Startup Founders: Early-Stage Will Planning Guide UK

James, 32, spent three years building his SaaS startup from his London flat. By 2024, the company was valued at £2 million, he held 45% equity, and they'd just closed a Series A round.

When James died suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition, he had no will. Under UK intestacy rules, his entire 45% shareholding—worth £900,000—passed to his parents. His co-founder couldn't buy the shares without their consent. His unmarried partner of seven years, who'd supported him through every late night and near-bankruptcy, inherited nothing.

James's parents, unfamiliar with startup culture, demanded board representation. Investors threatened to walk. The company collapsed within eight months.

In 2024, 846,000 new UK companies were incorporated. Most founders obsess over cap tables, vesting schedules, and investor rights—but 60% never create a will. This guide shows you exactly what's at stake when you die without one, and how to protect your equity, your co-founders, and your family in 15 minutes.

Why Startup Founders Avoid Will Planning (And Why That's Dangerous)

You're not procrastinating because you're lazy. You're postponing will planning because you're juggling product development, fundraising, hiring, customer acquisition, and a hundred other priorities that feel more urgent.

"I'll do it when we're profitable." "I'll sort it after Series A." "I'll deal with this when the business is more stable."

Sound familiar?

Here's the problem: founders face uniquely high risks. Research shows that founder death wipes out 60% of a firm's sales on average and cuts jobs by roughly 17%. Companies have a 20% lower survival rate two years after the founder's death compared to similar firms where the entrepreneur is still alive.

The lifestyle amplifies the risk. High stress, chronic overwork, mental health challenges, frequent travel for investor meetings—founders push themselves to extremes. Sudden health events happen. Heart conditions, strokes, accidents—they don't wait until your business is "stable."

The financial stakes are massive. Your equity might feel illiquid and theoretical today, but it represents real value. If you hold £500,000 in startup shares and die without a will, intestacy rules could hand those shares to distant relatives who'll disrupt your cap table, alienate your co-founders, and destroy what you built.

The emotional cost hits harder. Your family faces months of legal battles while lawyers sort out intestacy. Your co-founder watches helplessly as strangers appear on the shareholder register. Your partner—if you're unmarried—receives nothing.

You had time to negotiate your ESOP. You have time for this.

Common Founder Rationalisations (And Why They're Wrong)

"I'm young and healthy, I don't need a will yet."

James was 32. Sudden health events don't discriminate by age. Founders often ignore warning signs—chest pain, exhaustion, mental health crises—because they're too busy scaling.

"My partner will automatically inherit everything."

Only if you're married or in a civil partnership. Unmarried partners receive nothing under UK intestacy rules—even after decades together. If you're cohabiting, your entire estate passes to your parents or siblings.

"Our shareholders' agreement covers what happens when I die."

Your shareholders' agreement might specify how shares can be transferred, but it doesn't control who inherits them. Without a will, intestacy rules decide the initial inheritance, then your shareholders' agreement restrictions kick in. Both documents matter.

What Happens to Your Startup Equity If You Die Without a Will

UK intestacy rules treat your company shares like any other asset—a house, a car, a savings account. The law doesn't care that your equity represents years of work, complex vesting schedules, or investor expectations. What happens to your business when you die depends entirely on whether you've planned ahead.

Under the Administration of Estates Act 1925, here's exactly what happens:

If you're married with children: Your spouse receives the first £322,000 of your estate plus half of anything above that amount. Your children split the other half. If you hold £900,000 in equity, your spouse gets £611,000 (£322k + 50% of £578k), and your children share £289,000—held in trust until they turn 18.

If you're unmarried with a long-term partner: Your partner inherits exactly £0. Intestacy rules don't recognise unmarried partners, regardless of how long you've been together. Your shares pass to your parents. If your parents have died, they go to your siblings. Then to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and increasingly distant relatives.

If you're single with no children: Your shares pass directly to your parents. If both parents are deceased, they go to siblings, then other relatives down the statutory hierarchy.

