What to prepare for a will-planning appointment

Describe what you want reviewed

Tell the office whether you are making a first will, reviewing an older document or asking how a change in your circumstances affects your planning. Explain where you live and whether assets or family connections involve other jurisdictions. Ask whether the proposed service covers your situation before relying on a standard advertised price. A document’s title alone does not establish the work needed.

Bring the existing picture

Ask which existing documents the adviser wants to see, such as an earlier will or planning documents. Prepare a broad list of assets, liabilities and relevant family or business connections, marking anything uncertain. You do not need to send account passwords or an entire financial archive during an initial enquiry. Confirm the recipient and sharing method before providing identifying or financial material.

Make questions visible

Write down the decisions you would like the adviser to explain, including the roles of people named in the documents and how your wishes might be recorded. Do not assume every asset is dealt with in the same way. Tell the lawyer about any concern that a simple form would miss. The lawyer can identify the questions requiring further instructions or another professional’s input.

Ask what the quoted work includes

Check whether the quote includes the planning discussion, drafting, a review meeting, amendments and arrangements for signing. Ask whether related documents are separate services and what happens if your instructions change. Confirm who will explain the draft in plain language before you sign. A price for producing a document and a price for broader planning advice may cover substantially different work.

Plan the practical appointment

Raise interpreter, accessibility, travel or communication needs when booking. If someone is helping you organise the appointment, explain that role and ask how the adviser will obtain your own instructions. Do not assume a family member’s attendance is suitable for every part of the discussion. Ask which original documents, identification or other items the office requires at the relevant stage.

Keep a review note

After the appointment, record what has been completed, where documents will be kept and whom to contact if circumstances change. Ask what future review would involve and whether storage or copies attract a cost. This preparation guide does not decide how your estate should be distributed or whether an existing will is valid. Use official state information as background and obtain advice on your own documents.

Questions you might still have.