Do I Need a Will? 10 Reasons You Can't Ignore

Emma thought she had time. At 32, with a mortgage, a partner she'd lived with for six years, and a two-year-old daughter, she kept meaning to write a will. But between work, childcare, and life, it never felt urgent.

When Emma died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition, her £240,000 estate went entirely to her parents under UK intestacy rules. Her partner of six years inherited nothing—not even the home they'd bought together. Her daughter's guardianship was decided by the courts, not by Emma's wishes. The whole process took 18 months and cost her family over £8,000 in legal fees.

Emma is not alone. 56% of UK adults have no will, with many believing they're too young, don't own enough, or will get around to it "someday." But as Emma's story shows, "someday" doesn't always come.

In this article, we'll explore 10 compelling reasons why you need a will—regardless of your age, wealth, or life stage—and what could go catastrophically wrong if you don't have one.

The Shocking Truth About Who Doesn't Have a Will

Over half of British adults are living without a will. According to recent surveys, 56% of UK adults aged 18 and over have not written a will. This means the majority of people's estates will be distributed according to UK intestacy law—they have no say over who inherits their assets.

The statistics get worse when you break them down by age. Just over 75% of people in their thirties are currently intestate, with 65% of those in their forties also lacking a will. Even among those aged 50-64, 53% have no will in place.

The average age for making a will in the UK is 58 years old—far too late for many life events. Every year, approximately 26,900 parents die leaving dependent children, affecting around 46,300 children. That's 127 newly bereaved children every single day.

When asked why they haven't made a will, 39% say they "haven't got round to it yet," while 26% believe they don't have enough assets to warrant one. But as the following 10 reasons demonstrate, these assumptions are dangerously wrong.

So if you're wondering whether you actually need a will, the answer is almost certainly yes. Here are 10 reasons you can't afford to ignore.

Reason 1: You Have Children Under 18

If you have children under 18, making a will isn't optional—it's essential. Without a will, you cannot legally choose who raises your children if both parents die. The courts decide, and the process can take months.

Here's the shocking reality: 70% of UK parents have not appointed legal guardians for their children in a will. Among parents with children at home, only 21% have made a will at all.

What happens without a will? Courts step in to decide guardianship. Social services may become involved. Children could be placed in temporary foster care while relatives battle in court. The entire process is traumatic, expensive, and completely avoidable.

Sophie and Tom, parents of three children aged 5, 8, and 11, died in a car accident without appointing guardians. The courts took nine months to decide custody, during which the children lived with temporary foster families while relatives disputed who should care for them. The children's savings and inheritance were frozen during the legal battle.

With a will, you choose your children's guardians. You name backup guardians. You can include guidance on values, education, and how you want your children raised. You ensure they're cared for by people you trust, without delay or court intervention.

Research shows that 17% of parents don't understand that courts and social services can step in if no guardian is named. Don't be part of that statistic.

Making a will is the only way to legally protect your children's future. Learn more about how to choose guardians for your children.

Reason 2: You're Unmarried (Even If You've Been Together for Years)

If you're not married or in a civil partnership, your partner has absolutely no automatic inheritance rights under UK law. None. Even if you've lived together for 30 years, raised children together, and bought a home together, your partner could inherit nothing when you die.

This affects millions of people. In 2021, 3.6 million couples were cohabiting in the UK—an increase of 144% since 1996. Cohabiting couples now represent around 1 in 5 couples living together.

Yet 49% of British adults living with a partner outside marriage believe in "common law marriage"—the myth that long-term cohabitation gives you the same rights as marriage. It doesn't. Common law marriage has no legal standing in England and Wales.

Under intestacy rules, if you die without a will, your estate goes to blood relatives in a strict order: spouse/civil partner first, then children, then parents, then siblings. Your unmarried partner gets nothing.

James and Claire lived together for 12 years, bought a house together as tenants in common, and raised two children. When James died suddenly without a will, Claire inherited nothing. The house had to be sold so James's parents could inherit their share of his half. Claire and the children were forced to move.

