When to Update Your Will (and How Often)

David made his will in 2015, naming his wife as sole beneficiary and his brother as executor. When he remarried in 2022 after a divorce, he assumed his will would simply transfer to his new wife.

It didn't.

Under UK law, his marriage automatically revoked his entire will—meaning if he died, his estate would be distributed under intestacy rules, potentially leaving his new wife with far less than he intended. Meanwhile, his ex-wife's name remained in old banking paperwork, and his brother hadn't spoken to him in three years.

David's story isn't unusual. Research shows that 53% of people who experienced significant life events haven't updated their wills, and executor disputes have increased by 20% in the past year—many stemming from outdated provisions.

Whether your will is one year old or twenty, knowing when and how to update it could be the difference between your wishes being honoured and your loved ones facing legal battles.

This guide covers the 15 life events that require immediate will updates, how often you should review even without major changes, and exactly how to update your will—hint: it's much simpler than you think.

How Often Should You Update Your Will? (The General Timeline)

Legal experts generally recommend reviewing your will every 3-5 years as a baseline, even if nothing major has changed in your life.

Why? Laws change. The intestacy threshold for spousal inheritance increased from £270,000 to £322,000 in July 2023. Executors age, move, or become unsuitable. Property values shift dramatically. Relationships evolve. What made perfect sense five years ago may no longer reflect your current wishes or circumstances.

Different sources offer varying advice. Some solicitors suggest every 5 years for straightforward estates. Others recommend every 3 years to catch changes early. Online services like Farewill suggest reviewing every 2 years.

Here's the reality: most people only update their will after a major life event. And according to Unbiased.co.uk research, 53% don't update even then.

The best approach? Set a calendar reminder to review your will every 3-5 years, and update within 30 days of any major life event from the list below. Think of it like servicing your car—regular maintenance prevents bigger problems down the road.

Quick self-assessment: if you can't remember what's in your will, it's time to review it.

The 15 Life Events That Require Immediate Will Updates

Not all life changes require will updates, but these 15 do. Some trigger automatic legal changes to your will, while others create practical problems that could derail your entire estate plan.

Category 1: Relationship Changes (CRITICAL—Automatic Revocation)

Getting married or entering a civil partnership: Marriage automatically revokes your existing will under Section 18 of the Wills Act 1837. The only exception is if your will explicitly states it was made "in contemplation of marriage to [specific person]." Without this phrase, your will becomes legally invalid the moment you say "I do."

Getting divorced or dissolving a civil partnership: Divorce doesn't revoke your will, but it automatically removes your ex-spouse as a beneficiary and executor—they're treated as if they died before you. You still need a new will to specify who inherits their portion.

Separating without divorce: Your will remains completely valid. If you die before your divorce is finalised, your separated spouse still inherits exactly as your will states—potentially everything.

Category 2: Family Composition Changes

Having a child or adopting: You need to name them as a beneficiary and, crucially, name legal guardians. Without named guardians in your will, the court decides who raises your children if you die before they turn 18.

Having grandchildren: Under intestacy rules, grandchildren only inherit if their parent (your child) dies before you. If you want to protect grandchildren's inheritance regardless of the order of deaths, specify per stirpes distribution in your will.

Death of a beneficiary or executor: If someone you've named dies and you don't update your will, that portion may pass under intestacy rules rather than to your intended backup beneficiaries. Worse, if your only executor dies, the court must appoint an administrator—causing delays and extra costs.

Death of appointed guardian: Your children are left without named protection. Courts will decide, potentially leading to family conflict over who should raise them.

Category 3: Financial Changes

Buying or selling property: Property typically represents 50-80% of your estate value. If your will makes specific property gifts ("my house at 123 Oak Street to my daughter") and you've moved, that gift fails entirely.

Emma's will left her house to her daughter and her savings to her son, expecting a roughly 50/50 split at £150,000 each. By 2024, her house was worth £450,000 and her savings only £50,000. Without updating, her daughter would inherit nine times more than her son.

