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Wills for Dentists and Practice Owners in the UK

· 33 min

Note: The following scenario is fictional and used for illustration.

Dr. Michael Chen, 44, owned a thriving three-surgery dental practice in Manchester worth £850,000—built over 15 years treating 2,800 registered patients. When he died suddenly of a heart attack, his partner of 11 years and mother of his two children inherited nothing under UK intestacy law because they weren't married.

His practice, which should have sold for £850,000, was forced into a rushed sale that fetched just £510,000. His children, ages 9 and 12, lost over £340,000 of their inheritance—all because Michael, like 47% of UK adults, never made a will.

Michael's story isn't unique. Among the 44,268 registered dentists in the UK, 72% of those in general practice are self-employed—creating unique estate planning challenges that generic wills simply can't address.

This guide explains the unique will requirements for dentists and practice owners, from goodwill valuation to NHS contract implications, and shows you how to protect your practice and family in just 15 minutes.

Table of Contents

Why Dentists Need Specialized Will Planning

Dentists face estate planning challenges that set them apart from salaried professionals and even other medical practitioners like doctors.

The numbers tell the story: 72% of general practice dentists are self-employed, creating business succession obligations that don't apply to hospital consultants or GP partners. Your dental practice isn't just your income source—it's a valuable business asset that requires careful planning.

Practice ownership brings complexity. The average dental practice sells for £792,711—representing years of building patient relationships, establishing reputation, and developing goodwill. Without proper estate planning, this value can evaporate within months of your death.

Consider the practice structure challenges. Many dentists work in partnerships with cross-option agreements requiring immediate buyout on death—typically within 30 to 90 days. If you're a solo practitioner, your practice needs emergency locum cover within days or risk NHS contract termination.

Professional obligations continue after death. GDC registration requirements, professional indemnity insurance (DDU, MPS, or MDDUS), and patient records retention (11 years for adults, until age 25 or 11 years for children, whichever is longer) must all be managed by your executor. Generic wills rarely address these requirements.

Mixed income streams complicate valuations. If you provide both NHS and private care, your practice value depends heavily on contract stability. NHS contracts can terminate quickly without proper succession planning, destroying a significant portion of your estate's value.

Scenario: The solo practitioner emergency

Dr. Rebecca Foster, 52, ran a solo mixed practice in Bristol. She died unexpectedly with no succession plan. Her executor—her husband, a secondary school teacher—had no dental expertise and didn't know about the NHS contract's 30-day notification requirement.

By the time the practice was listed for sale three months later, the NHS contract had lapsed. The practice that should have sold for £680,000 (based on her mixed patient base) fetched just £295,000 as a private-only practice. Rebecca's family lost £385,000—56% of the practice value.

Scenario: Partnership agreement conflicts

Dr. James Morrison was a partner in a four-dentist practice with a cross-option agreement requiring buyout within 60 days at a formula price (3x average net profit). When James died, his will instructed his executor to sell to his nephew (also a dentist) at £400,000—directly conflicting with the partnership agreement.

The resulting legal dispute took 14 months to resolve and cost £38,000 in legal fees. The partnership agreement prevailed (it was a binding contract), but James's estate received significantly less after legal costs, and the practice partnership fractured permanently.

The first asset dentists often underestimate is their practice goodwill—let's break down what it is and why it matters to your estate.

Understanding Goodwill and Practice Valuation

Goodwill represents the intangible value that makes your practice worth far more than just its equipment and premises.

It's the value of your patient relationships, your professional reputation, your location's desirability, and your NHS contracts. When practices sell, goodwill typically represents 60-75% of the total purchase price—yet many dentists fail to account for it in their estate planning.

Recent market data shows strong goodwill values. Mixed practices achieved 154% of gross fees in Q3 2024, while private practices reached 143%. These multiples mean a practice with £650,000 annual turnover could be worth £1 million or more when goodwill is properly valued.

Valuation methods vary by practice type. EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization) multiples average 7.16 for group sales. Percentage of turnover remains the most common method for independent sales. Professional goodwill surveys from NASDAL or similar organizations provide regional benchmarks.

Practice types command different values. NHS-only practices typically achieve lower multiples due to UDA (Unit of Dental Activity) constraints and income caps. Private-only practices can achieve higher multiples—up to 143% of turnover—but face income predictability concerns. Mixed practices often prove most valuable, combining NHS income stability with private treatment profitability.

