Thousands of normally responsible people continue to jeopardise their families’ futures by shirking the essential duty of making a will to ensure that their final wishes are complied with.

Few of us relish contemplating the prospect of our own deaths, but now Norwich law firm Hatch Brenner has removed one common excuse and obstacle by launching an “online wills” service which enables clients to fill in a questionnaire over the internet rather than having to find time to visit a solicitor’s office.

“An awful lot of people who really ought to know a lot better somehow never quite get round to making a will despite the fact that it’s one of the most important duties they will ever carry out,” says Hatch Brenner partner Dawn Parkes, head of probate at the Theatre Street-based firm.

“That’s partly because a lot of relatively young people don’t want to face up to the fact that something could happen to them, but they may also put off the evil hour because of other factors such as the hassle of having to take time off work to see a solicitor.

“The cost of an online will is the same as coming to see us in person, but for many working people it may be more convenient to fill in the internet questionnaire in the evening, or at weekends, in the comfort of their own home. As far as I am aware we are the only law firm in Norfolk to offer this service.”

A legally watertight will should ensure that when someone dies their wealth and possessions are distributed according to their wishes. It enables people to provide for their families and loved ones, and to make specific gifts to friends, relatives and charities. The will is also a means of ensuring that your affairs are arranged in a tax efficient way – so reducing the potential effects of inheritance tax, which is imposed at 40 per cent on anything above the current basic £312,000 threshold.

“By not making a will you run a serious risk that your estate will be distributed as the law provides, rather than as you would have wished,” said Ms Parkes. “Not many people realise, for example, that if someone dies leaving a spouse and children, but no will, the surviving husband or wife will only be absolutely entitled to the first £125,000 of the estate. That becomes even more serious if the house is only in one name because its value is included in the £125,000 – so the surviving spouse might not even get the house.

“A will is just as important if someone does not have a partner or children – otherwise it can be a long and complex job trying to find out what relatives are alive and where they are.”

Clients using Hatch Brenner’s online will service will receive a response within three working days of submitting their online questionnaire. Once the final document has been agreed, the client will visit Hatch Brenner’s offices to formally sign the will.

“The questionnaire is extremely easy to fill in, and although it is quite lengthy this reflects the level of detail we need to give our clients appropriate advice when necessary,” said Ms Parkes. “We keep a very careful eye out for anything that might set alarm bells ringing – where there are complications caused by a second marriage, for example.