Estate planning is one of those things most people in Swindon know they should probably do — and then quietly put off for another few months. I understand the instinct. It involves thinking about scenarios nobody particularly wants to dwell on, and the paperwork can feel daunting before you’ve started.
But estate planning isn’t complicated once it’s broken down clearly. It’s a set of legal documents that make sure your wishes are carried out — for your finances, your property, your health decisions, and the people you leave behind.
What Is Estate Planning?
Estate planning means putting legal arrangements in place so that your assets go to the right people, in the right way, if you die or lose mental capacity. In the UK, that typically means a Will, one or more Lasting Powers of Attorney, and in some cases a Trust — each covering a different risk and a different stage of life.
What Does Estate Planning Cover?
| Document | What it covers | When it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Will | Who inherits your estate and who manages it | On death |
| Property & Financial LPA | Who manages your money and property if you lose capacity | During your lifetime |
| Health & Welfare LPA | Who makes medical decisions on your behalf | During your lifetime |
| Trust | How and when assets pass to beneficiaries | On death or during lifetime |
Most clients in Swindon start with a Will and at least one Lasting Power of Attorney. Trusts tend to come into the picture when there are blended families, property to protect, or inheritance tax to plan around.
Wills name who inherits your estate, who administers it (the executor), and — if you have children under 18 — who would act as guardian. Without one, the UK’s intestacy rules decide all of that for you, and they often produce outcomes that would surprise people. According to recent research by the Money and Pensions Service, 56% of UK adults still don’t have a will in place.
Lasting Powers of Attorney come in two types: Property & Financial (covering bank accounts, bills, and property) and Health & Welfare (covering medical decisions and care choices). Many people assume their spouse can act for them automatically if they become incapacitated — but without a registered LPA, that isn’t the case. The Office of the Public Guardian currently takes around 20 weeks to register an LPA, which is why it’s worth putting one in place before you need it.
Trusts let you control how assets pass to beneficiaries — useful if you’re remarried, have children from a previous relationship, or want to protect a property. A Protective Property Trust can ring-fence a share of the family home so it passes to your children rather than being swallowed by care costs.
Why Swindon Families Put It Off — and Why That’s a Problem
The two most common reasons I hear from clients: “I don’t have enough assets to bother” and “I’ll get round to it when I’m older.” Both sound reasonable. Both turn out to be wrong more often than not.
The intestacy rules don’t favour unmarried partners, step-children, or anyone who isn’t a blood relative or legal spouse. A cohabiting couple in Swindon in a house worth £300,000 with no Will could face a serious legal and financial situation if one of them dies — regardless of how long they’ve been together and regardless of what they intended.
And Lasting Powers of Attorney take around 20 weeks to register. If you wait until a health event makes one urgent, you’ll be too late to use it.
What Does Estate Planning Cost in Swindon?
This is where Riverwise is straightforward: all prices are fixed and published up front.
| Service | Single | Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Will | £200 | £350 |
| Will + Trust (Protective Property Trust, Discretionary Trust, etc.) | £350 | £575 |
| LPA — Property & Financial or Health & Welfare | £250 | £450 |
| LPA — Both types | £450 | £800 |
| Codicil (amendment to existing Will) | £90 | £160 |
The Office of the Public Guardian charges a registration fee of £92 per LPA — this goes directly to the government, not to Riverwise. For most couples, the most common starting point is mirror Wills plus both LPAs: £350 + £800 = £1,150 to cover every document the family needs. The initial consultation is free and comes with no obligation.
How the Process Works
It doesn’t require a trip to a solicitor or an afternoon of paperwork. An initial conversation covers your circumstances and which documents are relevant. Most clients in Swindon and the surrounding area complete everything in two or three short appointments — or by phone or video if that’s more convenient.
Once signed, Wills are valid immediately. LPAs are valid once registered by the OPG. If you’d prefer not to keep the originals at home, Riverwise offers secure document storage for £20 per year (single) or £30 per year (couple).
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if I die without a Will in the UK?
The UK’s intestacy rules decide who inherits — following a strict legal order that often doesn’t reflect what the person would have wanted. Unmarried partners receive nothing. Step-children receive nothing. If you have no living relatives, your estate passes to the Crown.
Do I need a solicitor to make a Will in Swindon?
No. A solicitor is one option, but regulated professional Will writers can produce legally valid Wills at the same standard. Riverwise is a specialist estate planning practice — not a solicitor firm, but authorised to prepare Wills, LPAs and Trust planning documents.
How long does a Lasting Power of Attorney take?
The Office of the Public Guardian currently takes around 20 weeks to register an LPA from the date of submission. The document isn’t valid until registration is complete, so the earlier you start, the better.
Can I use Riverwise if I’m not in Swindon?
Yes. Riverwise serves clients across Swindon, Cheltenham, Oxford, Bath, Chippenham, Marlborough, Royal Wootton Bassett, Cirencester, Faringdon, Thatcham, Newbury, and the wider Wiltshire area. Home visits and remote appointments are both available.
Ready to start? Get in touch to arrange a free, no-obligation conversation.