Partnership capital accounts hold significant value. If you're a partner, your capital account represents your equity stake in the practice—including your share of goodwill, equipment, and working capital. This typically forms a major portion of your estate and qualifies for favorable tax treatment.

Example calculation: Mixed practice valuation

Dr. Sarah Ahmed owns a mixed practice generating £650,000 annual turnover (60% NHS, 40% private). Using the 135% turnover multiple:

Practice goodwill: £650,000 x 135% = £877,500

Add equipment and fixtures: £95,000 Add premises value (if owned): £280,000 Total practice value: £1,252,500

If Sarah dies intestate and the practice must be sold within 6 months to avoid NHS contract complications, it might sell for £750,000—a £502,500 loss to her estate (40% below market value).

Forced sale discounts are real. Practices sold urgently—due to death, serious illness, or family emergencies—typically fetch 40-60% of their optimal market value. Buyers know the seller is under pressure and negotiate accordingly.

Your will must address this risk. Specify whether your practice should continue temporarily (with locum cover) to allow time for optimal sale, or whether immediate sale is acceptable despite lower proceeds. Appoint an executor with business acumen who can negotiate effectively with potential buyers.

Practice Type Example Turnover Valuation Multiple Estimated Value
NHS-only £450,000 120% turnover £540,000
Private-only £600,000 143% turnover £858,000
Mixed (optimal) £650,000 135-154% turnover £877,500-£1,001,000

Once you understand your practice value, you need to plan who inherits it—and that's where succession planning and your will intersect.

Succession Planning: What Happens to Your Practice When You Die

The physical reality is stark: when you die, someone must make immediate decisions about patient care, staff employment, and practice operations—often within 24 to 48 hours.

Partnership practices face the tightest timelines. Cross-option agreements typically require surviving partners to buy your share within 30 to 90 days, with valuation formulas specified in the partnership deed. Your will must reference this agreement and instruct your executor to comply with its terms—or risk lengthy legal disputes.

Solo practices need emergency plans. Without succession planning, your practice closes immediately or requires emergency locum cover at £600-£900 per day. NHS contracts may terminate if continuity of care isn't maintained, destroying the contract's value (often £150,000-£400,000 depending on UDA allocation).

Associate buyout arrangements must be formalized. Many practices have informal understandings that associates will purchase the practice on death or retirement. These arrangements are worthless without written documentation referenced in your will. Verbal agreements create ambiguity, delay, and potential disputes when families are grieving.

Family succession only works if your heir is GDC-registered. If you plan to leave your practice to your children, they must be qualified dentists to operate it. A dental practice can't be run by non-dentists—it's not like a retail business where management skills alone suffice.

Scenario: Partnership with cross-option agreement

Dr. James Taylor, 52, was a partner in a four-dentist practice with a cross-option agreement requiring buyout within 60 days of death at 3x average net profit from the previous three years.

When James died, his will clearly instructed his executor to exercise the sale option at the partnership agreement's valuation formula. The practice accountant calculated the value (£380,000), surviving partners paid within 8 weeks, and James's estate received full value without dispute.

Compare this to his deceased partner's situation two years earlier. That partner's will made no mention of the partnership agreement. His widow spent 14 months in legal disputes about valuation methodology and received just £210,000 for a comparable share—45% less than James's estate.

Scenario: Solo practice with no succession plan

Dr. Nina Patel, 48, ran a solo private practice in Surrey serving 1,200 patients. She died unexpectedly with no succession plan or locum arrangements.

Her executor—her brother, a secondary school teacher—had no dental expertise. He didn't understand patient care obligations, equipment value, or goodwill preservation. The practice closed immediately.

All £450,000 in goodwill value evaporated. Nina's family received only £85,000 from equipment sales—an 81% loss in value. Her patients were left scrambling for new dentists, and her legacy of 20 years of patient care ended abruptly.

NHS contract implications require specific attention. If you hold an NHS GDS or PDS contract, NHS England must be notified within 7 days of your death. Without proper succession planning, contracts can be terminated, and the practice loses its NHS income stream—often 50-70% of total revenue for mixed practices.

Timeline pressures are intense. Most practices must resolve ownership within 6 months to avoid losing goodwill value. Patient retention drops sharply after 3-4 months of uncertainty. Staff may leave for stable employment. Suppliers may demand upfront payment without an established owner.