The Transmission Process Creates Business Chaos

When you die, your Personal Representatives (PRs)—typically family members appointed by the court—obtain probate and gain legal title to your shares. This typically takes 3-6 months minimum. During this period, critical business decisions stall.

Your PRs don't automatically become shareholders with voting rights. They can choose whether to register themselves as shareholders or sell the shares (subject to your company's articles of association and shareholders' agreement restrictions).

Here's where it gets messy: if your articles include pre-emption rights, your PRs must offer shares to existing shareholders first. If the articles restrict transfers entirely, the shares might be trapped—your family can't sell them, and they can't exercise voting rights.

Critical reality check: If you're unmarried, intestacy means your partner inherits £0 from your startup—even if you've built it together for years. This is the single biggest estate planning mistake UK founders make.

Real Consequences for Real Founders

Sarah, 29, technical co-founder: She held 35% equity in a fintech startup valued at £1.5 million. When she died in a car accident, intestacy passed her £525,000 stake to her parents. They lived in Scotland, didn't understand cap tables, and wanted immediate cash. The co-founders couldn't afford to buy the shares. Investors walked away from the planned Series A. The company shut down within six months.

David, 34, solo founder: His SaaS company was bootstrapped to £800,000 valuation. He and his partner of nine years weren't married. When David died, his shares passed to his estranged brother under intestacy rules. The brother demanded board control and a salary. David's partner, who'd worked unpaid for years building the business, received nothing and couldn't prevent the brother from destroying the company.

Emma and Tom, co-founders: Emma held 40% equity, Tom held 40%, investors held 20%. Emma died with young children. Under intestacy, her spouse received £322,000 worth of shares, and her children (aged 5 and 7) inherited the rest in trust. Trustees—chosen by the court, not by Emma—now controlled a major shareholding. They knew nothing about startups and blocked every decision requiring shareholder approval. Business succession planning in your will could have prevented this disaster.

The "Dead Equity" Problem: How Your Death Affects Co-Founders

"Dead equity" means shares owned by someone not actively contributing to the startup. Investors hate it. Co-founders fear it. Employees resent it.

When you die without proper planning, your shares pass via intestacy to family members who appear on the cap table as major shareholders—but they're not building the product, closing sales, or writing code.

Why Dead Equity Destroys Startups

Investor perspective: Dead equity reduces valuations and blocks future funding rounds. Venture capitalists won't invest in companies with significant inactive shareholders who might interfere with governance. In due diligence, they'll see your parents or in-laws holding 35% equity and walk away.

Employee morale: Your team sees inactive shareholders with large stakes while they're grinding for small option pools. It breeds resentment and drives talent away.

Co-founder's dilemma: Your co-founder wants to buy out your shares to restore a clean cap table. But they likely lack the cash—your 30% stake in a £2 million company is worth £600,000. Where does a startup founder find that money immediately after losing their business partner?

How Vesting Schedules Interact With Death

Standard founder vesting: 4 years with a 1-year cliff. You receive 25% of your shares after year one, then the rest vest monthly over the remaining three years.

If you die with unvested shares, your company likely has repurchase rights under your vesting agreement. The company can buy back unvested shares at nominal value (often £0.01 per share). These disappear from the cap table.

But vested shares pass via intestacy or your will. Without proper planning, these create the dead equity problem. Understanding how to pass company shares in your will is essential for avoiding this trap.

Cross-Option Agreements: The Gold Standard Solution

A cross-option agreement allows your co-founders to buy your shares when you die, funded by life insurance policies you've each taken out on each other.

Here's how it works: You and your co-founder each take out £500,000 life insurance policies. If you die, the policy pays out to your co-founder. They use that cash to exercise their option to buy your shares from your estate at a pre-agreed valuation. Your family receives cash, your co-founder receives shares, the cap table stays clean.

Without this structure, your family inherits illiquid shares they can't easily sell, and your co-founder faces an equity deadlock with someone who doesn't understand the business.

