affairs, this process will cause them additional stress at a difficult time.

Are there any annual fees?

There are no annual fees with our estate planning service.

Can a beneficiary be an executor?

Yes, as long as they are aged 18 or above.

How long does the process take?

It normally takes between two to three weeks for your Will documents to be created, but we generally allow for a 28 day completion period. For an LPA, the typical turnaround time is eight weeks.

Are your estate planners qualified?

All of our Will writers are certified members of The Society of Will Writers. This means they are qualified to set up your Will in accordance with The Society's strict Code of Practice and with the appropriate training to ensure your wishes are correctly documented.

How many attorneys can I have?

You can choose to appoint more than one attorney. We recommend that you have at least two in place should anything happen to one of your attorneys.

What is the definition of beneficiary?

A beneficiary is someone who receives something in a Will; this could be a sum of money, some land, property or a particular item e.g. jewellery. This can be a spouse, relative, or friend as well as a charity or organisation.

Are the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) fees included?

Fees by the Office of the Public Guardian are charged separately and are dependent on your financial circumstances. For example, people on income support may be entitled to a discount or this service free of charge.

These pages give a general overview of the issues surrounding estate planning and are based on our understanding of the current law and tax regulation in England and Wales, which may be subject to change.

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