Action items for your will:

  • Reference your partnership agreement explicitly and instruct executor compliance
  • Name a specific successor (associate, family member, practice broker) OR instruct sale timeline and method
  • Appoint an executor with business knowledge or specify consultation with dental practice valuation specialist
  • Address patient records obligations (GDC requires retention for 11 years for adults, until age 25 or 11 years for children, whichever is longer)
  • Specify NHS contract handling and require 7-day notification to NHS England if you're a contract holder

Beyond practice ownership, dentists have other unique assets and liabilities that must be addressed in your will.

Unique Assets and Liabilities for Dental Professionals

Your estate extends far beyond the practice valuation. Dentists hold specific professional assets and liabilities that require careful planning.

Professional assets that many dentists overlook:

Professional indemnity insurance deserves specific attention. Some policies from DDU, MPS, or MDDUS include death benefits or extended tail coverage that your estate may be entitled to claim. Your executor needs your policy details—provider name, policy number, contact information—to access these benefits.

Equipment and machinery hold significant value separate from goodwill. A typical three-surgery practice includes £60,000-£120,000 in equipment: dental chairs, X-ray machines, autoclaves, computers, and specialized instruments. Your will should specify whether equipment sells with the practice or separately.

Premises ownership creates dual value. If you own your practice building rather than leasing, the property value is separate from practice goodwill. Commercial property may qualify for 50% Business Property Relief (see inheritance tax section below), making ownership structure crucial for tax planning.

NHS contracts have monetary value when transferred correctly. UDA values vary by region, but contracts represent predictable income streams. Contracts must be transferred through proper NHS England procedures—your will should instruct executors on notification requirements and transfer processes.

Outstanding patient invoices continue as estate assets. Accounts receivable for completed treatment remain collectible, though collection rates drop significantly after your death (patients are more likely to dispute bills with an estate than with their treating dentist).

Liabilities that continue after death:

Professional indemnity tail coverage is critical. Claims can be made for up to six years after your last treatment date. Even if you've retired or died, patients can bring negligence claims against your estate. Without proper indemnity coverage, your family's inheritance is at risk.

Partnership debts follow joint and several liability principles. If you're in partnership, you're liable for all practice debts, not just your proportionate share. Your will must clarify how partnership debts are settled from your estate to prevent your family from unexpected liability.

Equipment finance agreements don't automatically terminate. If you're leasing dental equipment, those agreements continue. Your estate must either settle the outstanding balance or continue payments until the practice is sold and the buyer assumes the lease.

Commercial premises leases or mortgages require ongoing payments. If you lease your practice space, the lease continues and rent remains due. If you own with a commercial mortgage, payments continue. Your will should address who pays these obligations during estate administration.

Case example: Comprehensive asset and liability planning

Dr. Robert Hughes, 56, died with a well-structured will that addressed his complex estate:

Assets:

  • Practice goodwill: £420,000
  • Equipment: £85,000
  • Commercial premises (owned): £175,000
  • Total assets: £680,000

Liabilities:

  • Equipment finance (remaining): £35,000
  • Commercial mortgage: £95,000
  • Outstanding tax liabilities: £10,000
  • Total liabilities: £140,000

His will specified that all liabilities should be settled from practice sale proceeds before distribution to beneficiaries. This prevented his widow from having to cover business debts from personal savings or the family home.

His will also instructed his executor (a dental practice broker) to maintain professional indemnity coverage during the 18-month estate administration period. When a negligence claim arose for treatment performed 14 months before Robert's death, the claim was defended successfully under his existing coverage.

Critical will clauses for dental professionals:

  1. Grant your executor explicit authority to access professional indemnity policy details and maintain coverage
  2. Instruct whether the practice should continue temporarily (with locum) or close immediately
  3. Address equipment disposal—sell separately or include with practice sale
  4. Clarify treatment of outstanding patient invoices (pursue collection or write off)
  5. Specify payment priority for business debts versus personal assets

For dentists with children, guardianship appointments may be the most critical element of your will.

Appointing Guardians for Your Children

Irregular working hours, evening surgeries, and weekend emergencies make childcare planning complex for dental professionals.