Your Situation	Without Will/Agreement	With Will + Shareholders' Agreement
Die with unvested shares	Company repurchases unvested portion; vested shares pass via intestacy to whoever the law decides	Company repurchases unvested; your will directs vested shares to chosen beneficiaries; agreement gives co-founders option to buy
Die fully vested, no agreement	Shares pass via intestacy to family; family becomes shareholders; chaos ensues	Your will directs shares to chosen beneficiaries; transfer may be restricted by articles requiring co-founder consent
Die with cross-option agreement	Agreement allows co-founders to buy shares at pre-agreed valuation, funded by life insurance; smooth transition	Agreement triggers; life insurance pays out; shares transfer smoothly; family receives cash instead of illiquid equity

Marcus and Lisa, co-founders with cross-option: When Marcus died at 38, he held 42% equity in a valued £3 million company. Their cross-option agreement + £1.2 million life insurance policy on Marcus meant Lisa could immediately buy his shares. Marcus's wife received £1.2 million in cash within weeks. Lisa retained control. Investors stayed committed. The company survived and later exited successfully.

EMI Share Options, Stock Options, and Your Will

If you hold Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) options rather than shares, you face a specific complexity most founders miss.

Options aren't shares—they're the right to buy shares at a set price. When you die, different rules apply.

The 12-Month Deadline You Can't Miss

EMI options can only be exercised within 12 months of the option holder's death. After that, they lapse and become worthless.

Your Personal Representatives (executors) must decide within this window whether to exercise the options. Exercising requires cash—if your options let you buy 100,000 shares at £1 each, your executors need £100,000 to exercise.

If your executors don't know the options exist, or lack the funds to exercise them, your family loses potentially enormous value.

Technical founder with £500,000 in options: Alex held EMI options to buy 250,000 shares at £2 each (total exercise cost: £500,000). The company was valued at £10 million, making each share worth £4. If exercised, the options would be worth £500,000 profit (buy at £2, sell at £4).

Alex died without a will. His parents were appointed as administrators. They didn't understand options, didn't realize the 12-month deadline existed, and never found the option agreements. The options expired. Alex's estate lost £500,000.

Who Can Exercise Your Options?

EMI options are non-transferable except to Personal Representatives. Only your executors can exercise them after your death.

Your will should explicitly authorize your executors to use estate funds to exercise valuable options. Without this authorization, they might lack the legal power or financial means to act.

Tax Implications of Exercising After Death

Death counts as a "disqualifying event" for EMI purposes, but the tax consequences vary depending on when the options were granted and the option terms.

Generally, if your executors exercise EMI options within 12 months of your death, they may still benefit from favorable capital gains tax treatment on the growth in value. However, specific tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances.

Your executors should consult a tax advisor before exercising valuable options to understand the IHT and CGT implications.

What Your Will Should Say About Options

Sample language (simplified):

"I give my executors authority to exercise any share options I hold at the date of my death, including but not limited to Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI) options, using estate funds as necessary. My executors should consult my letter of wishes regarding which options to exercise and should seek professional tax advice before exercising options with significant value."

Critical: Your EMI options are worthless if your executors don't know they exist or lack the cash to exercise them. Your will should explicitly list your options and authorize executors to use estate funds to exercise them.

The Letter of Wishes Solution

Create a non-binding letter of wishes alongside your will. This document:

Lists all your option grants with grant dates and exercise prices
Explains which options are likely valuable and should be exercised
Names your accountant, co-founders, or company lawyer who can help value the options
Gets updated whenever you receive new option grants (easier than updating your entire will)

Founder with detailed letter of wishes: When Priya died 18 months after a Series A, she held three separate EMI option grants. Her letter of wishes explained that the most recent grant (given just before the funding round) was at the lowest exercise price and highest value. Her executors exercised only that grant, optimizing the estate's return while minimizing cash required.

Business Property Relief: The £1 Million Cap You Need to Know About

From April 6, 2026, Business Property Relief (BPR) will be capped at £1 million at 100% relief. Qualifying business assets above this threshold receive only 50% relief.