Significant increase in wealth: A £100,000+ change through inheritance, business sale, or investment growth may push your estate over the £325,000 inheritance tax threshold (£500,000 with residence nil-rate band), requiring different estate planning strategies.

Starting or selling a business: Business assets need specific provisions in your will. Without clear instructions, business partners may face complications, or your business could be forced into unwanted sales to pay inheritance tax.

Receiving large inheritance: Changes both the size and composition of your estate, potentially affecting how you want to distribute it and whether inheritance tax planning is needed.

Category 4: Personal Changes

Executor becomes unable or unsuitable: They've aged significantly, developed health problems, experienced financial difficulties, moved abroad, or you've had a relationship breakdown. 31.2% of estate disputes involve executor issues, making this a critical area to keep current.

Moving abroad or beneficiaries moving abroad: Creates tax implications and practical administration difficulties. Executors in different countries face complex legal requirements.

Changing your mind about who should inherit: Relationships evolve. The nephew who was your closest family in 2015 may have drifted away. Your priorities shift. That's perfectly normal—your will should reflect your current wishes.

Diagnosis of serious illness: You may want to expedite updates and ensure mental capacity is properly documented to prevent future challenges to your will's validity.

What Happens If You Don't Update Your Will? (Real Consequences)

Outdated wills create three main problems: unintended beneficiaries inheriting, costly family disputes, and partial intestacy leaving portions of your estate distributed by legal formula rather than your wishes.

Sarah made her will in 2018, naming her partner of 10 years as her sole beneficiary. When they married in 2023, the will was automatically revoked. She died in 2024 in a car accident.

Because she had no children, her entire £400,000 estate went to her parents under intestacy rules. Her husband of one year inherited nothing from the woman he'd lived with for a decade.

James named his brother as executor in 2015. By 2024, they hadn't spoken in five years after a family falling out. When James died, his brother—who barely knew James's current life, his partner, or his wishes—was legally responsible for distributing the estate. The situation caused months of delays and bitter family conflict.

Emma named her sister as guardian for her two daughters in 2016. Her sister moved to Australia in 2020 for work. When Emma died unexpectedly in 2024, her children faced potential court proceedings to determine guardianship because the named guardian was no longer suitable or even willing, given she'd built a new life overseas.

The statistics tell a sobering story. In 2023, there were 122 contested probate cases, up from 116 in 2022. Industry experts estimate 10,000 disputes relating to wills occur annually in England and Wales.

Nearly half (49.5%) of inheritance disputes are between siblings, often triggered by outdated provisions that no longer reflect the deceased's actual wishes or current family dynamics. Will disputes create "ambiguity and lack of clarity" that solicitors say could have been easily prevented with regular updates.

The financial cost? Contentious probate cases typically cost families £15,000-£50,000+ in legal fees, not to mention the emotional toll of watching family relationships fracture over what could have been avoided with a £50 will update.

Marriage and Your Will (Why This Is CRITICAL)

Here's the surprise that catches many people: marriage automatically revokes your will. Even if you made your will last month, the moment you say "I do," that will becomes legally invalid.

This rule comes from Section 18 of the Wills Act 1837, which states that marriage automatically revokes any existing will unless it explicitly states it was made "in contemplation of marriage to [specific named person]."

The same rules apply to civil partnerships following amendments to the legislation. If you enter a civil partnership, any existing will is automatically revoked unless it specifically contemplates that civil partnership.

Without a valid will after marriage, intestacy rules apply. If you die married with no valid will and you have children, your spouse inherits the first £322,000 plus all personal possessions plus half of the remaining estate. Your children inherit the other half of anything above £322,000.

For estates above £322,000, this creates unintended outcomes. If you have a £500,000 estate and assumed your spouse would inherit everything, they'd actually receive £322,000 + £89,000 (half of the remaining £178,000) = £411,000. Your children would receive £89,000.