Practice ownership intensifies the challenge. If you die suddenly, who can simultaneously manage your children's care AND navigate the business complexities of practice sale, partnership buyouts, and estate administration?

UK law provides the framework. Under Section 5 of the Children Act 1989, guardian appointments in your will take effect upon the death of the last surviving parent. Without a will appointment, Local Authority social services determine who cares for your children—often leading to family court proceedings that can take 8-12 months.

Financial guardians versus physical guardians serve different roles. You can appoint one person to provide day-to-day care (physical guardian) and a different person to manage your children's inheritance (financial guardian). This separation often makes sense for practice owners with significant estates and complex business assets.

Scenario: The cost of no guardian appointment

Dr. Emma Collins, 39, was a single mother and practice owner with two children (ages 7 and 10). She died intestate following a car accident.

Her estate—worth £520,000 (practice plus property)—passed to her children under intestacy rules. However, without a guardianship appointment in a will, her aging parents (72 and 74) and her sister (38, single, living in Dubai) went to family court to determine custody.

The 8-month legal battle cost £18,000 in legal fees paid from the children's inheritance. The court ultimately appointed Emma's sister as guardian, requiring her to relocate from Dubai and resign from her job—causing family resentment and trauma during an already devastating time.

A simple will with guardian appointment would have prevented the entire dispute.

Unique consideration for practice owners:

If your chosen guardian isn't business-savvy, consider appointing a separate financial guardian—perhaps your accountant, solicitor, or a trusted business partner—to manage estate administration and practice sale on behalf of your children. This allows the physical guardian to focus on emotional support and day-to-day care.

Contingency guardians matter: Your primary guardian may be unable or unwilling to serve when the time comes. Always appoint backup guardians—typically at least two alternatives—to ensure your children are never left without designated care.

Your guardian appointment should also address financial provisions. Will guardians receive funds from your estate to cover childcare costs? Should guardians have access to the family home? These details prevent ambiguity and family disputes.

Beyond guardianship, inheritance tax planning is critical for dentists given the high value of dental practices.

Inheritance Tax and Business Property Relief for Dentists

Practice values exceeding £792,711 on average mean many dentists face significant inheritance tax exposure—currently 40% on assets above available allowances.

Current IHT framework (as of November 2025):

The nil rate band stands at £325,000 per person, frozen until 2030. The residence nil rate band adds £175,000 if your main home passes to direct descendants (children or grandchildren). Combined, you have £500,000 in tax-free allowances, or £1 million for married couples who can combine allowances.

Business Property Relief transforms dental practice taxation. BPR can reduce or eliminate inheritance tax on qualifying business assets—critically important given average practice values approaching £800,000.

Current BPR rates (until April 5, 2026):

Partnership capital accounts (your share of practice goodwill and assets) qualify for 100% relief—meaning zero inheritance tax on this value if you've owned it for 2+ years.

Personally-owned business premises receive 50% relief—if you own the building housing your practice, half the property value is tax-free (the other half is taxable at 40%, creating an effective 20% tax rate on property).

CRITICAL: April 6, 2026 BPR changes:

New rules announced in Autumn Budget 2024 fundamentally change BPR:

£1 million cap: 100% BPR applies only to the first £1 million of combined agricultural and business property. For most dentists (who don't have agricultural property), this means the first £1 million of practice value receives full relief.

50% relief thereafter: Value exceeding £1 million receives only 50% relief, creating an effective 20% inheritance tax rate on value above the cap (instead of 40% with no relief).

Worked example: Practice owner facing April 2026 changes

Dr. Aisha Rahman, 51, owns a dental practice worth £850,000 (partnership capital account) and personally owns the practice premises worth £400,000. Total: £1.25 million.

Under current rules (until April 2026):

  • Practice: £850,000 × 100% BPR = £0 taxable
  • Premises: £400,000 × 50% BPR = £200,000 taxable
  • Less Nil Rate Band: £200,000 - £325,000 = £0 IHT owed

Under new rules (from April 2026):

  • First £1M of business assets: 100% BPR = £0 taxable
  • Remaining £250K: 50% BPR = £125,000 taxable
  • Less NRB: £125,000 - £325,000 = £0 IHT owed

Aisha remains protected, but her margin is slim. If her practice grows to £1.6M by retirement:

  • First £1M: 100% BPR = £0 taxable
  • Remaining £600K: 50% BPR = £300,000 taxable
  • Less NRB: £300,000 - £325,000 = £0 IHT

Now add £400K in savings and personal property:

  • Business: £1.6M → £300K taxable after BPR
  • Other assets: £400K
  • Total taxable: £700K - £325K NRB = £375K × 40% = £150,000 IHT

Planning strategies for dentists:

Lifetime gifts use your £3,000 annual exemption (£6,000 for couples). Gifts made more than 7 years before death are completely IHT-free—consider gradual gifting to children or trusts if your estate exceeds £1 million.