While unmarried partners can make a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 if they cohabited for two years, these claims are expensive, complicated, and outcomes are uncertain. They can take years and cost thousands in legal fees.

A will is the only guaranteed way to protect your partner if you're not married. It costs £49.99 and takes 15 minutes. The alternative could cost your partner everything.

Reason 3: You Own Property or Significant Assets

If you own a home, you have an estate worth protecting. The average UK house price means property alone often exceeds £200,000. Add savings, investments, pensions, and possessions, and most homeowners have estates worth £300,000 or more.

Without a will, your property might not go where you think. If you own property as "tenants in common" (rather than "joint tenants"), your share doesn't automatically pass to your co-owner. Under intestacy rules, it could go to your children, parents, or siblings instead—forcing a sale of the family home.

Rachel owned a £320,000 house with her husband Mark as joint tenants. When Mark died without a will, intestacy rules meant Rachel inherited only £322,000 of their total estate (the statutory legacy). Since their combined assets exceeded this, the remaining £50,000 went to Mark's adult children from his first marriage. Rachel had to buy them out or sell.

The statutory legacy is now £322,000 as of July 2023. If your estate is worth more and you have a spouse and children, your spouse doesn't automatically inherit everything. Half of anything above £322,000 goes to your children—potentially forcing property sales.

Don't forget digital assets. In 2018, HMRC confirmed that cryptocurrency and digital assets are property subject to inheritance tax. Yet only 7% of existing wills mention digital assets. Without access instructions, digital assets can be permanently lost.

If you own a home, have savings, investments, pensions, or digital assets, you need a will. It's the only way to ensure your property goes to the people you choose.

Reason 4: You Have Stepchildren or a Blended Family

Blended families face unique risks under intestacy law. Stepchildren have no automatic inheritance rights—none. Under UK law, only biological or legally adopted children inherit.

This affects a staggering number of families. According to the ONS Census 2021, there were 781,000 step-families in England and Wales. That's 8.8% of dependent children (1.1 million) living in step-families.

Without a will, here's what happens in blended families. If you remarry and die without a will, your new spouse inherits first under intestacy rules. Your children from your first marriage receive less or potentially nothing if the estate is under the statutory legacy threshold. If your new spouse then dies without a will, their biological children inherit everything. Your children are cut out entirely.

David remarried after his divorce and had two children from his first marriage. When he died without a will, his £400,000 estate went to his new wife Catherine under intestacy rules (£322,000 plus half of the remainder). Catherine later died without updating her will, leaving everything to her own children from her first marriage. David's children inherited nothing from their father's estate.

The same applies in reverse. If you want your stepchildren to inherit, you must include them in your will. Intestacy law doesn't recognize the relationship, no matter how long you've been their parent.

Jennifer had raised her husband's daughter Emma since Emma was three years old. When Jennifer died after 15 years, Emma—now 18—inherited nothing under intestacy law. Jennifer's entire estate went to her biological son. Emma was devastated.

A will lets you provide for stepchildren, biological children, and your spouse exactly as you intend. It's the only way to protect blended families from unintended disinheritance.

Reason 5: You Want to Avoid Family Conflict and Legal Battles

Intestacy doesn't just ignore your wishes—it breeds conflict. When the law decides who inherits, families argue about what you "would have wanted." Siblings fall out. Partners fight blood relatives. Legal costs spiral.

Without a will, someone must apply to be the administrator of your estate. If multiple people are entitled (for example, all your adult children), disputes arise. Who manages the estate? How is it divided? What about sentimental items? These questions lead to expensive court battles.

The probate process is longer without a will. With a will, executors can often complete simple estates within months. Without a will, intestacy adds complexity. Applications take longer. The official court fee is £300 for estates over £5,000, but total costs range from £2,000 to £5,000 for simpler estates and can exceed £20,000 for complex cases.