If you're a founder with significant equity, this changes everything about inheritance tax planning. Proper estate planning becomes even more critical as these new rules take effect.

What Business Property Relief Currently Offers

Right now, unquoted trading company shares (your startup equity) qualify for 100% inheritance tax relief if you've held them for at least two years. Unlimited relief. A £5 million stake? No IHT.

From April 2026, only the first £1 million gets 100% relief. Everything above £1 million receives 50% relief—meaning an effective IHT rate of 20% (50% relief on the standard 40% IHT rate).

The Real Cost to Startup Founders

Calculation example: Sarah, solo founder, startup valued at £3 million

Asset	IHT Treatment (Post-2026)	IHT Due
£325,000 (nil-rate band)	0%	£0
£675,000 (to reach £1M BPR cap)	0% (Business Property Relief)	£0
£2,000,000 (equity above £1M)	20% (50% BPR, so 50% × 40% IHT rate)	£400,000
Total IHT bill		£400,000

Without planning, Sarah's heirs must pay £400,000 in IHT within six months of her death—potentially forcing a fire sale of shares.

The timing matters: These rules apply to deaths from April 6, 2026 onwards. But transitional provisions affect lifetime gifts made from October 30, 2024. If you're planning lifetime gifting strategies, you need to act now.

The 7-Year Rolling Cap (Not a Lifetime Cap)

Here's the critical detail most founders miss: the £1 million BPR allowance operates on a seven-year rolling basis, not as a permanent lifetime cap.

You can gift £1 million of qualifying business assets every seven years without permanently depleting your allowance. If those gifts survive the seven-year period (meaning you live seven years after making the gift), they fall out of your estate entirely and don't count toward the £1 million cap at death.

This creates planning opportunities: gift equity to your spouse or children now, survive seven years, and reset your £1 million allowance.

What This Means for Founders Today

If your equity is worth under £1 million: You're unlikely to face IHT on your business assets. Standard nil-rate bands and BPR should cover you.

If your equity is worth £1-3 million: You're in the zone where estate planning matters. Consider lifetime gifting strategies, spousal transfers, or will trusts to minimize IHT exposure.

If your equity is worth over £3 million: You need professional tax advice. Will trusts, family investment companies, and sophisticated lifetime gifting structures may be appropriate.

AIM Shares Get Even Less Relief

If your startup has listed on AIM (Alternative Investment Market), you only get 50% BPR—and this doesn't count toward your £1 million allowance at 100%.

AIM shares valued at £2 million face 20% effective IHT (50% relief on 40% rate) = £400,000 tax bill, with no £1 million allowance to reduce it.

Tech founder post-AIM listing: When Ben's company listed on AIM, his £2.5 million stake suddenly became far less tax-efficient. Previously, as unquoted shares, it would have qualified for 100% BPR. Post-listing, his estate faces a £500,000 IHT bill (20% effective rate on £2.5M). He's now restructuring his estate to transfer shares to his spouse (who has her own allowances) and considering gifting to his children.

What Your Shareholders' Agreement Should Say About Death

Your shareholders' agreement partially overrides your will when it comes to who can buy your shares. But most founders signed their shareholders' agreement at incorporation and haven't looked at it since.

Here's what yours should include.

Essential Death Provisions Every Founder Needs

Cross-option agreements: These give the surviving shareholders the option to buy your shares, and give your estate the option to force a sale. Both sides have a choice, creating flexibility. The agreement specifies the valuation method and timeline for the transaction.

Pre-emption rights: If your estate wants to sell your shares, existing shareholders get first refusal at the agreed price before external buyers can be approached. This prevents random outsiders joining your cap table.

Compulsory transfer clauses: Some agreements require automatic sale of shares on death. Your estate must sell, and shareholders must buy (or the company must repurchase). This guarantees a clean exit but removes choice.

Valuation mechanism: How much are your shares worth when you die? Your agreement should specify: last funding round valuation, agreed multiplier of revenue/EBITDA, independent professional valuation, or a formula you've agreed in advance. Without this, disputes drag on for months and cost tens of thousands in valuation fees.