Spousal transfers incur no IHT. Leaving everything to your spouse defers tax until the second death and allows doubling of nil rate bands to £1 million combined. However, this only defers the problem for practices exceeding the BPR cap.

Life insurance in trust covers IHT liability without increasing estate value. For a £150,000 potential tax bill, term life insurance costing £80-150/month provides peace of mind that your family can pay the tax without forced practice sale.

Pension contributions currently fall outside your estate (though this changes in April 2027 when pensions become taxable for IHT purposes). Maximizing pension contributions while you're practicing creates tax-efficient wealth transfer.

Practice sale timing might be strategic. If your practice value significantly exceeds £1 million and you're within 5-7 years of retirement, selling while you're alive and gifting proceeds to family (surviving the 7-year period) could save substantial IHT compared to death-triggered sale.

Understanding tax implications is crucial, but the practical step is actually creating your will. Here's how dentists can do this efficiently.

How to Create a Will as a Busy Dentist

Time poverty is real. Between patient care, practice management, staff issues, and regulatory compliance, personal legal matters get perpetually postponed.

The traditional solicitor route requires 3-4 hours of your time spread over 4-6 weeks: initial consultation (book 2-3 weeks ahead), information gathering, waiting 1-2 weeks for draft, review meeting, waiting 1 week for revisions, final signing appointment (book 1-2 weeks ahead), travel time.

Online will creation collapses this timeline to 15 minutes, completed from your home or practice office, at any time that suits you.

Information you'll need before starting:

  • Full names and addresses of beneficiaries (spouse, children, others)
  • Names and contact details of executors (2 recommended)
  • Guardian names and addresses (for children under 18)
  • Asset inventory: practice valuation, property, savings, investments, pensions
  • Partnership agreement (if applicable) and partnership valuation formula
  • Professional indemnity policy details (provider, policy number, contact)
  • NHS contract details (UDA value, contract number, contract holder name)
  • Any existing trusts or lifetime gifts that should be referenced

Process comparison:

Step Solicitor (£650+) WUHLD Online (£99.99)
Initial consultation 1 hour (book 2-3 weeks ahead) None—start immediately
Information gathering Email/post documents, wait 1 week Upload instantly, 5 minutes
Draft will Wait 1-2 weeks for draft Preview immediately
Review & revisions 1 hour meeting, wait 1 week Edit instantly, unlimited
Final signing Book appointment (1-2 weeks), travel Print at home, sign with witnesses
Total time 3-4 hours + 4-6 weeks 15 minutes, complete same day

Common objections addressed:

"Online wills can't handle my complex practice ownership."

WUHLD's platform asks specific questions about business ownership, partnership agreements, and NHS contracts. It's suitable for 90% of dentists. Exceptions: international practice ownership, offshore trusts, or multiple practice ownership across jurisdictions.

"I need specialist advice on goodwill valuation."

Your will doesn't need to include specific valuations—these are determined at probate by professional valuers. Your will needs clear instructions on who inherits and whether to sell or transfer the practice.

"I'll do it when I have time."

Fifteen minutes. Less time than a single crown preparation appointment. Your practice is worth £792,711 on average—you spend more time choosing which composite to stock than protecting this asset. If you die tomorrow, your family might receive only £475,000 in a forced sale.

When you DO need a solicitor:

  • International practice ownership or international assets exceeding £500,000
  • Complex trust structures (disabled beneficiaries requiring special needs trusts, lifetime interest trusts)
  • Expected will challenges from estranged family members or contentious situations
  • Partnership agreements with highly unusual death provisions requiring bespoke legal drafting
  • Estates exceeding £3 million with multiple business interests

For 90% of dental practice owners, online will creation addresses all requirements at 85% lower cost and 95% less time investment.