Intestacy often costs more because of disputes. Families may need court applications to resolve disagreements. Solicitor fees mount. The estate shrinks while legal bills grow.

After Margaret died without a will, her three children spent 18 months in court arguing over who should be administrator and how to divide her £180,000 estate. Legal fees consumed £12,000. The siblings no longer speak. Margaret's savings—meant to help her grandchildren—went to lawyers instead.

Contrast this with a will. Your executor is named. Your beneficiaries are clear. Distributions are specified. Family members know your wishes. Disputes are rare because there's nothing to dispute—you've already decided.

A 2019 survey found that families cite inheritance disputes as a leading cause of permanent rifts. These aren't just statistics—they're real relationships destroyed during grief.

A will costs £49.99. Family therapy costs thousands. A destroyed relationship is priceless. Make the investment that protects your family from costly legal battles and emotional turmoil.

Reason 6: You Want to Leave Money to Charity or Friends

Intestacy rules only cover blood relatives, spouses, and civil partners. If you want to leave anything to anyone else—charities, friends, godchildren, unmarried partners, carers—you must have a will.

Under intestacy, the law follows a strict hierarchy: spouse/civil partner gets the first £322,000 plus half the remainder, then children inherit, then parents, then siblings, then extended relatives. Charities, friends, and non-relatives get nothing. Your wishes are irrelevant.

Linda spent 40 years volunteering for an animal rescue charity and told everyone she wanted to leave them £20,000 when she died. She was single with no children. Without a will, her entire £85,000 estate went to a cousin she hadn't spoken to in 15 years. The charity she loved received nothing. Her cousin, who barely knew her, inherited everything.

Many people have close friends who are like family. Godchildren they've helped raise. Neighbors who became carers. Under intestacy law, none of these relationships matter. Only legal blood ties count.

Charitable bequests also offer a practical benefit for larger estates. Leaving 10% or more of your estate to charity can reduce your inheritance tax rate from 40% to 36%—potentially saving your beneficiaries thousands while supporting a cause you care about.

Robert left 10% of his £500,000 estate to cancer research in his will. This reduced his inheritance tax liability by £6,000, meaning his children inherited more while the charity received £50,000. Without a will, the charity would have received nothing, and his children would have paid more tax.

A will is the only way to leave gifts to charities, friends, and loved ones outside your immediate family. It ensures your money goes to the people and causes you care about—not distant relatives chosen by law.

Reason 7: You're Young and Healthy (But Life Is Unpredictable)

"I'm too young" is the most common excuse for not having a will. It's also the most dangerous. Young adults face unique risks—accidents, sudden illness, undiagnosed conditions—and often have dependents and assets they don't realize need protection.

Research shows that 45% of 16-25 year-olds feel they're too young for a will. Among 25-35 year-olds, the figure is 43%. Yet statistics tell a different story.

Every year, approximately 26,900 parents die in the UK leaving dependent children, affecting around 46,300 children. That's 127 children newly bereaved every single day. Many of those parents were young and healthy.

Life events make a will urgent at any age: buying a home, having children, getting engaged, starting a business, inheriting money. If you've experienced any of these, you need a will now.

Oliver was 29, newly married, and had just bought his first flat when he was diagnosed with aggressive cancer. He died six months later without a will. His wife Sarah had to battle his parents in court for ownership of their home because Oliver's share was subject to intestacy rules. The legal battle cost £15,000 and took 14 months.

The myth that wills are for older people is exactly that—a myth. Unexpected death doesn't discriminate by age. Accidents happen. Undiagnosed health conditions surface. Life is unpredictable.

Here's the good news: wills can be updated as life changes. Create one now (it takes 15 minutes), and you have instant protection. Get married? Update it. Have children? Update it. Buy property? Update it. But don't wait until these events happen to create your first will.

The best time to make a will was yesterday. The second best time is today. You're never too young to protect the people you love.

Reason 8: You Have Digital Assets (Crypto, Online Accounts, Social Media)

In 2018, HMRC confirmed that cryptoassets are treated as property for inheritance tax purposes. Yet 93% of people who have a will haven't included any digital assets in it.