That might be fine—or it might not be what you wanted at all.

Common mistakes people make:

People assume their will automatically transfers to their new spouse. It doesn't—marriage is a complete reset requiring a new will.

People assume any will made while in a relationship counts. It doesn't. Marriage or civil partnership is the specific legal trigger.

People forget they even have a will from before marriage, not realising it's been automatically revoked.

If you're engaged, you have two options: make a will explicitly "in contemplation of marriage to [your fiancé's full name]" or plan to make a new will within days of your wedding. Most couples choose the latter, as it allows them to review their estate plan together as newlyweds.

Divorce and Your Will (What Actually Happens)

Divorce has a different effect than marriage—less dramatic but still requiring urgent attention.

When your Decree Absolute is granted, your ex-spouse is automatically treated as having died before you. They're removed as a beneficiary and removed as executor. But your will itself remains valid.

Here's what that means in practice: if your will left everything to your ex-spouse with no backup beneficiaries named, their share now goes to whoever would inherit if they'd died—potentially creating partial intestacy if you named no alternatives.

Michael and Jennifer divorced in 2023. Michael's will from 2018 left everything to Jennifer. After divorce, Jennifer was removed as beneficiary, but Michael never named replacement beneficiaries.

When he died in 2024, that portion of his estate passed under intestacy rules—not to his children as he'd vaguely assumed, but according to the legal formula. Because Michael had adult children, they inherited under intestacy, which worked out fine. But if he'd had no children, his estate would have gone to his parents or siblings—potentially not what he'd have chosen.

Critical timing issue: the automatic removal only applies after Decree Absolute. If you die during divorce proceedings before your Decree Absolute is granted, your will remains completely valid—your separated spouse still inherits everything.

This is why solicitors strongly recommend making a new will the moment you separate, not waiting for the divorce to finalise. If you want to ensure your ex-spouse inherits nothing, you must make a new will explicitly excluding them.

Why you need a new will, not just rely on automatic removal:

You need to name new beneficiaries for your ex-spouse's share, specify who should inherit what clearly, name a new executor if your ex-spouse was your only or primary executor, update any guardianship provisions if your ex-spouse was involved, and address jointly owned property provisions.

For blended families—if you remarry after divorce and have children from your first marriage—estate planning becomes more complex. You'll need to balance providing for your new spouse while protecting inheritance for children from your previous relationship. Learn more about providing for unmarried partners and complex family situations.

Children and Grandchildren (Ensuring Everyone's Protected)

When a child is born, two critical will updates become urgent: naming them as a beneficiary and naming legal guardians.

The beneficiary part seems obvious—you want your child to inherit. But the guardianship provision is what truly protects them. If both parents die before the child turns 18 and you haven't named guardians in your will, the court decides who raises your children.

That decision could take months. It could result in family conflict, with multiple relatives claiming they should be guardians. Your children could end up with someone you'd never have chosen, or split between different family members.

Patricia named her sister as guardian in 2016 when her daughter was born. By 2024, her sister had married, had three children of her own, and moved 200 miles away. The close relationship Patricia's daughter had with her aunt had faded. Patricia never updated her will. Discover the key considerations when naming guardians, including age factors.

When Patricia died unexpectedly, her sister was still the named guardian—but was she still the right choice to take on a teenager, given her own young family and distance?

You may also want to update as children grow. Your original will might have said they inherit at 18, but now you're reconsidering—perhaps 25 would be wiser, giving them more maturity. You might want to add educational provisions, like funding for university from their inheritance.

The grandchildren issue catches many people by surprise. Under intestacy rules, grandchildren only inherit if their parent (your child) dies before you do. If you die first, then your child dies, your grandchildren get nothing from your original estate—it passed to your child, who then distributes it according to their own will.

