Foundation Essentials
A complete set of foundation documents at a fixed price, professionally drafted and delivered. For people who have decided what they need and want it done without the fuss.
Most people who land on this page have already concluded that they need a Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney. They are not looking to be persuaded that estate planning matters. They are looking for someone to do it for them, at a price they can see, without the friction.
That is what Foundation Essentials is for.
It is a complete, fixed-price set of foundation documents. The Will is drafted in the form you choose from three sensible options. The Property and Financial Affairs Lasting Powers of Attorney are included. The Health and Welfare Lasting Powers of Attorney are included free, because they ought to be. You get an experienced solicitor doing the drafting, an engagement letter that sets out exactly what you will receive and exactly what you will pay, and a clear timeline.
It is not advisory work. Foundation Essentials does not include an inheritance tax assessment, structural advice, or a written report on your circumstances. Most people in straightforward situations do not need those things. If yours is more complex, the next tier up (Strong Foundations) does include them, and the engagement letter will say so.
Foundation Essentials offers three Will forms, all priced identically. You pick the one that fits how you want your estate distributed. Most people recognise their preferred option immediately. If you are not sure, the engagement call is the place to talk it through.
Form 1
Outright gifts to two levels. Beneficiary A first, then Beneficiary B if A predeceases. The simplest form, and the right choice for the majority of straightforward family situations.
Form 2
A life interest for one beneficiary, with the capital passing to a named group on their death. Often used by couples in second marriages or with children from previous relationships.
Form 3
An absolute gift to the spouse on first death (if there is a surviving spouse), and a discretionary trust on second death. Flexible, particularly useful where future circumstances are uncertain.
Each Will also includes: choice of executors and trustees, a flexible legacy clause for personal effects, and up to five cash legacies. The fixed scope is identical across all three forms because the drafting work is, too.
The free Estate Health Check is a ten-minute diagnostic that gives you a clear picture of where you stand. It will tell you whether Foundation Essentials covers what you need, or whether your circumstances suggest one of the more advisory tiers.
Run the free Estate Health CheckThe process is straightforward. Most clients have signed and registered documents within four to six weeks of enquiring.
A short enquiry form, then within two working days you receive a written engagement letter setting out exactly what you will receive, the fixed price (couple or single), and the timeline. No payment is taken until you have read and accepted it.
A short call or video meeting to confirm your choice of Will form, executors, beneficiaries, and any cash legacies. Drafts come back within ten working days for your review. You can ask for changes.
The Wills are signed and witnessed. The LPAs are registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, with progress kept under review. Final documents are stored securely and copies are with you.
Foundation Essentials is an Arvéla service. The drafting and execution are carried out by experienced private client solicitors, not by a paralegal team or a template-driven service. The standard of work is the same standard a private client of any traditional firm would receive, at a price that is fixed up front.
The regulated legal work is delivered by Arvéla's chosen legal service provider. When you instruct, you do so under their engagement letter, which sets out the scope, the fixed price, and the timeline before any work starts. The same arrangement applies whether you have come to us through Arvéla or directly. See Your Legal Services for current provider details.
Arvéla is a trading name of Cascade Legal Ltd, the consumer brand for the guides, the Companion, and the diagnostic tools. Read more about how it all fits together.
A short form. Once you have submitted it, we will respond within two working days with an engagement letter setting out exactly what is included and the fixed price. No payment is taken until you have read and accepted the engagement letter.
We will respond within two working days with an engagement letter setting out exactly what is included and the fixed price. Watch for an email from hello@arvela.uk.
If your situation is more complex
Foundation Essentials is the right starting point for most people, but not everyone. If you have a meaningful inheritance tax exposure, a blended family, business assets, or a structure that needs proper advisory work, the right tier is Strong Foundations (advisory-led foundation documents, £2,500 + VAT for couples) or Family Structures (specialist IHT mitigation and structural review, £3,500 + VAT). Both include a full assessment, a written report, and a six-month check-in.
Read more about the advisory tiers