Include the people you want to manage your estate, known as your executors. These are the individuals responsible for carrying out your wishes, settling debts, and distributing assets. You may choose professionals such as accountants or solicitors or appoint trusted family members or friends. Consider their reliability, organisational skills, and willingness to act. It is essential to select responsible adults who can handle legal and financial duties. You can name more than one executor and also include a substitute in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to act when the time comes. Review your choices regularly as circumstances change.
Include any guardianship requests for children in your Will. This allows you to name who you would like to care for them if something happens to you. It’s important to understand that this does not override parental responsibility, especially where another parent or guardian is still living and legally recognised. Instead, it acts as a clear statement of your wishes, which the courts can take into account if a decision is needed. Adding a guardianship clause can provide guidance, reassurance, and help avoid uncertainty or disputes about who should look after your children
Include instructions for specific sentimental items you’d like to leave to certain people. These might be things like jewellery, photographs, family heirlooms, or personal keepsakes that carry emotional value rather than significant financial worth. Clearly naming both the item and the person you wish to receive it can help avoid confusion or disagreements later on.
Include details of any money you’d like to leave to friends, family, or even charities. You can choose to give fixed cash amounts. Being clear about who should receive what helps avoid confusion and ensures your wishes are followed. If you plan to leave money to a charity, include its full name and registered details to avoid any mix-ups.
Include your funeral wishes in your Will to give guidance on how you’d like things to be handled. This can cover preferences such as burial or cremation, the type of service, music, or any personal touches you’d like included. It’s important to note that funeral wishes are not legally binding, so they don’t have to be followed, but they do provide helpful direction for your loved ones at a difficult time. Setting these out is a good opportunity to think about how you’d like your funeral to go and can make decision-making easier for those arranging it.
Include age provisions for your beneficiaries, especially if they are under 18. This allows you to decide at what age they should receive their inheritance, rather than it being given automatically at adulthood. For example, you may prefer them to inherit at 21 or 25, when they are more financially mature. In the meantime, your executors or trustees can manage the funds on their behalf and use them for things like education or living costs. Setting clear age provisions helps protect young beneficiaries and ensures the money is used in a way that supports their future.
Make sure your Will gives your attorneys and executors the right legal and administrative powers to manage your estate properly. It needs to be legally valid, meaning it’s signed and prepared in line with the Wills Act 1837. Adding clear, practical clauses can help your executors handle things smoothly, from paying debts to distributing your assets. Without these, the process can become more complicated than it needs to be. Getting help from professionals, like Andrew Isaacs Law, can ensure your Will is both valid and easy for your executors to work with.
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Article dated: 02.04.2026
Bethany is our Wills & Probate Paralegal based at our Melton Mowbray Office.
She has an impressive law background after achieving an Honours Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Beginning her career as a Litigation Paralegal in the Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia, Bethany has moved to th United Kingdom to become admitted as a Solicitor.
Outside of work, Bethany enjoys walking through the countryside with her dog as well as horse riding.
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