Understanding your dental practice's unique estate planning needs is essential. That's why WUHLD's online will creator guides you through every legal requirement in just 15 minutes for £99.99. You'll address practice succession, guardianship appointments, and inheritance tax planning—everything covered in this guide. Preview your complete will free before paying. Create your will now.

Once you've created your will, there are critical steps to ensure your estate plan works correctly with your partnership agreements and professional obligations.

Coordinating Your Will with Partnership Agreements

Partnership agreements are legally binding contracts that can override your will provisions—coordination is essential, not optional.

If your partnership agreement includes cross-option or automatic accruer provisions, these contracts take precedence over conflicting will instructions. Your will must acknowledge and comply with partnership terms to avoid costly legal disputes.

Common partnership death clauses:

Automatic accruer provisions transfer your share automatically to surviving partners at a predetermined price (typically a formula based on average profits or capital account value). Your estate receives payment, but has no choice about who acquires your share.

Cross-option agreements give both sides options: surviving partners can choose to purchase your share, and your estate can force sale if partners don't exercise their option. These provide flexibility but require active decision-making by your executor.

Valuation formulas vary widely: last 3 years' average profit × multiplier (commonly 3-4x), capital account book value, independent professional valuation, or percentage of turnover. Your will should reference the specific formula and instruct executors to comply.

Red flag scenario: Will versus partnership conflict

Dr. Simon Clarke's partnership agreement stated surviving partners had first right to purchase his 40% share at "fair market value" (undefined methodology). His will instructed executors to sell his share to his son (also a dentist) at £200,000—directly conflicting with the partnership agreement.

When Simon died, the conflict created 16 months of legal disputes costing £32,000 in fees. The partnership agreement prevailed (binding contract), Simon's son received nothing, and surviving partners purchased at their valuer's price (£265,000). The estate received less after legal fees, and family relationships were fractured permanently.

Best practice will clause for practice partners:

"I acknowledge that my partnership interest in [Practice Name] is subject to the Partnership Agreement dated [date]. I instruct my executors to comply fully with all terms of the Partnership Agreement, including any cross-option provisions, buyout formulas, and timing requirements. If the Partnership Agreement grants surviving partners the right to purchase my share, my executors shall cooperate fully to facilitate the sale at the valuation determined per the Partnership Agreement terms."

NHS contract considerations:

NHS contracts for GMS (General Medical Services) or PDS (Personal Dental Services) are held at practice level, not individual dentist level. If you're a contract holder and die, NHS England must be notified within 7 days.

Without succession planning, contracts may be terminated—losing UDA values that often represent £150,000-£400,000 in annual income. This destroys practice goodwill.

Your will should specify whether the practice should continue (maintaining the NHS contract) or close immediately. If continuing, your executor needs authority to arrange locum cover and notify NHS England properly.

Action checklist for dentists with partnerships:

  • Review your partnership agreement for death provisions (cross-option, automatic accruer, valuation formula, timing)
  • Ensure your will references and complies with partnership agreement terms
  • Appoint an executor with business acumen or require specialist consultation
  • Provide executors with copies of: partnership agreement, recent practice accounts, partnership valuations
  • Notify partners that your will is complete and coordinates with partnership terms
  • Review every 3-5 years—partnership agreements often change when partners join or leave

Beyond legal coordination, there are common mistakes dentists make with their wills that can cost estates hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Common Will Mistakes Dentists Make

These mistakes appear repeatedly in dental estates—learn from others' costly errors.

Mistake 1: Failing to update will after practice purchase or partnership change

Dr. Lucy bought into a three-partner practice in 2018, increasing her estate value by £420,000. Her will, written in 2015 when she was an associate earning £65,000, made no reference to practice ownership and appointed her brother (a teacher) as sole executor.

When Lucy died in 2024, her brother had no expertise to negotiate practice valuation with surviving partners. He accepted their initial £280,000 offer—£140,000 below fair valuation that an experienced dental practice broker would have achieved.

Lesson: Update your will immediately after major practice changes—purchase, partnership entry, partnership dissolution, or practice sale.

Mistake 2: Assuming spouse automatically gets everything

Dr. Priya, unmarried but in a 15-year relationship with her partner Raj, died intestate with a £740,000 estate (practice plus property). Under UK intestacy rules, unmarried partners inherit nothing regardless of relationship length.