Digital assets include far more than cryptocurrency. They include online bank accounts, PayPal balances, digital photos stored in the cloud, social media accounts, domain names, NFTs, online businesses, and digital subscriptions.

Without a will that addresses digital assets, two problems arise. First, executors may not even know these assets exist. Second, even if they do, they may lack the legal authority to access them.

For cryptocurrency specifically, the risk is catastrophic. If you lose your private keys or die without sharing them, the assets are lost forever. There's no central authority to recover them.

Daniel had £85,000 in Bitcoin when he died suddenly in a cycling accident. His family knew about the cryptocurrency, but Daniel hadn't documented his private keys or included access instructions in a will. Despite hiring blockchain forensic experts and spending £8,000 trying to recover the wallet, his family never accessed the Bitcoin. It remains locked forever.

The Law Commission's 2024 report on digital assets confirmed they are property under UK law, but also highlighted the access challenges executors face. Many online platforms won't grant access without specific legal authority.

Your will should include a comprehensive digital asset inventory. Document what you own online: cryptocurrency wallets, online accounts, cloud storage, digital businesses, subscription services. Store access information securely (not in the will itself—use a password manager or separate secure document).

Give your executor explicit authority to access digital assets. Modern will-writing services like WUHLD allow you to include these details as part of your estate planning.

Without a will, your digital assets could be lost, inaccessible, or fought over by platforms and family members for years. Protect what you've built online.

Reason 9: You Want to Minimise Inheritance Tax (for Larger Estates)

If your estate is worth more than £325,000 (or £500,000 if you're leaving your main residence to children or grandchildren), inheritance tax becomes a concern. Without proper planning through a will, your beneficiaries could lose 40% of your estate above these thresholds.

The current inheritance tax thresholds are: £325,000 per person (the nil-rate band), plus an additional £175,000 if you're leaving your main home to direct descendants (the residence nil-rate band). This means individuals can pass on up to £500,000 tax-free if they own a home and leave it to children or grandchildren.

Married couples and civil partners can combine their allowances, meaning a couple can potentially pass on up to £1 million tax-free (£650,000 in standard allowances plus up to £350,000 in residence nil-rate bands).

Everything above these thresholds is taxed at 40%. Without a will, intestacy offers no tax planning whatsoever—inheritance tax is automatically applied at full rates.

A will enables strategic tax planning. You can leave charitable donations (which reduce the taxable estate). You can set up trusts for children. You can ensure spousal exemptions are used efficiently. You can structure gifts to minimize tax liability.

Sarah's estate was worth £600,000, including her home. Without a will, her estate paid £110,000 in inheritance tax (40% on £275,000 above the nil-rate band). With proper will planning using both the nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band, plus a £30,000 charitable bequest, she could have reduced the tax bill to approximately £40,000. That's a £70,000 difference—money that could have gone to her children instead of HMRC.

For larger estates with business assets or agricultural property, additional reliefs may apply—but only if properly structured in a will. Business Property Relief can reduce or eliminate inheritance tax on business assets, but requires careful planning.

A will allows you to legally reduce your inheritance tax bill and pass more to your loved ones. For personalized tax planning, consult a qualified tax advisor or financial planner.

Reason 10: It Takes Just 15 Minutes and Costs £49.99 (No More Excuses)

Let's address the final barriers—time, cost, and complexity. Traditional will-writing is expensive (solicitors charge £650+), time-consuming (weeks of appointments), and intimidating (legal jargon, formal offices).

Online will-writing with WUHLD removes every one of these obstacles. It takes 15 minutes. It costs £49.99 (one-time payment, no subscriptions). You can preview your entire will free before paying anything.

Compare that to traditional solicitors. Appointments take weeks to schedule. You'll need multiple visits to discuss details, review drafts, and finalize documents. The average solicitor will costs £650 to £900 for a straightforward will, often more for couples or anything remotely complex.

