Why You Should Make a Will
Without a Will, You Risk:
- Your chosen beneficiaries missing out on their inheritance.
- Your spouse/civil partner not automatically inheriting everything.
- ‘Common law’ partners receiving nothing.
- Minor children potentially being placed in care while guardianship is decided.
- Lengthy legal delays and family disputes.
- Certain family members benefiting against your wishes.
- Being unable to leave money to friends, colleagues, or charities.
Every day, someone somewhere passes away without a Will—don’t let this be you.
It’s never too early, but often too late!
Why You Should Make a Will
Many people put off making a Will, often until it’s too late. This can create significant problems for loved ones left behind. Without a Will, your inheritance may not go to the right people—or worse, it could end up with the state.
Creating a Will ensures that your estate is distributed exactly as you wish, avoiding unnecessary disputes and providing peace of mind.
If You Don’t Have a Will…
Without a valid Will, the government dictates how your estate is distributed. This could mean:
💬 To my family – I leave you months (or years) of financial hardship while you sort out my affairs.
💬 To my spouse/partner – I leave you some, but not necessarily all, of what I own.
💬 To my children – You may have to sell assets (including the family home) to receive your inheritance.
💬 To social services – If my children are orphaned, they will decide who looks after them.
💬 To the taxman – I leave you all the tax I could have legally avoided.
💬 To my bank and solicitor – I authorise you to charge high fees to sort out the mess I left behind.
💬 To everyone else – I leave you nothing!
Not having a Will can cause heartbreak, financial stress, and unnecessary expenses at the worst possible time.
Protecting Your Assets and Loved Ones
A Will is a great start, but you should also consider:
1. Protecting Your Children’s Inheritance
Without proper planning, your children’s inheritance could be lost due to:
- Divorce or separation settlements.
- Creditors or bankruptcy claims.
- Care costs and future inheritance tax bills.
2. Protecting Your Home and Assets from Care Costs
Without action, your home and savings could be used to pay for long-term care costs. This means:
- Your home may have to be sold.
- Your savings and investments could disappear.
- Your income could be taken to cover care expenses.
- Your family may lose their entire inheritance.
3. Protecting a Family Business
Without a proper business succession plan:
- Your family may not inherit your share of the business.
- Business partners may struggle to buy out your share.
- The value of the business could decline.
- Your spouse or children may be forced to run the business.
- The business may have to be sold and become liable for inheritance tax.
Do You Need a Will? Ask Yourself These Questions:
✔️ Do your assets (including insurance policies) exceed £325,000?
✔️ Do you have family members you want to exclude from inheriting?
✔️ Are you concerned about divorce affecting family assets?
✔️ Have you left money to minors who need a trusted family member to manage it?
✔️ Do you have a loved one receiving disability or state benefits?
✔️ Are you worried your home could be lost to care costs?
If you answered “Yes” to any of these, now is the time to act.