If you want to protect grandchildren's inheritance regardless of order of deaths, you need to specify per stirpes distribution in your will. This means if a beneficiary dies, their share passes to their children (your grandchildren) rather than being redistributed among your surviving children.

Also important: legally adopted children are treated as your children in law. Step-children are not, unless you legally adopt them. This is a common misunderstanding. If you want step-children to inherit, you must name them explicitly in your will.

What to specify in your will regarding children:

Named guardians with backup guardians if first choice is unable, age at which children inherit (18, 21, 25), trust provisions for inheritance if children are minors when you die, per stirpes distribution to protect grandchildren, and explicit inclusion of step-children if you want them to inherit.

Property and Financial Changes (When Assets Shift)

Property changes matter enormously because property typically represents 50-80% of most people's estate value. A will that doesn't reflect your current property ownership can create serious distribution problems.

Buying your first property transforms your estate. What was a £20,000 savings account is now a £270,000 estate. That changes everything—who should inherit, how much each person gets, whether inheritance tax becomes a concern.

Robert's will left "my house at 42 Elm Street to my daughter" and "my savings to my son," expecting a roughly equal split. In 2020, he downsized, selling the Elm Street house and buying a smaller flat at Riverside Court. His daughter's specific gift of "42 Elm Street" failed because he no longer owned it. The flat went into his general estate, redistributed under the residuary clause—completely changing the intended 50/50 split between his children.

Specific property gifts ("my house at [address]") fail if you no longer own that property. If you move house, that gift simply doesn't work anymore. You need to update your will to either give "my primary residence" (which flexes with moves) or specify the new address.

Buying a second property raises questions: which property goes to whom? Should you specify, or leave both in the general estate to be sold and divided? If you have two children and two properties, it might seem neat to leave one to each—but what if they're vastly different values?

Business ownership creates unique challenges. If you start a business, it becomes part of your estate. Without specific provisions, your executor must handle business assets—potentially forcing a quick sale if cash is needed to pay inheritance tax or distribute to beneficiaries. Business partners may face unwanted complications if your share passes to family members who don't understand or want involvement in the business.

Receiving a large inheritance—£100,000+—can push your estate over the inheritance tax nil-rate band. The nil-rate band is £325,000 per person, plus an additional £175,000 residence nil-rate band if you leave your home to direct descendants. Estates over these thresholds face 40% inheritance tax on the excess.

Investment growth has similar effects. Property values have doubled in many UK areas over the past decade. Your £200,000 house might now be worth £425,000. Your carefully planned percentage-based distribution might now be wildly unequal in actual pound terms.

When to update for financial changes:

Any single asset change over £50,000, total estate value change of £100,000+, buying or selling property of any value, starting or selling a business, receiving an inheritance over £50,000, or estate value approaching or exceeding £325,000 (inheritance tax threshold).

Learn about the actual costs of updating your will and what you get for your money.

Your Executors and Guardians (Ensuring They're Still Suitable)

Named executors and guardians seemed perfect when you wrote your will. But five years later—or ten, or twenty—are they still the right choice?

Executor problems develop over time in ways you might not immediately notice:

They've aged significantly. You named your brother at 50 when he was energetic and capable. Now he's 75, dealing with his own health issues, and the thought of managing a £500,000 estate feels overwhelming to him.

Health decline, mental or physical. Executors need mental capacity to handle legal and financial decisions. They need physical ability to manage practical tasks like clearing a house.

Relationship breakdown. You've drifted apart. You had a falling out. What seemed like a close bond in 2015 is now strained or non-existent. Do you really want this person intimately involved in your family's affairs after your death?

They've moved abroad, making estate administration practically difficult. UK probate processes require presence, signatures, and engagement with local solicitors and institutions.

They've had financial problems—bankruptcy, debt issues, poor money management. While legal safeguards exist, you might prefer someone with demonstrated financial responsibility handling hundreds of thousands of pounds.

