A will is not only for people with large savings, a mortgage-free home or a complicated family tree. The best reasons to make wills usually begin with a much simpler concern: making life easier for the people you love if you are no longer there to explain what you wanted.
Without a valid will, the law decides who inherits under the intestacy rules. That may produce an outcome you would never have chosen. Making a will gives you a say in who receives your estate, who handles the paperwork and how you want your family to be supported.
The best reasons to make wills start with control
A will puts your wishes in writing. You can name the people and charities you want to benefit, decide who should receive particular belongings and appoint someone you trust to deal with your estate.
This matters even where your wishes seem obvious. Families can have different assumptions about who should have the home, savings, jewellery or sentimental possessions. A clear will reduces the need for relatives to guess, negotiate or disagree at an already difficult time.
It also gives you the chance to make practical choices. You may want your spouse or partner to be secure first, with children inheriting later. You may want to leave a fixed gift to a godchild, sibling or close friend. You may simply want to ensure that a treasured item goes to the person who will value it most. These choices are yours to make, but only a properly prepared will records them clearly.
Protecting the people who rely on you
For parents, one of the strongest reasons to make a will is the ability to appoint guardians for children under 18. If both parents die without making suitable arrangements, the court will decide who should care for the children. Family members may have very different views about what is best.
Naming guardians does not remove the court’s duty to consider the children’s welfare, but it is powerful evidence of your wishes. It can provide direction at a time when those closest to you may be distressed.
A will can also protect an unmarried partner. Many people still assume that living together creates the same inheritance rights as marriage or civil partnership. It does not. Under the intestacy rules in England and Wales, a cohabiting partner does not automatically inherit, however long the relationship has lasted or whether you have children together.
If you want a partner to stay in the family home, receive savings or have financial support after your death, a will is usually essential. The same applies if you want to provide for stepchildren, close friends or relatives who would not inherit under the intestacy rules.
Choosing the right person to manage your estate
Your executor is the person, or people, responsible for carrying out the instructions in your will. They gather assets, pay debts and funeral expenses, deal with the administration and distribute what remains to your beneficiaries.
Appointing an executor is about trust, but it is also about practicality. A reliable relative or friend may be a good choice, particularly for a straightforward estate. You can appoint more than one executor if you would like shared responsibility. Some people choose a professional executor where the estate is complex or family relationships are strained, though this can involve fees.
The important point is that you choose. Without a will, the people entitled to administer your estate are determined by law, and that may not be the person you would have preferred.
Preventing avoidable family disputes
Money is not the only source of disagreement after a death. Sentimental belongings, promises made years ago and uncertainty over the home can all cause tension. A well-drafted will cannot guarantee that nobody will be unhappy, but it can remove much of the uncertainty that fuels arguments.
Being specific can help. Rather than leaving everyone to decide who should have a family heirloom, you can make a clear gift in your will. Rather than relying on an informal promise that one child will receive more because they helped with care, you can set out what you intend and why.
Fair does not always mean equal. You may have supported one child financially already, want to recognise a carer, or need to provide more for a vulnerable beneficiary. A will lets you make a considered decision rather than leaving relatives to interpret your intentions after the event.
Looking after the family home
Property is often the largest asset in an estate, and how you own it matters. If a couple own their home as joint tenants, it normally passes automatically to the surviving owner when one dies. If they own as tenants in common, each person owns a defined share that can be left by will.
That distinction can be particularly important for couples with children from previous relationships. Some people want their partner to be able to remain in the home for life, while ultimately protecting a share of the property for their own children. Depending on the circumstances, a Protective Property Trust or Flexible Life Interest Trust may be worth considering.
Trust planning is not necessary for every household, and it should not be chosen simply because it sounds protective. It can bring extra responsibilities for trustees and may not suit a straightforward estate. But where there are remarriage concerns, children from an earlier relationship or a wish to control what happens to a share of the home, it is sensible to understand the options before signing a will.
A will can make a difficult process less difficult
Grief does not make paperwork disappear. Those left behind may need to locate accounts, deal with providers, arrange the funeral and establish who is responsible for the estate. A current will gives them a starting point.
Alongside it, keep a separate, regularly updated record of useful information: where important documents are stored, details of insurance policies, key contacts and any funeral preferences. Do not put passwords directly in your will, as it may become a public document during probate. Instead, make sure your executors know how to find secure information when needed.
It is also worth telling your executors where the original will is held. A will that cannot be found can be almost as problematic as no will at all.
Making a will is often more affordable than people expect
One reason people delay is the belief that will-writing is costly, complicated or only suitable for older people. For many straightforward estates, it need not be. What matters is using a service that helps you make the necessary decisions, explains the formalities and provides a will suited to your circumstances.
In England and Wales, a will must be made by someone aged 18 or over who has the mental capacity to understand what they are doing. It must be in writing, signed by the person making it and witnessed correctly by two people. Witnesses should not be beneficiaries, or married to beneficiaries, because that can affect a gift to them.
A digital process can make getting started less daunting, but the signing stage still matters. If you prefer to begin when you have a quiet moment rather than book an appointment, the Will Do app is designed to help you take that first practical step on your mobile phone. You should still read your completed document carefully and follow the execution instructions exactly.
Do not treat a will as a one-off task
A will should change when your life changes. Marriage generally revokes an existing will unless it was made in contemplation of that marriage. Divorce can also affect how gifts to a former spouse or civil partner are treated. Buying a property, having children, receiving an inheritance, separating from a partner or becoming an executor for someone else can all be reasons to review your plans.
As a practical habit, look at your will every few years and after any major life event. Check that your executors are still willing and able to act, guardians remain appropriate, and your beneficiaries are named clearly. Do not cross out or alter the signed original yourself, as informal changes can create uncertainty. If an update is needed, make a new will or seek advice about a codicil.
The right time to make a will is usually before a crisis makes the decisions feel urgent. Start with the people you want to protect, the person you would trust to act, and the wishes you would not want left to chance. A clear plan now is one of the most practical gifts you can leave behind.