Priya's estranged parents inherited the entire estate. Raj, who had co-managed the practice for 8 years, was forced out. Priya's parents—with no dental expertise and living 200 miles away—sold the practice in a rushed 6-week sale for £440,000 (41% below market value).

Lesson: Unmarried partners inherit NOTHING without a will, no matter how long the relationship. Marriage or civil partnership provides automatic inheritance rights; cohabitation does not.

Mistake 3: Leaving practice to non-dentist family member

Dr. Mohammed left his £680,000 practice to his son Ahmed (an accountant) in his will, intending Ahmed to receive the sale proceeds. The will didn't specify SALE—it specified transfer of ownership.

Ahmed couldn't operate the practice (not GDC-registered) and couldn't find an associate to purchase quickly. The practice closed within 3 months. All goodwill value evaporated. Ahmed received only £95,000 from equipment sales—86% loss.

Lesson: If heirs aren't dentists, your will must explicitly instruct SALE, specify timeline (immediate vs. allowing time for optimal sale), and appoint an executor with dental practice sale expertise.

Mistake 4: Ignoring NHS contract implications

Dr. Sarah's solo practice held an NHS GDS contract providing 8,000 UDAs annually (£240,000 income). Her will made no mention of NHS contracts or notification requirements.

When she died, her executor (her sister) didn't know about the 7-day NHS England notification requirement. The notification was sent 6 weeks after Sarah's death. NHS England terminated the contract for non-compliance.

Practice goodwill dropped from £420,000 (mixed NHS/private) to £180,000 (private patients only)—a £240,000 loss due to one oversight.

Lesson: If you hold an NHS contract, your will must specifically instruct executors to notify NHS England within 7 days and maintain contract compliance during estate administration.

Mistake 5: Not addressing patient records obligations

Dr. Nina died suddenly. Her will made no mention of patient records. Her executor (her sister) didn't know about GDC requirements to retain records for 11 years for adults (or until age 25 or 11 years for children, whichever is longer).

During practice clearance, all records were destroyed. Three subsequent negligence claims had no clinical evidence to defend. The estate paid £78,000 in settlements for claims that might have been defensible with proper records.

Lesson: Your will should instruct executors to maintain patient records per GDC requirements and specify secure storage arrangements if the practice closes.

Mistake 6: No professional executor for complex estates

Dr. James appointed his wife (a primary school teacher) as sole executor of his £1.3 million estate including practice, partnership, NHS contract, equipment leases, and 6 employees.

His wife spent 22 months administering the estate, made several costly errors (missed BPR claim deadline, overpaid IHT by £48,000, accepted low practice valuation), and suffered severe stress requiring medical leave from her teaching job.

Lesson: For estates exceeding £1 million or including practice ownership, appoint a professional executor (solicitor, accountant, dental practice broker) or co-executor with business expertise.

Mistake 7: Not coordinating with professional indemnity insurance

Dr. Raj switched from DDU to MPS in 2020 but didn't update the professional details letter attached to his will. When Raj died in 2023, a negligence claim was filed for 2021 treatment.

His executor contacted DDU (the provider listed in the old letter), who confirmed no coverage. Two months passed before discovering MPS coverage. Legal deadlines were missed, weakening the defense significantly.

Lesson: Attach a professional details letter to your will listing current indemnity provider, policy number, and contact details. Update this letter whenever you change providers—you don't need to rewrite the entire will.

Prevention checklist:

  • Update your will within 6 months of any practice ownership change
  • Review your will every 2-3 years minimum (every 5 years absolute maximum)
  • If unmarried, explicitly name your partner as beneficiary
  • If heirs aren't dentists, instruct SALE with specific timeline and method
  • Address NHS contracts explicitly if you're a contract holder
  • Instruct patient records retention per GDC requirements
  • For estates exceeding £1M, appoint professional executor or co-executor
  • Attach professional details letter with current indemnity insurance information

Now that you understand what NOT to do, let's address the most common questions dentists have about will planning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do dentists need a different will than other professionals?

A: While the legal requirements are the same, dentists need to address unique assets like practice ownership, goodwill valuation, partnership agreements, and professional indemnity coverage. If you own a dental practice, your will must account for business succession, patient records obligations, and NHS contract implications. Generic will templates often miss these critical elements, potentially costing your estate hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Q: What happens to my dental practice if I die without a will?