They've died, and you never named a replacement. If your will names only one executor and they've died, the court must appoint an administrator—causing delays and extra costs.

Guardian problems follow similar patterns but with higher stakes:

Your sister was 30 when you named her. Now she's 60. Would she have the energy to raise your 8-year-old?

She's moved to Australia. Your children barely know her now. Is uprooting them to a different country really in their best interest?

Her circumstances have changed dramatically—divorced, remarried, has several children of her own now. Her life is completely different than when you made that decision.

Your children's relationship with her has evolved. They were too young to have an opinion then. Now they're 12 and 14, and they're much closer to your brother's family.

Why this matters: executors carry enormous responsibility. They're managing potentially £100,000-£1,000,000+ estates, handling complex legal and financial tasks, making decisions that affect your entire family's inheritance, and dealing with emotional family dynamics during grief.

According to research, 31.2% of estate disputes involve executor issues. Unsuitable executors cause delays—probate cases taking over a year have increased 518% from 2019 to 2024. They cause family conflict, particularly when executors and beneficiaries clash over decisions.

How to evaluate whether your executors and guardians are still suitable:

Ask yourself: "If I died tomorrow, would this person still be the best choice? Do they have the time, ability, and willingness? Is our relationship still strong? Are they in good health? Are their circumstances compatible with this responsibility?"

If any answer is no, it's time to update your will.

For very large estates (£1,000,000+), complex family situations, or when there's no suitable family member, consider professional executors—solicitors or trust companies who handle estates for a fee. They're impartial, experienced, and won't be emotionally involved in family dynamics.

How to Actually Update Your Will (Your Three Options)

You've identified that your will needs updating. Now what? You cannot simply cross something out and initial the change—that would invalidate your will. You have three options.

Option 1: Codicil (Small Changes Only)

A codicil is a separate legal document that amends your existing will. It must be witnessed exactly like the original will—two independent witnesses who are not beneficiaries.

When it's appropriate: very minor changes only. An address change. A small gift added. A single executor name change.

Cost: £30-£100 with a solicitor for basic codicils.

The problem: most UK solicitors now advise against codicils except for the smallest changes. Blake Morgan solicitors state that "solicitors would always recommend that you consider reviewing and making a new will when you need to make any or substantial changes" rather than a codicil.

Why? Codicils create multiple documents that can get separated or lost. They don't trigger a full estate review, meaning other outdated provisions remain. Multiple codicils create confusion—"which provision applies, the will or the second codicil?" If done incorrectly, codicils can invalidate the entire will.

Option 2: New Will with Solicitor (Comprehensive but Expensive)

Making a completely new will that explicitly revokes all previous wills.

When it's appropriate: any significant life event, multiple changes needed, complex estates, or if your will is more than 5-10 years old regardless of changes.

Cost: £150-£500 depending on complexity and location. London solicitors charge more. Complex estates with trusts or business assets cost significantly more.

Time: typically 2-4 weeks from first appointment to signed will, including consultation, drafting, review, and signing appointment.

Why it's better than a codicil: one clear document with no ambiguity, forces a complete estate review catching issues you didn't realize existed, ensures your will reflects current law (inheritance tax thresholds, intestacy rules changes), professionally drafted reducing invalid provision risks.

Option 3: New Will with Online Service (Fast and Affordable)

Using an online platform to create a completely new will that revokes previous wills.

When it's appropriate: straightforward estates (most people), clear wishes, standard beneficiary structures, no complex trusts or business assets.

Cost: £35.99-£90 for most online services. WUHLD is £49.99 for complete will package.

Time: 15 minutes to complete online, preview immediately, sign within days.

How it works: answer guided questions about your estate, beneficiaries, executors, and guardians. The system generates a legally valid will based on your answers. You preview it free before paying. Once satisfied, pay and print. Sign with two witnesses following provided guidance.

