Letter of Wishes
Add personal guidance alongside your will
Explain the thinking behind your decisions, record personal preferences and give your executors or trustees helpful context.
A standalone Letter of Wishes costs £30, or it can be prepared alongside your will at no extra charge.
What is a Letter of Wishes?
A Letter of Wishes is a personal document that sits alongside your will and provides additional guidance for the people carrying out your wishes.
It allows you to explain the thinking behind particular decisions, record practical preferences and provide context that may not belong in the formal wording of your will.
The document can be written in more natural and personal language, helping your executors, trustees and loved ones understand what matters to you.
It supports your will but does not replace it or change the legal effect of the arrangements recorded within it.
What can it include?
A Letter of Wishes can provide guidance about matters that are important to you but do not need to form part of your legally binding will.
This might include your preferences for personal possessions, funeral arrangements, children, pets or how you would like particular family circumstances to be approached.
It can also explain why you have made certain decisions or provide guidance to trustees where they have discretion about how money or property should be managed.
Because it is kept separately from your will, it can usually be updated more easily if your wishes or circumstances change.
How Elephant Legal helps
Personal wishes still need to be expressed clearly and consistently with the arrangements in your will.
Elephant Legal reviews the information you provide and raises any points that need clarification before the document is prepared.
Your Letter of Wishes is then drafted in clear, personal language that reflects your instructions and, where relevant, works alongside the provisions of your will or trust.
You will receive a draft to review, giving you the opportunity to ask questions and request minor changes before confirming the final document.
Although a Letter of Wishes is not legally binding, it can provide valuable guidance and reassurance for the people responsible for carrying out your wishes.
Choose how you would like it prepared
Two ways to prepare your Letter of Wishes
Prepare it as a standalone document for £30, or include it alongside a new will at no additional charge.
Standalone document
Letter of Wishes — Standalone
Already have a will but want to provide additional personal guidance?
Complete a structured online questionnaire in your own time, explaining the wishes, preferences and family considerations you would like the document to cover.
Your information will be professionally reviewed before drafting begins. Any points requiring clarification will be raised with you, and you will receive a draft to check before the final document is prepared.
Pricing
The fixed fee covers the review of your instructions, preparation of your draft Letter of Wishes and one round of minor amendments.
- Standalone Letter of Wishes £30
- Professional review and drafting Included
- One round of minor amendments Included
- Total service fee £30
Purchase for £30
There are no ongoing charges. You will be guided to provide the information needed after completing your purchase.
Prepared with your will
Letter of Wishes — With a Will
Are you also putting a new will in place?
A Letter of Wishes can be prepared as part of the same process when Elephant Legal prepares your will, without an additional charge.
Preparing both documents together allows your personal guidance to be considered alongside the legally binding arrangements in your will, helping the two documents remain clear and consistent.
Pricing
The Letter of Wishes is included as part of your will service where you choose to prepare one during the same process.
- Letter of Wishes Included
- Prepared alongside your will Included
- Coordinated review and drafting Included
- Additional charge £0
Included with your will
Begin by choosing the appropriate will service. The Letter of Wishes can then be prepared as part of that process.
Important information: A Letter of Wishes is not legally binding and does not replace, amend or override your will. The standalone fixed fee covers a standard document based on the information you provide, professional review, drafting and one round of minor amendments. Any substantial additional work or later rewriting will be discussed and agreed with you before further work is undertaken.
Clear guidance before you decide
Not sure whether a Letter of Wishes would be useful?
You may be unsure what should be included, how the document works alongside your will or whether it is suitable for your circumstances. You can ask a question or arrange a free initial conversation before deciding whether to proceed.
Common questions
Letters of Wishes explained
Clear answers to some of the questions people commonly ask before preparing a Letter of Wishes.
Is a Letter of Wishes legally binding?
No. A Letter of Wishes is not legally binding and does not form part of your will.
Its purpose is to provide personal guidance and explain your intentions. Your executors and trustees would usually take the document seriously, particularly where they have discretion about how decisions should be made.
Does a Letter of Wishes replace my will?
No. A Letter of Wishes supports your will but cannot replace, change or override it.
Legally effective arrangements, such as distributing your estate, appointing executors or naming guardians for children, must be recorded in a valid will.
What can I include in a Letter of Wishes?
A Letter of Wishes can cover personal or practical matters that do not need to appear in the formal wording of your will.
This may include preferences about personal possessions, funeral arrangements, children, pets or how you would like particular family circumstances to be approached.
It can also explain why you have made certain decisions or provide guidance to trustees about how you hope their discretion will be used.
Can I update my Letter of Wishes later?
Yes. Because a Letter of Wishes is separate from your will, it can usually be updated more easily when your circumstances, preferences or relationships change.
Any revised document should remain clear and consistent with the arrangements in your will. Elephant Legal can help you prepare an updated version if needed.
Who will see my Letter of Wishes?
Your Letter of Wishes would usually be provided to your executors or trustees when it is needed.
Unlike a will, it is not normally submitted as part of the probate application and does not generally become a public document.
It should be stored safely with your will or somewhere your executors know how to find it.
Do I need to have a Letter of Wishes?
Not everyone needs one. Many people are comfortable allowing the instructions in their will to stand on their own.
A Letter of Wishes can be particularly useful if you want to explain the reasoning behind a decision, record personal preferences or provide guidance about matters that would not be suitable for the legally binding wording of your will.
Can it be prepared alongside my will?
Yes. A straightforward Letter of Wishes can be prepared alongside your will at no additional charge when Elephant Legal prepares both documents as part of the same process.
Preparing them together helps ensure that your personal guidance is consistent with the legally binding arrangements recorded in your will.
What happens after I purchase the standalone service?
You will begin by providing your wishes and instructions through a structured online questionnaire.
Your information will be reviewed carefully and any points that need clarification will be raised with you before drafting begins.
You will then receive a draft Letter of Wishes to review. The fixed fee includes one round of minor amendments before the final document is prepared.
Letter of Wishes
Ready to record your personal wishes?
Prepare a standalone Letter of Wishes or include one when Elephant Legal prepares your new will.
The standalone service allows you to provide your instructions through a structured online process. Your information is reviewed carefully before a clear and personal document is prepared.
When a Letter of Wishes is prepared alongside your will, the two documents can be considered together so that your personal guidance remains consistent with your legally binding arrangements.
You can also ask a question or arrange a free initial conversation before deciding whether to proceed.
Clear personal guidance, careful preparation and an opportunity to review the document before it is finalised.
A Letter of Wishes is not legally binding and does not replace, amend or override your will. The £30 standalone service includes review of your instructions, preparation of the draft and one round of minor amendments. A straightforward Letter of Wishes can be included without an additional charge when it is prepared as part of your Elephant Legal will service. Any substantial additional work or later rewriting will be discussed and agreed with you before further work is undertaken.