Genesis Estate Planning

Will Instruction Form

Private client planning

Provide the information needed to prepare your Will

This form is designed to collect the key instructions normally required to draft a Will, including personal details, family information, executors, guardians, gifts, and the distribution of the residue of the estate.

Please complete as much as you can. If you are unsure about any question, leave a note in the relevant box and we can guide you through it during your appointment.

1. Personal details

Please identify the person making the Will clearly so the draft accurately reflects your legal identity and contact information.

2. Family and relationship details

These details help identify your current family position and highlight whether there are any circumstances that may affect your Will or give rise to future claims.

3. Funeral wishes

Funeral wishes are not usually legally binding, but they can help guide your family and personal representatives.

4. Children

Please include all children, including adult children, stepchildren you wish to mention, or anyone you consider relevant to your estate planning instructions.

5. Executors

Executors are the people or professionals who deal with your estate after death. It is common to appoint at least two, and beneficiaries can also act as executors.

6. Guardians

If you have children under 18, you may appoint guardians to take responsibility for their upbringing if you die while they are still minors.

One or more guardians may also be executors. Please note any relationship to the child where relevant.

7. Specific gifts

List any particular possessions you want to leave to a named person, such as jewellery, vehicles, sentimental items, collections, or business interests.

8. Cash gifts

Please state any fixed cash gifts clearly and tell us whether these are intended to apply in all circumstances or only in a particular order of death.

9. Residue of the estate

The residue is everything left after debts, expenses, taxes, and any specific or cash gifts have been paid. Please tell us who should benefit and what should happen if a beneficiary dies before you.

10. Potential claims or exclusions

If there is anyone who may expect to benefit from your estate but whom you do not wish to provide for, it is helpful to note this now together with your reasons.

11. Estate value and assets

An approximate value of your estate helps identify whether tax planning, trust planning, or additional advice may be needed.

12. Other information and instructions

Use this section for anything else you want considered when your Will is being drafted, including family dynamics, tax concerns, vulnerable beneficiaries, charitable intentions, or special drafting points.

Please review the form before sending it back. Missing details can still be discussed later, but complete information helps us prepare accurate advice and draft your Will more efficiently.

Important note

This instruction form is for information gathering only. A valid Will must be prepared and then signed correctly in the presence of two independent witnesses, and those witnesses should not be beneficiaries under the Will.

You can print this form, complete it digitally, or save it as a PDF after filling it in. Keep a copy for your records before returning it to Genesis Estate Planning.