Wills · Fixed fee, with VAT
Mirror wills (a couple)
Two matching wills for a couple with the same wishes. One set of meetings and one fee, so it costs less than two single wills.
- Who it is for
- For a couple
- Typical timescale
- 2 to 3 weeks
- Who does the work
- Aaron Johnson, Consultant Solicitor and TEP, personally. No hand-offs.
What it costs
The fee, and the costs that are not the fee.
Third-party costs, called disbursements, are paid to the court, the Office of the Public Guardian, HM Land Registry or another body. They are passed on at cost and shown here so there is nothing to discover later.
See every fee on one page.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fee | £550+ VAT(£660 inc. VAT) |
No third-party costs are listed for this service.
What happens, in order
From first call to finish.
- How long it takes
- 2 to 3 weeks
Aaron does each step himself. If a step takes longer than expected, that is his cost, not yours.
Free 15-minute call
Aaron listens to what you both want and explains how mirror wills work.
Joint meeting
Aaron meets both of you to go through your wishes, guardians for children and what happens if things change.
Drafting both wills
Aaron drafts two wills that mirror each other, one in each of your names.
Review
Aaron goes through both documents with you to make sure every detail is right.
Signing
Both wills are signed and witnessed together, with Aaron supervising so they are valid.
Included and not included
What the fee covers, and what it does not.
Published under the SRA Transparency Rules. Anything outside the fee is quoted separately before it is done.
- Included
- Instructions from both of you, two wills that mirror each other, supervised signing.
- Not included
- A trust in the wills, tax advice, letters of wishes, severing a joint tenancy and foreign assets are separate items.
What is included: The fixed fee covers taking instructions from both of you, drafting two mirror wills and supervising the signing of both.
What is not included: Tax advice, a trust in the wills, letters of wishes, statements excluding a beneficiary, capacity assessments, liaising with third parties, foreign assets and severing a joint tenancy. Each is quoted separately as a fixed fee if you need it.
VAT and other costs: VAT at 20 percent is added to the fee. There are no court or registration fees for a will. From first meeting to signing usually takes 2 to 3 weeks.
Aaron’s promise
What you can hold him to.
- Aaron handles your matter from start to finish
- The fee is fixed and confirmed before work starts
- Both wills written in plain English you can both understand
- Home visits across Bridlington and East Yorkshire
- A free 15-minute call, with no obligation
In more detail
Two wills, one conversation
Mirror wills are for couples who share the same wishes, usually leaving everything to each other first and then to the children. Aaron drafts two separate wills that match each other. Each of you can change your own will later.
They suit married couples, civil partners and long-term partners with a straightforward estate. If you have children from an earlier relationship, or want to protect a share of the home, Aaron may recommend wills with a trust in them instead, and will explain why at the first meeting.
One set of meetings, one fee, two wills. Home visits are available across East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire.
Who this is for
- Married couples or civil partners with the same wishes
- Long-term partners who want matching wills
- Couples with a straightforward estate and the same beneficiaries
- Parents who want to appoint the same guardians for children under 18
What the fixed fee includes
- A joint meeting with both of you to understand your shared wishes
- Two wills drafted by Aaron, each in your own name
- A review meeting where Aaron goes through both documents with you
- Supervised signing and witnessing of both wills
- Advice on appointing guardians for any children under 18
- Less than two single wills cost on their own
What is not included
The fixed fee covers two straightforward mirror wills. If you need any of the following, Aaron will discuss it with you and agree a separate fixed fee before any extra work starts:
- Letter of wishes (per will): guiding your executors on personal items, funeral wishes or the reasons behind your decisions
- Statement excluding a beneficiary (per will): a formal record that helps defend the will against a challenge
- Capacity assessment (per person): where there is any doubt about mental capacity
- Liaising with third parties: working with your financial adviser or accountant
- Inheritance tax planning: if your combined estate may be over the tax-free allowances, the inheritance tax check can be added to the wills (see the fees page)
- Second or additional properties: extra drafting for more than one property
- Business, commercial or overseas assets: these may need wills with a trust in them
- Checking the property deeds: to see whether your home is held as joint tenants or tenants in common. Severing the joint tenancy, so that each of you owns a distinct share, is a separate small item.