Life insurance requirements: The agreement should require founders to maintain life insurance policies sufficient to fund share buybacks. You insure each other's lives for the value of their equity stake.

Good Leaver vs Bad Leaver (And How Death Is Treated)

Most shareholders' agreements classify departing shareholders as "good leavers" or "bad leavers." This determines the price they (or their estate) receive for shares.

Good leavers typically include: death, disability, retirement. They get fair market value for their shares.

Bad leavers typically include: fired for cause, resignation within a certain period, competing with the company. They get nominal value or a heavily discounted price.

Death should always be classified as a good leaver event. Check your agreement confirms this.

Voting Rights and Board Representation for Inherited Shares

Can your spouse demand a board seat if they inherit your shares? Can your parents vote on major company decisions?

Your shareholders' agreement should specify:

Whether inherited shares carry full voting rights or only economic rights (dividends/exit proceeds)
Whether inheritors can become directors
Whether major decisions require approval from active founders only, regardless of inherited shareholdings

Founder whose spouse inherited shares: When Michael died, his wife inherited 30% equity. The shareholders' agreement gave her economic rights but stripped voting rights for any shares held by non-active shareholders. She received dividends and would share in any exit proceeds, but couldn't block business decisions. This protected the co-founders while ensuring Michael's wife benefited financially.

Audit Your Shareholders' Agreement Now

Does your shareholders' agreement include:

What happens to shares on founder death?
Valuation mechanism for deceased founder's shares?
Right for surviving shareholders to purchase shares?
Life insurance requirements to fund share purchases?
Whether inherited shares carry voting rights?
Whether inheritors can become directors?
Timeline for share transfer/purchase (e.g., 90 days)?

If you answered "no" or "I don't know" to any of these, your agreement needs updating.

Work with a corporate solicitor to add proper death provisions. It costs £1,000-2,000 to update an agreement—far less than the £100,000+ in legal fees and lost company value from a messy post-death dispute.

Choosing Executors Who Understand Startup Equity

Your executor will make time-sensitive decisions about your equity within weeks of your death. Choose someone who understands cap tables, not just someone you love.

What Executors Actually Do (And Why It's Complex for Founders)

Executors obtain probate, value your assets, collect debts owed to you, pay IHT within six months, and distribute your estate according to your will.

For startup founders, this includes complex decisions about passing on company shares and managing business assets:

Understanding your cap table and which shares are fully vested
Reading and interpreting your shareholders' agreement and articles of association
Exercising EMI options within 12 months (requires understanding option value and tax implications)
Negotiating with co-founders on share buybacks
Triggering cross-option agreements at the right time
Dealing with investors and board members who may have conflicting interests
Valuing illiquid startup equity (no market price exists)

Your startup-naive parents probably can't handle this. They'll be grieving, unfamiliar with business structures, and overwhelmed by complex legal documents written in corporate law language.

Characteristics of Good Founder Executors

Business-savvy: They understand equity, options, valuations, cap tables. They've worked in startups, invested in companies, or advised businesses.

Trustworthy: You're giving them legal control of your entire estate. They must act in your beneficiaries' interests, not their own.

Available: Executor duties are time-consuming, especially in the first 6-12 months after death. They need capacity to engage properly.

Younger than you: Ideally, they should outlive you. Don't appoint your 70-year-old parents if you're 35.

Emotionally resilient: They'll be making complex decisions while your family grieves. They need to stay level-headed under pressure.

Can You Appoint Your Co-Founder as Executor?

Yes—and in many cases, this makes sense. Your co-founder understands the business, knows the value of your equity, and can navigate shareholder agreements.

But consider potential conflicts of interest: if your co-founder has an option to buy your shares, they're negotiating on both sides of the transaction. They're acting as your executor (duty to maximize value for your estate) and as a buyer (incentive to minimize price).

The solution: appoint two executors. One is your co-founder (business expertise). The other is a trusted family member or advisor (oversight and family representation). They must agree on major decisions.

