Wills & Estate Planning for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People
Making a will should never mean lip-reading your way through a long legal meeting, or asking a family member to interpret. At Irwin Wills and Estate Planning, a registered British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter joins your video appointment with us for the whole meeting, and we give you as much time as you need. We help Deaf and hard of hearing clients throughout England and Wales.
Estate planning in your language
Your will is one of the most important documents you will ever make, so you need to understand every part of it and be sure it says exactly what you want. That is hard to do through lip-reading, written notes or a relative doing their best to interpret.
So we do it properly. Our in-house interpreter, Catherine Moxon, is qualified and registered with the NRCPD (the national register of sign language interpreters), with over 30 years of experience supporting Deaf people. She joins your video appointment with us from start to finish, so you talk with us directly, in BSL, and see everything we say.
How it works
- Get in touch by email, WhatsApp, our contact form or Relay UK, and tell us how you prefer to communicate.
- We arrange for Catherine, our in-house BSL interpreter, to join your appointment, at no extra cost to you.
- You join a video appointment with us and the interpreter, who stays for the full meeting.
- We talk through your family, your wishes and your options in plain English, interpreted into BSL. If you need longer, we simply extend the meeting.
- We confirm your fixed fee in writing before any work begins.
- We prepare your documents and go through them with you, section by section, with the interpreter, until you are happy.
- We guide you through signing your documents correctly so they are legally valid.
Take the time you need
Interpreted meetings naturally take a little longer, and legal documents deserve care. We never rush you. Your appointment can be extended, or spread over more than one meeting, so you can ask every question and change your mind as often as you like.
What we can help with
- Wills, including single wills, mirror wills for couples, and wills with trusts.
- Lasting Powers of Attorney, including recording your communication preferences, such as having a BSL interpreter at medical appointments.
- Trusts, including protecting your home and providing for a vulnerable loved one.
- Inheritance tax planning.
- Secure will storage, so your will is safe and can be found.
Hard of hearing, or prefer not to sign?
Not everyone with hearing loss uses BSL. If you lip-read, use hearing aids or prefer captions, tell us what works for you. Video calls can show live captions, and we are happy to go at your pace and put key points in writing.
Why this matters for your will
A will is only as strong as the evidence that you understood and approved it. When a relative interprets, especially one who inherits, it can give someone grounds to challenge the will later. A professional, impartial interpreter protects you and your family.
It also means your conversation with us stays private. You can make the decisions that are right for you, without worrying about who is in the room.
Across England and Wales
Because our interpreted appointments take place by video, it does not matter where you live. We work with Deaf and hard of hearing clients throughout England and Wales, and we are based in Yorkshire, where we have offices in Barnsley and Masham.
Our prices
Our fees are fixed and agreed in writing before we start. The BSL interpreter and any extended appointment time are included, so you pay exactly the same as any other client.
All prices include 20% VAT. Office of the Public Guardian registration fees (£92 per LPA, with reductions or exemptions for lower incomes) are paid at cost. See all prices on our pricing page.
Meet your interpreter
Catherine Moxon is our in-house British Sign Language interpreter, with over 30 years of professional experience supporting Deaf people. Having an interpreter within the firm means you can talk with our team directly throughout the estate planning process, ask questions and fully understand the advice you receive.
Read more about Catherine and the teamGuides for Deaf and hard of hearing people
Frequently asked questions
Do you charge extra for the BSL interpreter?
No. The interpreter is included in our normal fixed fees, and so is any extra time you need. You pay the same as any other client.
How does the video appointment work?
We send you a link to a video call. Catherine Moxon, our in-house BSL interpreter, joins the same call and stays for the whole meeting, so you can talk with us directly in BSL and see everything that is said.
What if I need more time?
That is fine. We can extend your appointment, or split it over more than one meeting, so nothing is rushed and you have time to ask every question you want.
I am hard of hearing and do not use BSL. Can you still help?
Yes. Tell us what works best for you, for example live captions on the video call, a quiet one-to-one setting, or more in writing, and we will do our best to arrange it.
Can a family member join the meeting?
Of course, family can be there to support you. We will also want some time with you on your own, with the interpreter, so we can be sure the wishes in your will are yours. This protects your will from being challenged later.
How do I contact you?
You can email info@irwinwills.co.uk, message us on WhatsApp using the button on this page, use our online contact form, or book online. If you use Relay UK, you can call us on 18001 03330 904 951.
Do you cover my area?
Yes. Because our interpreted appointments take place by video, we can help deaf and hard of hearing clients anywhere in England and Wales.
Ready to protect your family's future?
Book your free, no-obligation consultation today. Online anywhere in England & Wales, or in person across Yorkshire. Call us on 03330 904 951 or book online in minutes.