Most couples need none of these. If you do, Aaron explains the options and you always know the cost before any work begins.
What happens if you do nothing
If either of you dies without a will, the intestacy rules apply to that estate, whatever the other partner's will says. An unmarried partner receives nothing under those rules. A married partner may have to share the estate with the children. Mirror wills protect you both.
Why Safe Harbour
- Aaron handles your matter from start to finish. It is never passed to a junior or a paralegal.
- Fixed fees, confirmed before work starts. No hourly rates.
- Home visits across Bridlington and East Yorkshire. Aaron comes to you.
- Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, with professional indemnity insurance.
You may also need
- Wills with a trust in them (a couple): to keep the first partner's share of the home for the children if the survivor remarries or needs care
- Lasting powers of attorney: wills only work after death. LPAs let someone you trust manage money and care decisions if either of you loses capacity. Doing them with your wills takes a fixed amount off the fee, once for the whole matter.
Priced lower together
A will and powers of attorney cost less done together.
Your wills cost £150 less when your powers of attorney are done at the same time, because the meetings, identity checks and signing happen once.
Done together: £150 off when powers of attorney are done with a will, once, however many documents are made. Planning items, trust administration and probate are never discounted. Third-party costs are unchanged.
- Wills and both powers of attorney, for a couple
The plan Aaron recommends most often.
Includes
- Mirror wills£550
- Both powers of attorney, for both of you£1,400
- Done together−£150
£1,800+ VAT(£2,160 inc. VAT)Bought separately £1,950 + VAT.
Plus third-party costs, at cost.
- Wills for a couple near the inheritance tax threshold
Mirror wills with the inheritance tax check, at a fixed fee.
Includes
£1,000+ VAT(£1,200 inc. VAT)
Other wills fees.
About wills- Standard will
For one person · 2 to 3 weeks
Taking your instructions, drafting the will in plain English, supervising the signing.
No third-party costs.
£350+ VAT(£420 inc. VAT) - Will with a trust
For one person · 3 to 4 weeks
Instructions, a will incorporating the right trust for your situation, a letter of wishes, supervised signing and a trustee briefing.
Plus Land Registry official copies £7.
£650+ VAT(£780 inc. VAT) - Wills with a trust
For a couple · 3 to 4 weeks
Instructions from both of you, two wills incorporating a life interest or protective trust that ring-fences the first to die's share, letters of wishes, supervised signing and a trustee briefing.
Plus Land Registry official copies £7.
£950+ VAT(£1,140 inc. VAT) - Will with a discretionary trust
For one person · 3 to 4 weeks
Instructions, a will containing a discretionary trust, a letter of wishes for the trustees, written guidance on how the trust is run and how it sits alongside means-tested benefits, supervised signing and a trustee briefing.
No third-party costs.
£850+ VAT(£1,020 inc. VAT) - Wills with a discretionary trust
For a couple · 3 to 4 weeks
Instructions from both of you, two wills each containing a discretionary trust, letters of wishes for the trustees, written guidance on how the trust is run and how it sits alongside means-tested benefits, supervised signing and a trustee briefing.
No third-party costs.
£1,250+ VAT(£1,500 inc. VAT)
Next step
Four ways to start. Take the one you are comfortable with.
Or call 01262 310 850. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.
- 01No commitmentFind your plan and price
Sixty seconds of questions that end on your plan and a fixed fee, with VAT. No call needed.
- 02Low commitmentDownload the instruction form
A fillable PDF. Type into it, save it and email it back, or print it.
- 03A conversationBook a 15-minute call
15 minutes with Aaron, by phone or video, at no charge. Appointments are usually available within a few working days, including Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and home visits across East and North Yorkshire.
- 04Ready to goStart my matter
Give Aaron the details he needs and he confirms the fixed fee in writing before any work starts.