WUHLD is designed for straightforward UK estates. You answer simple questions online. The platform guides you through every decision: executors, guardians, beneficiaries, distributions, specific gifts. You don't need legal knowledge—the system translates your wishes into proper legal language.

When you finish, you get four documents: your complete legally binding will, a 12-page Testator Guide explaining how to execute your will properly, a Witness Guide to give to your witnesses, and a Complete Asset Inventory document.

Tom had been putting off making a will for three years. Between work, two young children, and life, he never found time for solicitor appointments. One Tuesday evening after putting his kids to bed, he logged into WUHLD. Fourteen minutes later, he'd completed his will. It cost £49.99—less than a meal out—and he finally had peace of mind.

The preview-free offer means you can start right now. Answer the questions, see your completed will, and only pay £49.99 if you're satisfied. No credit card required to start. No commitment until you're ready to download.

If you have complex assets (international property, business interests, significant trusts, or anticipate disputes), consider consulting a solicitor. But for most UK families—homeowners, parents, unmarried couples, blended families—WUHLD provides everything you need.

You've now read 10 compelling reasons why you need a will. The only question left is: what's your excuse?

Start creating your legally valid UK will today. Learn more about how to make a will in the UK or understand the UK will requirements that ensure your will is legally binding.

What Happens If You Don't Have a Will?

Without a will, your estate faces every risk outlined above. Here's the complete picture:

Your estate is divided according to intestacy rules, not your wishes
Unmarried partners inherit nothing (even after decades together)
Stepchildren inherit nothing
Courts decide who raises your children (if under 18)
Your estate may take 18+ months to settle
Legal costs increase significantly (often £5,000 to £20,000+)
Family disputes and court battles are common
Charities and friends receive nothing
Digital assets may be permanently lost
Inheritance tax is not minimized
Property may be forced to sell to divide the estate
Distant relatives you barely know could inherit everything

Every single one of these consequences is avoidable with a will.

The intestacy rules are rigid, impersonal, and often devastatingly unfair. They're designed for a 1920s family structure that no longer reflects modern life. They don't recognize unmarried partnerships, blended families, chosen family, or personal wishes.

Don't let a 100-year-old law decide what happens to your life's work and the people you love. For more detail on exactly what happens, read our complete guide on what happens if you die without a will in the UK.

Get Your Will Done Today

You've learned 10 compelling reasons why you need a will. Now it's time to act.

Key takeaways:

If you have children, property, a partner, or anyone you care about, you need a will
56% of UK adults don't have one—don't be part of the vulnerable majority
Intestacy rules ignore your wishes and often create devastating consequences for families
Creating a will takes just 15 minutes online with WUHLD and costs £49.99 (no subscriptions, no hidden fees)
You can preview your complete will for free before paying anything

Making a will isn't about planning for death—it's about protecting the people you love while you're alive. It's about making sure your children are cared for, your partner is protected, and your family doesn't face legal chaos during the worst time of their lives.

The question isn't "Do I need a will?"—it's "Why haven't I done this yet?"

Start creating your legally valid UK will with WUHLD today. In just 15 minutes, you'll answer simple questions online and receive a complete will package:

Your complete, legally binding will
A 12-page Testator Guide explaining how to execute your will properly
A Witness Guide to give to your witnesses
A Complete Asset Inventory document

Preview your finished will completely free—no credit card required. Only pay £49.99 when you're satisfied and ready to download. No subscriptions, no solicitor fees, no appointments.

Start Your Will Free - Preview Before Paying

For more information, explore how to make a will in the UK or understand what happens if you die without a will.

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information about UK wills and estate planning and does not constitute legal advice. The inheritance tax information provided is based on current UK tax rates and thresholds as of 2025 and may change. For advice specific to your individual situation, please consult a qualified solicitor or tax advisor. WUHLD's online will service is suitable for straightforward UK estates; complex situations involving international assets, business interests, significant trusts, or anticipated disputes may require professional legal advice.

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