Without a Will, the law decides who inherits your estate, and it rarely matches what people assume. Here is what a Will actually does for your family.
Making a Will is one of those tasks that sits on the list for years. It usually takes a single appointment, and it removes a great deal of difficulty from an already difficult time for the people you love.
What happens if you don't make one
If you die without a Will you die intestate, and a fixed set of statutory rules decides who inherits. Those rules surprise most people. An unmarried partner inherits nothing, regardless of how long you have been together. A surviving spouse does not automatically receive everything if there are children. Stepchildren you have raised have no automatic entitlement at all.
What a Will lets you do
- Choose exactly who inherits, and in what shares
- Appoint guardians for children under 18
- Name executors you trust to carry out your wishes
- Leave specific gifts, whether sentimental items or charitable legacies
- Set up trusts to protect money for children or vulnerable beneficiaries
- Record your funeral wishes so your family does not have to guess
When to review it
We recommend a review every three to five years, and always after marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, a house move or a significant change in your finances. Marriage in particular revokes an existing Will unless it was made in contemplation of that marriage.
Why not use an online template?
Templates are cheap, and they are also the most common source of the disputes that end up costing families far more than a properly drafted Will ever would. Incorrect witnessing, ambiguous wording and unconsidered tax consequences are all avoidable. A professionally prepared Will is a modest, one-off investment in certainty.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For advice on your own circumstances, speak to a Solicitor & Director on 07449 567711.
