Where there’s a will there’s a way...in fact a will is the only way to make sure your loved ones inherit your property and money as you want.
If you do not have a will then there are
strict – and rather odd – rules about who gets what and how much. Ultimately,
if you have no relatives who can be traced, the Crown gets it which can mean
the King or the Prince of Wales, depending where in the UK the person died. Many
millions a year are distributed this way. Theym both say they will give some of it to charities. But
most of us would prefer to decide ourselves where it should go.
So make a will!
It is not difficult and all November it is free – well, sort of. Solicitors in the Will Aid scheme throughout the UK will make a will in exchange for a donation to charity. They suggest £120 for a single will and £200 for a pair of wills for a couple, normally reflecting each other’s wishes hence the name – mirror wills! Those fees are much lower than the normal charges. If your affairs are complicated the solicitor may charge extra but the basic parts will still be done for that donation.
Even if you made a will in the past you should review it periodically or if your circumstances change to make sure it still reflects your wishes.
If you have married you must make a new will as in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland a will made before you marry or form a civil partnership is invalid and your estate is treated as if you never had one. In Scotland that does not happen but after a momentous change like marriage you should always ensure your will divides your property and money as you want.
I do not recommend the cheap ways
to make a will – downloading a form online or going to an unregulated
will-writer. Many solicitors have told me they make more money
from putting right or challenging badly made wills than they do from making
good ones! So please make your will with a qualified, regulated
solicitor. As November approaches you can book an appointment at willaid.org.uk.
In March Free Wills Week is sponsored by many charities. If you want to leave money to a charity that is, of course, a good thing. But it is better to leave a specific amount rather than the residue after other bequests havew been made. That can lead to complications.
If you can avoid it, do not appoint a solicitor or bank to be your executor. They will charge hefty fees and may not keep you informed. Better to name a relative – preferably a beneficiary – who can cope with administration and some fairly basic arithmetic.
This blog is based on a piece first published in Radio Times on 21 October 2025.