Professional Executors: When You Need One

For complex estates—over £3 million, multiple companies, international assets, contentious family situations—consider appointing a professional executor.

Solicitors, accountants, or specialist executor firms will charge 3-5% of your estate value, but they bring expertise and impartiality. For a £2 million estate, that's £60,000-100,000, but it might save your beneficiaries far more in avoided mistakes and disputes.

Founder with professional executor: When Aisha died with a £4 million stake in two separate startups, she'd appointed her accountant as professional executor alongside her spouse. The accountant navigated the complex valuation, exercised £200,000 in EMI options at the optimal time, negotiated share buybacks with both co-founders, and ensured the estate paid minimal IHT through careful planning. The 4% fee (£160,000) was worth it for the £600,000 her estate saved through proper execution.

Ideal Executor Combinations

For most founders:

Executor 1: Business-savvy friend, advisor, or co-founder
Executor 2: Trusted family member (spouse, sibling, parent)

For complex estates:

Executor 1: Professional executor (solicitor or accountant)
Executor 2: Family member for personal decisions

Avoid:

Single executor who lacks business knowledge
Only family members with no startup experience
Only your co-founder without family oversight

What to Actually Include in Your Will as a Founder

Your will should cover standard components—executors, guardians for children, beneficiaries, funeral wishes—but founders need specific additions.

Standard Components (Don't Skip These)

Executors: Name at least two executors with the characteristics outlined above. Include a substitute in case your first choices can't serve.

Guardians: If you have children under 18, name who should raise them. This is separate from who inherits your assets. Don't leave this decision to the courts.

Beneficiaries: Who inherits your estate? Specify percentages or specific assets for each person. Remember: unmarried partners receive nothing under intestacy, so you must name them explicitly.

Funeral wishes: Burial, cremation, specific requests. Not legally binding, but guides your family.

Founder-Specific Additions Your Will Must Include

Explicit list of all equity holdings:

"I hold the following company shares at the date of my death:

[Company Name] Ltd: [X] ordinary shares, certificate number [123]
[Company Name] Ltd: [Y] A-preference shares, certificate number [456]"

List every share class separately. Include certificate numbers if you have physical certificates.

Options and unvested equity:

"I hold the following share options:

EMI options granted [date]: right to purchase [X] shares at £[Y] per share, vesting schedule [details]
Unapproved options granted [date]: right to purchase [X] shares at £[Y] per share"

"At the date of my death, my vesting schedule with [Company Name] Ltd provides that [X]% of my shares are vested."

Reference to shareholders' agreement:

"I acknowledge that my shares in [Company Name] Ltd are subject to the Shareholders' Agreement dated [date]. This agreement includes pre-emption rights, transfer restrictions, and cross-option provisions that my executors must comply with when transferring or selling my shares."

Authorization for executors to exercise options:

"I authorize and direct my executors to exercise any share options I hold at the date of my death, including EMI options and unapproved options, if my executors determine in their discretion that exercising the options would benefit my estate. My executors may use estate funds to pay the exercise price and any associated taxes."

Business Assets Beyond Equity

Don't forget:

Digital assets: GitHub accounts, AWS credentials, company email accounts, domain name registrations, intellectual property licenses

Physical assets: Company laptops, servers, equipment you own personally but the business uses

Intellectual property: Patents, trademarks, copyrights registered in your name (vs company name)

What NOT to Include in Your Will

Specific share prices: "My equity in [Company] is worth £2 million." This becomes outdated immediately after every funding round. Your executors will obtain a professional valuation.

Overly prescriptive business instructions: "My co-founder must hire [specific person] as CEO." Your will governs asset distribution, not business strategy. Use a letter of wishes for business guidance.

Confidential business information: Don't include trade secrets, customer lists, or sensitive IP. Wills become public documents after probate.

The Letter of Wishes: Your Secret Weapon

A letter of wishes is a non-binding document that accompanies your will. It provides guidance to your executors without being legally enforceable.

