Why Everyone in the UK Should Have a Will

family discussing a will document and estate planning

Making a will is one of the most important things you can do to protect your loved ones and ensure your wishes are respected after you're gone. Yet many people across the UK put off writing a will because they believe they're too young, don't own enough, or simply have plenty of time to think about it later.

The reality is that having a legally valid will isn't just for wealthy people or those approaching retirement.

Whether you're buying your first home, raising a family, getting married or simply want control over what happens to your belongings, writing a will can make a significant difference.

At Will Writing Plus, we believe planning for the future should be straightforward, accessible and affordable.

In this guide, we'll explain why making a will matters, what could happen if you die without one, and how you can get started.

1. What Is a Will and Why Is It Important?

A will is a legal document that sets out what you want to happen to your money, property and possessions when you die.

It can also allow you to:

Choose your beneficiaries: Decide who should inherit your money, property and personal belongings.
Appoint executors: Select trusted people to administer your estate and carry out the instructions in your will.
Appoint guardians: Express your wishes about who should care for your children if they are under 18.
Leave specific gifts: Give particular possessions or sums of money to family members, friends or charities.
Plan for your family's future: Include appropriate provisions for loved ones who may need additional protection.

Without a valid will, you lose the opportunity to make many of these decisions yourself.

2. What Happens If You Die Without a Will in the UK?

Dying without a valid will is known as dying intestate.

When this happens, your estate is distributed according to the intestacy rules rather than your personal wishes.

The rules differ across England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Your unmarried partner might inherit nothing

One of the biggest misconceptions about inheritance is that living together gives couples the same inheritance rights as marriage.

In England and Wales, an unmarried partner has no automatic entitlement to inherit under the intestacy rules, regardless of how long you've lived together.

They may be able to make a claim against the estate in certain circumstances, but this can involve additional expense, uncertainty and emotional stress.

Your spouse might not inherit everything

If you're married or in a civil partnership and have children, your estate may be divided between your surviving spouse or civil partner and your children.

Under the intestacy rules in England and Wales, where a person leaves a spouse and children, the spouse generally receives personal possessions, the first £322,000 of the estate and half of the remaining estate. The children share the other half.

The precise outcome depends on the estate's value, ownership arrangements and applicable law.

Your preferred beneficiaries could miss out

Perhaps you want to leave something to a close friend, a stepchild, a charity or someone who has supported you throughout your life.

Without a will, they may not inherit anything under the intestacy rules.

Writing a will gives you the opportunity to make your wishes clear instead of relying on default legal rules.

3. Do You Need a Will If You're Young?

It's easy to assume that writing a will is something to consider later in life.

However, adults of many different ages can benefit from having one.

Consider making a will if you:

Own a house or have a mortgage.
Have children or other dependants.
Are married, engaged or living with a partner.
Have savings, investments or valuable possessions.
Run a business.
Want to leave something to a friend or charity.

Even if your estate is relatively small today, your circumstances can change considerably over time.

Having a will in place means you can review and update your wishes as your life develops.

4. Why Making a Will Is Especially Important for Parents

If you have children under 18, making a will can be particularly important.

One of the most significant decisions you can make is choosing who you would want to care for your children if you die.

In England and Wales, a will can be used to appoint a testamentary guardian, although whether that appointment takes effect depends on the circumstances and existing parental responsibility.

Without appropriate arrangements, decisions about a child's care may need to be resolved through other legal processes.

A will can also provide instructions about how assets intended for your children should be managed.

For example, suitable trust provisions may allow money to be held and managed for children until they reach a specified age, subject to the relevant legal rules.

Taking time to plan can help provide greater clarity for those you leave behind.

5. Can You Write a Will Online in the UK?

Yes. You can prepare a will online in the UK, provided the resulting document meets the legal requirements that apply to you.

Online will-writing services make it possible to record your wishes without necessarily arranging a traditional face-to-face appointment.

At Will Writing Plus, our aim is to make the process easier to understand by guiding you through the important decisions involved in preparing your will.

These may include choosing your executors, identifying beneficiaries, specifying gifts and considering arrangements for your children.

Is an online will legally binding?

An online-prepared will can be legally valid, but completing an online questionnaire or downloading a document does not automatically make it legally binding.

In England and Wales, a standard will generally must:

Be made voluntarily by someone aged 18 or over who has the necessary mental capacity.
Be in writing.
Be signed by the person making the will, or by another person in their presence and at their direction, with the intention of giving effect to it.
Have the signature made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses who are present at the same time.
Be signed or acknowledged by each witness in the presence of the person making the will.

There are additional considerations concerning witnesses, particularly where a witness or their spouse or civil partner stands to benefit under the will.

Because the law differs across the UK, it's important to follow the requirements for your jurisdiction.

Complex family circumstances, business interests, international assets or substantial estates may require specialist legal advice.

6. Five Common Myths About Writing a Will

Myth 1: "I'm too young to need a will."

Unexpected events can happen at any age. If you have assets, dependants or particular inheritance wishes, making a will is worth considering.

Myth 2: "Everything automatically goes to my partner."

Not necessarily. Unmarried partners do not automatically inherit under the intestacy rules in England and Wales.

Myth 3: "I don't own enough to need a will."

A will isn't only about money. It can cover personal possessions, family arrangements and the people you want to benefit.

Myth 4: "Once I've written a will, I never need to change it."

Your will should be reviewed when important circumstances change, such as marriage, divorce, having children or buying property.

In England and Wales, marriage or civil partnership generally revokes an existing will unless a relevant exception applies.

Myth 5: "Writing a will is complicated and expensive."

Some estates require specialist advice, but many people with straightforward circumstances can prepare a will using an accessible online service.

7. When Should You Update Your Will?

Creating your first will is an important step, but keeping it up to date is equally important.

Consider reviewing your will after:

Getting married or entering a civil partnership.
Separating or getting divorced.
Having or adopting a child.
Buying or selling a property.
Experiencing a significant change in your finances.
The death of a beneficiary, executor or appointed guardian.

It's also sensible to review your will periodically, even when nothing major has changed.

Remember that changing a will requires the correct legal formalities. Simply writing amendments onto a signed will may create problems.

8. Take Control of Your Future with Will Writing Plus

Nobody enjoys thinking about what will happen after they're gone. But making a will isn't just about preparing for death.

It's about looking after the people who matter most to you.

Having a properly prepared and executed will can provide reassurance that your wishes have been recorded, reduce uncertainty for your loved ones and help make administering your estate more straightforward.

At Will Writing Plus, we're working to make will writing more accessible, with a straightforward online experience designed to help you make informed decisions about your future.

Whether you're preparing your first will or reviewing an existing one, taking action today can make a meaningful difference tomorrow.

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