No — you don’t need a solicitor to make a will. At Harrison & Son Will Writing Service, we’re accredited by the Society of Will Writers, meaning we’re fully qualified to draft legally binding wills and estate plans. We offer the same professional protection and compliance without the high fees charged by solicitors. Our expert local will writers in Manchester guide you through the process clearly and compassionately.

Yes, you absolutely need a will. Without one, you have no legal control over who inherits your estate, who looks after your children, or how your assets are managed after your death. If you die without a valid will in place — known as dying intestate — your estate will be distributed according to strict intestacy laws, which often fail to reflect modern families or personal wishes. Unmarried partners, stepchildren, friends, or even charities you care about may receive nothing. Worse still, if you have minor children, the courts will decide who becomes their legal guardian, not you.

A professionally drafted will ensures your wishes are followed, your loved ones are protected, and your estate is handled quickly and efficiently.

At Harrison & Son Will Writing Service, we specialise in writing legally binding wills tailored to your personal circumstances. Whether you're a parent, a homeowner, part of a blended family, or simply want peace of mind, a will allows you to name beneficiaries, appoint guardians for your children, leave gifts or charitable legacies, and even plan for inheritance tax.

You can also include life interest trusts to protect your assets for vulnerable beneficiaries or to help shield your family home from care fee assessments. Writing a will isn’t just about dividing up what you leave behind — it’s about giving your family clarity, comfort, and security at a time when they need it most.

We typically complete wills within 7–10 working days following your consultation. For urgent situations — such as hospital stays, care home admissions, or serious illness — we offer an express turnaround within 24–48 hours, ensuring your wishes are legally documented without delay.

Every will is professionally drafted, reviewed with you for accuracy, and once approved, is printed on high-quality, archival-grade paper designed to last for generations. Your completed documents are then supplied in a premium estate planning presentation portfolio, making them easy to store, access, and pass on to your executors or family. This professional finish reflects the importance of your wishes — and ensures your legacy is preserved securely and respectfully.

Once you’ve taken the important step of creating your will with Harrison & Son Will Writing Service, the next critical decision is where to store it. Your original will is the only version that counts — so ensuring it is safe, secure, and accessible when needed is essential.

❗ Why Not Store Your Will at Home?

While it may seem convenient, keeping your will at home puts it at risk. Fires, floods, burglaries, accidental loss, or even simple misplacement during a house move can result in the will being lost or damaged beyond use. If your loved ones cannot find the will when you pass away, it can lead to costly delays, legal complications, or even your estate being treated as if no will exists at all.

✅ Why Store Your Will With Us?

At Harrison & Son, we offer secure legal document storage through a dedicated, fireproof, and confidential facility. This professional storage service is designed to give you complete peace of mind that your documents will be protected — and found — when they’re needed most.

Our storage service includes:

• 🔐 Secure physical storage of your original Will, LPAs, Trusts, property deeds, and more

• 📋 Registration with Certainty – The National Will Register (at no extra cost)

• 📬 Certificate of Safe Custody with 2 retrieval cards for you and your executors

• 📑 Paper copy of your will, plus digital scanning for secure archive purposes

• 📦 Storage of multiple legal documents for the same fixed cost

• 👁️‍🗨️ Confidential location known only to you and authorised individuals

🔍 What is the National Will Register?

We register every will we store with Certainty – The National Will Register, the UK’s leading will registration service. This allows your executors or beneficiaries to locate your will even if they are unaware one exists or don’t know where it’s kept. The register holds only the location of your will — not its content — and remains entirely confidential until after your death.

The National Will Register is one of the first places solicitors and probate professionals check when someone dies. Registration ensures your final wishes won’t be missed or overlooked.

📂 What Other Legal Documents Can Be Stored?

In addition to your will, you can securely store the following documents at no additional cost:

• Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs)

• Property Deeds & Land Registry documents

• Living Wills

• Letters of Wishes

• Trust Documents

• Tenancy Severance Deeds

• Life Insurance Policies

• Letters to Executors, Trustees, or Family

• Letters excluding individuals from your will

This gives your loved ones one secure place to find everything they need when the time comes.

💷 How Much Does Will Storage Cost?

Our fixed-cost annual storage service offers excellent value. You pay one annual fee — regardless of how many documents you store. The initial payment covers the first 12 months, and future renewals are made easy through a standing order. There’s no hassle, no risk, and no hidden charges.

For full pricing details or to start storing your will and documents today, contact us or call 0300 043 3913.

🛡️ Don’t Leave Your Legacy to Chance

Your will is only effective if it can be found. Ensure your loved ones can locate and use your will when it matters most — with our trusted legal document storage and registration service.

A will details what happens to your assets after you die. A trust (such as a Will Trust or Property Protection Trust) gives you more control — you can decide how and when beneficiaries receive inheritance, protect your home from care fees, or reduce Inheritance Tax (IHT). We specialise in setting up discretionary, life interest, and family trusts.

Potentially, yes. A properly drafted Protective Property Trust or Flexible Life Interest Trust can help ensure your share of the family home passes to your children and isn’t assessed for long-term care fees — depending on your situation. We’ll assess your needs and advise on the best solution.

Yes. While a will doesn’t remove tax, it allows you to structure your assets to use the Nil Rate Band, Residential Nil Rate Band, and trusts more effectively. With careful planning, you can minimise Inheritance Tax liabilities and preserve more of your estate for your family.

An LPA is a legal document that allows someone you trust to make decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity. We offer full LPA drafting and registration for:

• Property & Financial Affairs LPA (e.g. bills, banking, selling property)

• Health & Welfare LPA (e.g. medical treatment, care decisions) Everyone over 50 should consider an LPA as part of a complete estate plan.

Yes. We offer remote will writing consultations by phone or video call. This is ideal if you're based outside Manchester or prefer convenience. Your will is still professionally drafted, checked, and legally valid — with full guidance from an experienced estate planning attorney.

If you die without a will (called intestacy), your estate will be divided according to strict UK intestacy laws — not based on your personal wishes. This often means that unmarried partners, stepchildren, carers, or close friends receive nothing, even if they were a key part of your life. The law follows a fixed order of inheritance, which can create disputes, delays, and heartache for those you leave behind. In addition, the process of managing your estate — known as probate — becomes more complicated without a will. Without a named executor, your family must apply for a “grant of letters of administration,” which can take longer, cost more, and cause additional stress during an already difficult time. At Harrison & Son Will Writing Service, we make sure your estate plan clearly sets out who should handle your affairs, who inherits what, and how your estate should be distributed. By writing a will, you take control of the process, protect your loved ones, and ensure that probate is handled smoothly and efficiently.

A Letter of Wishes is a non-legally binding document that accompanies your will or trust, offering guidance to the people you’ve appointed — such as your executors, trustees, or guardians — about how you’d like your estate to be managed or distributed. While it doesn’t carry legal force like a will does, it helps ensure your personal wishes are clearly understood and respected, especially in situations where discretion is allowed. For example, you might use a Letter of Wishes to explain why you've left unequal gifts to children, who should receive personal items of sentimental value, how you’d like minor children to be raised, or how funds in a discretionary trust should be used. You can also include your preferences about funeral arrangements or donations. Because it’s flexible and confidential, a Letter of Wishes can be updated at any time without changing your will. At Harrison & Son Will Writing Service, we help clients write clear, compassionate Letters of Wishes that bring guidance and peace of mind to their loved ones.