What to include:

Explanation of your business and equity structure
Guidance on which EMI options to exercise and why
Names of key business contacts: co-founders, lawyers, accountants, investors
Your wishes for the business (e.g., "I hope my co-founder continues building the company")
Personal context for decisions (e.g., "I want my partner cared for even though we're not married")

Why it matters: Your letter of wishes gets updated far more frequently than your will. Every funding round, every new option grant, every business change—update the letter. It costs nothing and requires no solicitor involvement.

When your executors need to make a complex decision about exercising options or negotiating with co-founders, they'll read your letter and understand your intentions.

Founder with comprehensive letter of wishes: Tom's will was standard—executors, beneficiaries, asset list. But his 4-page letter of wishes explained the company's strategy, recent funding round terms, why certain option grants were valuable, and which co-founder to trust for business advice. When Tom died, his executors used the letter to navigate complex negotiations with investors, exercise the right options, and preserve the company's value. Tom's estate received £1.2 million from a share buyback—far more than if executors had acted without his guidance.

How to Create Your Founder Will in 15 Minutes with WUHLD

Most founders assume they need an expensive solicitor for a "complex estate." You're thinking £650-1,200 for a bespoke will, plus weeks of appointments.

Here's the truth: what's actually complex versus what's straightforward.

What's Actually Complex (Solicitor Territory)

Complex situations requiring professional legal advice:

Advanced IHT planning with trusts and lifetime gifting structures
Offshore assets or international estate planning
Dynasty planning for multi-generational wealth transfer
Contentious family situations with expected inheritance disputes
Tax optimization structures for estates over £5 million
Special needs trusts for disabled beneficiaries

What's Straightforward (Perfect for WUHLD)

Situations WUHLD handles perfectly:

Directing your company shares to chosen beneficiaries
Listing multiple shareholdings and option grants
Appointing executors with business expertise
Naming guardians for your children
Ensuring your unmarried partner inherits
Creating a legally valid will in plain English

The confusion comes from thinking "equity = complex." But directing who inherits your shares is straightforward. The complexity is in the shareholders' agreement and corporate structure—not in your will.

How WUHLD Handles Business Assets

WUHLD's will creation platform includes specific sections for business owners:

Company shareholdings: You'll be prompted to list each company where you own shares, the share class, and the percentage or number of shares. The platform asks about business partners and co-owners.

Executor selection: The guidance specifically addresses choosing executors with business knowledge. You can appoint multiple executors and explain why you've chosen them.

Business-savvy language: The final will uses clear, professional language that your co-founders, investors, and executors will understand.

15-minute completion: The platform is optimized for busy founders. Complete it on mobile between meetings.

The Preview-First Approach Removes All Risk

See exactly how WUHLD handles your situation before paying anything.

The process:

Answer questions about your equity, beneficiaries, and executors
Preview your complete will—every clause, every detail
Check it covers your shareholdings, options, and specific circumstances
Only pay £49.99 if you're satisfied

No credit card required for preview. No obligation. No legal jargon you don't understand.

What you get for £49.99:

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
Unlimited updates online (no subscription fees)

When You DO Need a Solicitor

Be honest about your situation. You need professional legal advice if:

Your estate exceeds £2 million AND you want advanced IHT planning: Will trusts, spousal trusts, lifetime gifting strategies coordinated with the April 2026 BPR cap changes

You have offshore assets: Non-UK property, foreign company shares, international investments

You expect family disputes: Disinherited children, estranged relatives, contentious ex-spouses who might challenge your will

You need tax optimization structures: Family investment companies, multiple trust layers, sophisticated CGT planning

You have special circumstances: Disabled beneficiaries requiring special needs trusts, step-children with complex inheritance rights, business partnership dissolution planning

For everything else—including most founder situations—WUHLD provides a faster, simpler, and dramatically cheaper solution.