Why it works: straightforward estates don't require bespoke solicitor advice—the legal requirements are well-established. Online services use the same legal framework solicitors use. For standard situations (leaving estate to spouse and children, naming guardians, appointing family executors), online wills provide identical legal validity at 70-90% lower cost.

Comparison: Your Three Options

Factor	Codicil	Solicitor New Will	Online New Will
Cost	£30-£100	£150-£500+	£36-£90
Time	1-2 weeks	2-4 weeks	15 mins + 3 days
When appropriate	Address changes, very minor single changes only	Complex estates, business assets, significant wealth, trusts	Straightforward estates, standard beneficiaries, clear wishes
Pros	Cheaper than solicitor new will, quick for tiny changes	Professional advice, bespoke drafting, handles complexity	Fastest, cheapest, convenient, forces full review, preview free
Cons	Multiple documents, no full review, most solicitors advise against	Expensive, slow, requires appointments	Not suitable for very complex estates or business assets

What NOT to do when updating your will:

Don't cross out and initial changes—this can invalidate the entire will. Don't write on your original will—any marks can create doubt about validity. Don't make marginal notes—they're not legally binding. Don't assume verbal wishes override your written will—they don't. Only a properly executed will or codicil has legal effect.

The bottom line: for anything beyond an address change, make a new will. It's clearer, more comprehensive, and with online services, it's not significantly more expensive than a codicil.

The WUHLD Difference (Why Updating Your Will Is Now Simple)

The traditional update problem goes like this: you know you should update your will. You've got married, or had a baby, or your executor moved abroad. But calling a solicitor feels expensive (£300-£500), time-consuming (multiple appointments over weeks), and somehow intimidating.

So you procrastinate. Months turn into years. Your will remains outdated.

WUHLD changes this equation entirely.

Price: £49.99 one-time payment for a complete new will. No hourly fees. No surprise bills. No ongoing subscriptions. Just £49.99 for everything, compared to £150-£500 for a solicitor.

Speed: 15 minutes online to complete. Answer straightforward questions about your estate, beneficiaries, executors, and guardians. The system guides you through each section, explaining legal terms clearly. You can save and return if you need to check details.

Preview first: see your complete will before paying anything. No credit card required to preview. Review every clause, every beneficiary, every provision. Only pay when you're completely satisfied.

What you get: your complete, legally binding will that revokes all previous wills, a 12-page Testator Guide explaining how to execute your will properly, a Witness Guide to give your witnesses, and a Complete Asset Inventory document to record your estate details.

This makes WUHLD perfect for common update scenarios:

Just got married? Update your will in 15 minutes before your honeymoon, naming your spouse and updating your estate plan to reflect your new life together.

Just had a baby? Add guardianship provisions the same day, ensuring your child is protected if anything happens to you and your partner.

Going through divorce? Create a new will as soon as your Decree Absolute is granted, removing your ex-spouse and specifying new beneficiaries clearly.

Executor moved away? Name a new executor in under 20 minutes, choosing someone local and suitable.

Why online makes sense for most will updates:

Most updates are straightforward—a new beneficiary, changed executor, updated amounts, guardian provisions. These don't require £300 solicitor consultations. The legal requirements are well-established. Online systems apply the same law solicitors use.

Save solicitor fees for genuinely complex situations: estates over £1,000,000 with inheritance tax planning, active business ownership requiring business property relief planning, complex trusts for vulnerable beneficiaries, international assets or beneficiaries in multiple countries, or active family disputes requiring legal strategy.

For standard life events—marriage, divorce, children, property purchase, executor changes—online updates provide identical legal validity at a fraction of the cost.

Trust and quality: WUHLD produces legally binding UK wills that comply with the Wills Act 1837. Same legal standing as solicitor wills. Four comprehensive documents. Clear guidance through every step.

The recommended update schedule with WUHLD:

Review your will every 3-5 years—set a calendar reminder. Update immediately after any of the 15 major life events in this guide. Total lifetime cost even with 3-4 updates: under £200, compared to £500-£2,000+ using solicitors for the same updates.

