UK & Cypriot Wills
Will Writing
When using our UK or Cyprus Will service you can expect a friendly initial consultation which on average lasts around an hour and includes:
Free review of any Will you may already have in place
Plus free expert advice on your personal situation
Advice on which documents we believe are relevant to you
"Wayne and Beth were excellent in their service and knowhow."
Meeting You
We love meeting our clients face to face in our welcoming office in Kissonerga but if you require, we would be more than happy to visit you at your home or other safe space. We also have the facilities to conduct online meetings. Whatever suits your needs.
We aim to have your Wills signed within two weeks of your initial consultation. However, we are capable of drafting Wills sooner if needed, with no extra charge.
"We would like to thank Beth and her colleagues at Maplebrook Services for their professional and extensive knowledge of the Cypriot/English law with regards to our Wills. Giving us peace of mind. We highly recommend Maplebrook Services."
Ex-pat Estate Planning Advice from Wayne Barnett on Faros TV
Wayne regularly shares free information and advice via printed local publications. For more information as well as other news and updates, please visit and follow the Maplebrook Services Facebook Page using the button below.
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Will FAQs and Information
What Exactly is a Will?
A Will is a legal document that allows you to state what should happen to your assets (your money, property, investments and possessions) as well as your young children after you have passed away. There are different types of Will available, and they each suit different needs. Is the will just for you or you and your partner? A basic Will for a single person is known as a single Will and is best for people who want to record their own individual wishes. If your wishes are very similar to someone else's (typically your partner or spouse) then you may want to make standard mirror Wills together. Alternatively there are various Trust Wills available. These may be more suitable if, for example, you want to provide for your partner but also have children from a previous relationship. A Trust Will can also help to protect your estate against care home fees, or it can be used to protect inheritance if a beneficiaries is unable to manage their finances. By making a Will you can: • appoint people you trust to look after your children under 18 years (called guardians) • appoint people you trust to carry out the terms of your will (called executors) • name the people or charities you want to benefit from your estate (called beneficiaries) • leave gifts of specific items or fixed sums of money (called legacies) • create trusts to help protect your assets for future generations, protect against residential care costs or help vulnerable or disabled beneficiaries • state your funeral wishes A Will is one of the most important legal documents you will ever sign. If you die without a valid Will in England or Wales the law can decide who has responsibility for children under 18 and who receives your money, property, cars, pets and all your other belongings. Your Will deals with your belongings (such as your property, bank accounts and personal possessions) that you own at the time of your death, not at the time you write your Will. So even if you don't have much to leave now, your financial situation could change significantly in the future, particularly if you expect to have paid off your mortgage or are likely to receive an inheritance at some point. Making a Will clarifies your wishes and enables you to give your loved ones financial protection after you die. If you are a couple with similar wishes you may want to make mirror Wills, which are separate Wills that mirror one another, with each person leaving their assets to each other or the same beneficiaries.
There is no Such Thing as Writing a Standard Will
There is only one of you and your Will is personal to your circumstances, your wishes and your assets. When making a Will you need to consider questions such as: • who will look after your children? • what will happen to your home? • what will happen to your pets? • will Inheritance Tax (IHT) be payable on your estate if domiciled in the UK? These are just a few of the points we'll cover with you as part of our Will Writing service. Have you got a question about making a Will? You can get free initial guidance with our Will Writing service, so please feel free to get in touch.
How to Make a Will
Many people assume that making a Will is complicated, but with the right advice and a specialist Will Writer to help you every step of the way, we make the Will writing process easy. Before you start to think about how to make a Will, there are some decisions that you’re going to need to make. These include: • which type of will you want to make • who you'd like to inherit from you • who you'd like to look after your children (if they're under 18) • whether you'd like to leave anything to charity • who you'd like to deal with your estate after you die You can either have made these decisions before you start to make your Will or you can discuss your thoughts with your Will writer at your appointment. Once you’ve decided, you’ll need to have certain information to hand, including the names and addresses of anyone you're naming in your Will. When you’re ready to start the process of making a Will, you can speak to our Will writing team to ask any initial questions and start the process of making your Will.
Do You do Home Visits?
Yes, we can visit you if you are unable to attend our office in Kissonerga. We believe in meeting people face to face even if this is by using technology such as Zoom, Facetime, WhatsApp etc. We are also able to see people in hospital if required.
How Much Does it Cost?
Our Wills are fixed price and in our opinion inexpensive. For example, two Cypriot Wills for a couple could be as little as €350 + VAT in total. A single Will is even cheaper.
How Long Does it Take to Write a Will?
If urgently required, a simple Will can be prepared and signed within a day. Normally, after a first meeting, a draft Will is available within 2/3 days and once clients have considered, and possibly amended their initial requirement, their Will is available for signature a couple of days later.
What Types of Gifts Can I Include in My Will?
When you're writing your Will, there are a number of ways you can divide your estate: • a fixed sum of money (such as £5,000 to your niece) is called a pecuniary bequest • a specific item (such as a family heirloom or piece of jewellery) is called a specific bequest • a percentage of your estate (after everything else has been paid off) is called a residuary bequest
Can an Executor of a Will Also be a Beneficiary?
Yes they can. There is no reason why any family member, friend or anyone else benefiting from your Will cannot be an executor, as long as they are over 18. Perhaps a more important question to ask is, are they willing and able to be an executor? It's worth having this conversation with them first if you're unsure.
Do I Need a Will if I Don't Own a House?
It's a common belief that it's only worthwhile making a Will if you own your own home, or other significant assets. But this isn't the case because a Will deals with far more than just property ownership.
What if I Don't Have Anything to Leave?