Addressing Founder Objections Head-On

Founder Objection	Reality Check
"My estate is too complex for an online will"	WUHLD handles multiple shareholdings, options, and beneficiaries. You only need a solicitor if you're doing advanced IHT planning, offshore trusts, or expect contested claims. Preview your will first—see if it covers your situation.
"I'll do it after our Series B closes"	Your co-founders and family need protection NOW. This takes 15 minutes—less time than your last investor call. What if you die before Series B?
"What if I need to update it when our valuation changes?"	Your will doesn't include share prices—it just directs who inherits your equity. Update it free anytime online when your circumstances change (new funding round, new co-founder, new children).
"I need advice specific to my situation"	WUHLD covers 95% of founder situations. Preview your will first. If you see gaps, consult a solicitor. You'll have saved £650 and understood the issues better.

Start With Your Will, Then Fix Your Shareholders' Agreement

Your will and shareholders' agreement work together. Start by creating your will with WUHLD—this ensures your equity passes to your chosen beneficiaries and your executors have proper authority.

Then review your shareholders' agreement. Does it include the cross-option provisions, valuation mechanisms, and death clauses discussed earlier? If not, speak to a corporate solicitor about updating it. Understanding what happens to your business when you die will help you see why both documents are critical.

Think of it this way: your will is the foundation (who inherits), and your shareholders' agreement is the structure on top (how shares transfer, who can buy them, what they're worth).

You can create the foundation today for £49.99 in 15 minutes. Then work on the structure.

Protect Your Startup, Your Co-Founders, and Your Family Today

Here's what you now know that most founders ignore:

Without a will, intestacy rules treat your startup equity like any asset—your unmarried partner gets nothing, your shares could pass to distant relatives, and your co-founders face "dead equity" chaos that destroys the business you built together.

Your shareholders' agreement and articles of association partially override your will, but you still need a will to direct your shares to the right beneficiaries and appoint executors who understand equity. Both documents work together to protect your business.

From April 2026, Business Property Relief caps at £1 million, meaning estates above this face 20% effective IHT—that's £400,000 tax on £2 million equity. Plan now through lifetime gifting, spousal transfers, and proper will structures to minimize the bill.

Choose executors with business knowledge or professional expertise, explicitly authorize them to exercise EMI options within the 12-month deadline, and include a letter of wishes explaining your equity holdings and business strategy.

A solicitor-drafted will costs £650-1,200 and takes weeks; WUHLD handles business shareholdings, options, and executors for £49.99 in 15 minutes—preview your will free to see if it covers your situation before paying anything.

You've poured everything into building your startup—late nights, financial risk, relationships strained. The worst part of James's story isn't that he died young; it's that his life's work collapsed because he spent more time on cap table spreadsheets than protecting the people he loved.

Don't let that be your legacy.

Create your legally valid founder will today with WUHLD. See exactly how it handles your equity, your executors, and your beneficiaries—preview your complete will free, no credit card required.

For just £49.99 (one-time payment, no subscriptions), you'll get:

Your complete, legally binding will
A 12-page Testator Guide
A Witness Guide
A Complete Asset Inventory document
Free unlimited updates online

Your co-founder spent weeks negotiating their shareholders' agreement. You can protect your half of the company in 15 minutes.

Ready to Create Your Will?

WUHLD makes it simple to create a legally valid will online in just 15 minutes. Our guided process ensures your wishes are properly documented and your loved ones are protected.

Start creating your will now — it's quick, affordable, and backed by legal experts.

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information about UK will requirements for startup founders and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your individual situation, please consult a qualified solicitor. WUHLD's online will service is suitable for straightforward UK estates; complex situations involving trusts, offshore assets, or estates exceeding £3 million may require professional legal advice.

Tax Disclaimer: Tax rules are complex and subject to change. This article reflects tax law as of October 2025, including announced changes taking effect in April 2026. For personalized tax planning advice, consult a qualified tax advisor or chartered accountant.

Shareholders' Agreement Disclaimer: This article provides general guidance on shareholders' agreements. Every agreement is different, and the specific terms of your agreement will determine what happens to your shares on death. Have your agreement reviewed by a corporate solicitor to understand your specific position.

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