Every update forces a complete estate review, catching issues you might not have noticed. That's why new wills are better than codicils—you're reviewing everything, not just making isolated changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I update my will myself without a solicitor?

A: Yes, but you cannot simply handwrite changes or cross out sections of your existing will—this would invalidate it. You need to create a properly executed new will with two independent witnesses, or prepare a formal codicil. Online will services like WUHLD guide you through creating a legally valid new will without needing a solicitor.

Q: What happens if I don't update my will after getting married?

A: Your will is automatically revoked. If you die without making a new will after marriage, your estate is distributed under intestacy rules—your spouse receives the first £322,000 plus personal possessions plus half the remainder (if you have children). This may be very different from what you intended.

Q: Does getting divorced cancel my will?

A: No. Divorce does not cancel your will in England and Wales, but it does automatically remove your ex-spouse as a beneficiary and executor—they are treated as if they died before you. However, you still need to make a new will to specify who should inherit their portion and to name new executors if needed.

Q: Should I use a codicil or make a new will?

A: Most UK solicitors now recommend making a new will rather than a codicil. Codicils are only suitable for very minor changes like updating an address. For any significant change—new beneficiaries, executors, financial updates, or relationship changes—a new will is clearer, more comprehensive, and prevents potential invalidity issues.

Q: How much does it cost to update a will in the UK?

A: A codicil costs £30-£100 through a solicitor. A new will costs £150-£500 with a traditional solicitor depending on complexity, or £36-£90 with an online service. WUHLD charges £49.99 for a complete will package including guides and support.

Q: How long does it take to update a will?

A: A codicil takes 1-2 weeks through a solicitor. A new will with a solicitor takes 2-4 weeks from first appointment to signing. An online new will takes about 15 minutes to complete, with immediate preview and signing within 3-5 days once you've reviewed it.

Q: What if my named executor has died?

A: You need to update your will to name a replacement executor. If you don't update and your only executor has died, the court must appoint an administrator when you die—causing delays of months and additional costs to your estate. Always name at least one backup executor.

Don't Let Your Will Become Outdated

Your will represents your final wishes. But those wishes only matter if your will reflects your current life.

Key takeaways:

Review your will every 3-5 years even without major life changes—laws, executors, and circumstances shift over time
Update within 30 days of these critical events: marriage (automatic revocation), divorce, having children, executor or beneficiary deaths, significant property or financial changes, or changes to who you want to inherit
Marriage automatically revokes your entire will under Section 18 of the Wills Act 1837—this catches many people by surprise
Divorce removes your ex-spouse but doesn't create a new will—you must update to specify new beneficiaries
Outdated wills cause family disputes, with 49.5% of inheritance disputes occurring between siblings and executor disputes up 20% in the past year
Make a new will rather than a codicil for anything beyond minor address changes—solicitors strongly recommend this approach
Online will services provide legally identical validity to solicitor wills for straightforward estates, at 70-90% lower cost

An outdated will isn't a complete disaster—but it creates uncertainty, potential disputes, and outcomes you never intended. Your children might not have named guardians. Your ex-spouse's share might fall into intestacy. Your £500,000 estate might be distributed very differently than you'd planned.

Updating your will used to mean solicitor appointments, weeks of waiting, and bills of £300-£500. That's no longer true.

Create your legally valid updated will today with WUHLD. Our guided platform takes just 15 minutes, with no confusing legal jargon.

For just £49.99 (compared to £150-£500+ for a solicitor), you'll get:

Your complete, legally binding will that revokes all previous wills
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 to record all your assets
The ability to preview your entire will free before paying anything—no credit card required

Update whenever your life changes, for the same £49.99. No subscriptions. No hidden fees.

Preview Your Will Free—No Payment Required

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information about UK will requirements 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 business assets, overseas property, or intricate family structures may require professional legal advice.

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