A: Without a will, your practice ownership passes under intestacy rules—typically to your spouse or children. However, this creates serious complications: your partnership agreement may require immediate buyout, patient care continuity is disrupted, and your family may be forced to sell quickly at below-market value (often 40-60% less than optimal sale price). NHS contracts can be particularly problematic without clear succession plans, potentially terminating within 30 days and destroying significant practice value.

Q: Can I leave my dental practice to my children in my will?

A: Yes, but only if they're registered dentists can they continue operating the practice. If your children aren't dentists, your will should specify whether the practice should be sold (and provide timeline and method) or transferred to associates. Many dentists create succession plans 5-10 years before retirement to maximize practice value and ensure smooth transitions rather than leaving these critical decisions to the will execution stage.

Q: How is goodwill treated in a dentist's estate?

A: Goodwill—the intangible value of patient relationships, reputation, and location—is a taxable asset in your estate. Recent market data shows mixed practices achieving 154% of annual turnover in valuation, with average UK dental practice values at £792,711. Business Property Relief may apply (100% for partnership capital accounts under current rules), but new rules from April 2026 cap 100% relief at £1 million, with 50% relief on value exceeding this threshold. For a practice worth £850,000, proper planning can save over £100,000 in inheritance tax.

Q: What happens to my professional indemnity insurance when I die?

A: Your professional indemnity insurance doesn't transfer through your will, but claims can be made against your estate for up to six years after your last treatment date. Ensure your executors know about your coverage (DDU, MPS, MDDUS, or other providers) and keep records of policy details. Some policies include death benefits or extended tail coverage that your estate may be entitled to claim. Without this information, your estate could face undefended negligence claims potentially costing tens of thousands of pounds.

Q: Do I need a business will separate from my personal will?

A: No, you don't need separate wills, but your single will must address both personal and business assets comprehensively. Include specific provisions for: practice ownership transfer or sale instructions, partnership agreement compliance, NHS/private contract handling, equipment and premises distribution, outstanding patient invoices collection, and professional indemnity obligations. A single comprehensive will is legally sufficient and avoids potential conflicts between multiple documents.

Q: How much inheritance tax will my dental practice incur?

A: Business Property Relief can significantly reduce or eliminate inheritance tax on qualifying business assets. Under current rules (until April 2026), you may get 100% relief on your partnership capital account. From April 6, 2026, new rules cap 100% relief at £1 million combined for all business assets, with 50% relief on value exceeding this threshold. For the average UK dental practice (£792,711 value), most will still receive substantial relief, but practices exceeding £1 million will face some IHT liability (effective 20% rate on value above £1M). Proper planning with your will can optimize these reliefs.

Conclusion

Key takeaways:

  • Dental practice ownership creates unique will requirements beyond standard wills—address goodwill valuation, partnership agreements, NHS contracts, and professional indemnity obligations specifically.
  • Practice values average £792,711, but forced sales after death fetch only 40-60% of optimal value without proper succession planning—potentially losing £300,000+ for your family.
  • Business Property Relief reduces IHT on practices, but April 2026 changes cap 100% relief at £1 million—plan now if your practice exceeds this threshold to minimize tax impact.
  • Coordinate your will with partnership agreements to avoid legal conflicts—partnership agreements are binding contracts that can override conflicting will provisions.
  • Appoint executors with business acumen and provide them with essential information—partnership agreements, NHS contract details, professional indemnity coverage, patient records obligations.

You've spent years building your dental practice—treating patients, training teams, managing finances, and creating value that supports your family. Your practice represents not just your career, but your family's security and your professional legacy.

Don't let intestacy rules or poor estate planning destroy in months what took decades to build. Without a proper will, your unmarried partner could inherit nothing, your children might lose hundreds of thousands in a forced practice sale, and your life's work could evaporate.

Create your will and protect your dental practice today. With WUHLD, it takes just 15 minutes online and costs £99.99 (compared to £650+ for a solicitor). You'll get your complete, legally binding will plus three essential guides: a 12-page Testator Guide explaining proper will execution, a Witness Guide to give to your witnesses, and a Complete Asset Inventory document to organize your estate.

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Legal Disclaimer:

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. WUHLD is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws and guidance change and their application depends on your circumstances. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified solicitor or regulated professional. Unless stated otherwise, information relates to England and Wales.

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