Virtually everyone has something to leave behind even if it’s just their personal possessions. However, even if you may not have much money or property now, that doesn’t mean that you will not have more to leave in the future. Do you play the lottery? Are you likely to receive an inheritance from a relative? As no one really knows when they are likely to die or how much they will own, the safest course of action is to write a Will so your wishes are clear.
Tips for Writing a Will if You Have Young Children
The first thing to consider is who you would choose to look after your children if you die. If you currently have parental responsibility over your children and they are under 18 years old, then you can appoint a guardian for your children in your Will. This appointment only takes effect if there is no one else with parental responsibility over your children when you die. You can also include your children as beneficiaries in your Will even if they are young. You should decide at what age you would like your children to access their inheritance (often 18, 21 or 25). While the child is under that age, their inheritance will be held in a trust and managed on their behalf by people called trustees, who can also be appointed in your Will.
Does a Common Law Wife Have the Same Rights as a Wife?
Some unmarried couples are under the mistaken belief that they are 'common law' husband and wife and therefore upon relationship breakdown they will have the same or similar rights to a married couple upon divorce. This is a myth and there is no such thing as a 'common law' spouse.
Can I Include Funeral Wishes in My Will?
Absolutely, you can go into as much detail as you like but bear in mind that this particular aspect of your Will is just an expression of a wish and is not legally binding on your executors.
Making a Will and Mental Capacity
To make a Will, you have to fully understand what you are doing and its implications. This is known as having mental capacity. You need to have capacity to understand what you are doing at the time the will is made and also at the time it is signed in the presence of two witnesses. There are four things that must exist at the same time to prove testamentary capacity. A person must: • understand that the document will deal with the distribution of their estate when they die • understand what's in their estate (this doesn’t mean every individual asset and liability, or their exact values but there must be a general awareness) • understand if there are people who could have a moral claim on their estate, regardless of whether that person is included as a beneficiary in their will • not be suffering from a 'disorder of the mind' One way to help prove testamentary capacity is to have your Will professionally written. A professional service should ensure that an assessment of capacity takes place and this should be recorded on file for future reference.
Can Any of My Beneficiaries be a Witness When I am Making My Will?
No. A beneficiary in your Will should not be a witness to you signing it. The spouse or civil partner of the beneficiary should not be a witness either. If they do witness your Will, their gift could fail.
What Does an Executor Do?
An executor is the person who carries out the instructions in your Will, such as selling your property and ensuring that the correct amount of tax is paid on your estate. On your death, the executor must apply for probate to get legal permission to administer your estate. You name executors in your Will, and they can be among the beneficiaries. You can have up to four executors, which can be useful if you want different people for different tasks, such as family matters and sorting out taxes.
Can I Nominate Maplebrook Services Ltd to be My Executor?
Yes you can. Maplebrook Services Ltd offers a Professional Executor Service. This is a popular option with people who don't want or don’t have their loved ones to deal with all the legal and financial responsibilities of probate after they're gone. There is no charge to name Maplebrook Services Ltd as an executor in your Will. If we do act as executor after you die, there is a fixed fee cost which is agreed with your executor before any work is carried out.
Where Should I Store My Will?
Your Will should be stored somewhere safe, where your executors know to find it. When you write a Will with us, we can securely store the original Will for you for the rest of your life. Alternatively, you can choose to store your Will yourself. In Cyprus, your Cyprus Will can be stored in the courts. However, this is not a legal requirement. We can discuss the implications of this further in your free review. If your Will is held by Maplebrook Services Ltd then your executor will need to contact us to inform us that you have passed away. We can then arrange to release your original Will from our secure storage facility. We will confirm the identity of the executor and offer free help and guidance to make sure they know their responsibilities. We can also offer our professional assistance if needed.
Can My Will be Challenged?
Yes - all Wills can be challenged. The real question is 'can my will be successfully challenged?' If your Will includes your nearest relatives and dependents such as your husband, wife or civil partner and your children, there is little reason why your Will should be challenged. But, if you exclude someone who might expect to benefit from your Will, or there is a suggestion that you do not have mental capacity or have been influenced or coerced whilst making your Will, then there is a real possibility your will could be challenged. You can reduce the risk of a successful challenge by getting your Will professionally drafted with the help of a Will Writing specialist. A properly drafted Will is more likely to hold up to any future challenge. Talking to your family and loved ones about your Will is also important, particularly if you are going to exclude them. This prevents questions about your motivation after you've died. Alternatively, you could write a letter to your executors which sets out the reasons why you've excluded a particular person from the Will. This is called a Letter of Wishes and it can be stored with your Will. These can be prepared with your Will at no extra cost.
What Does Undue Influence Mean in Will Writing?
Undue influence refers to an individual being influenced by another person to make a Will or amend their existing Will in a way that does not reflect their true wishes, usually for that person's benefit. Typical examples of undue influence include making a Will under force, fear or threat from another person. If someone has lied or been deceitful to influence your choices in your will, this could also be undue influence. If your Will contains an unexpected gift or contradicts your previously expressed wishes, then usually it's a good idea to take measures to reduce the risk of it being challenged on the grounds of undue influence after you die. At Maplebrook Services Ltd, our Will Writers carry out checks to ensure you're not acting under the undue influence of someone else. These checks will be recorded and can be called upon if your Will is ever challenged in the future.
Our Will Writing Service Makes the Process Easy
Making a Will can be quick and easy if you use a Will Writing service to provide you with the right guidance and support. At Maplebrook Services Ltd, our Will Writing service provides you with a specialist to help you complete each step of the process, from start to finish. Our Will Writing advisors can discuss your wishes, offer recommendations and help you to make a Will that’s right for you and your circumstances.
There are a number of ways for you to write a Will with us. We offer an online Will Writing service, a telephone Will Writing service, a video Will Writing service and face to face Will writing in your own home.