HomeGuides, thoughts & insightsWill Writing Guides
Plain English guides on wills, inheritance, and estate planning — plus our take on the latest proposed wills reform.
Do I Need a Will?
Why every adult in England and Wales should have a will, and the risks of not having one.
How to Make a Will in the UK
A step-by-step guide to making a legally valid will in England and Wales, from choosing executors to signing and witnessing.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
A breakdown of will writing costs in the UK, from DIY kits to solicitors and online services.
Your Will-Writing Checklist
Everything you need to prepare before writing your will, from asset lists to executor choices.
What Happens If You Die Without a Will?
How the intestacy rules distribute your estate when you die without a will in England and Wales.
Intestacy Rules in England and Wales
A clear explanation of the intestacy rules that apply when someone dies without a will in England and Wales.
Understanding Inheritance Tax
A plain English guide to inheritance tax in the UK, including thresholds, exemptions, and how to reduce your bill.
Who Can Inherit If There Is No Will?
A guide to who is entitled to inherit under the intestacy rules in England and Wales, and who misses out.
Simple Will vs Mirror Wills
The differences between a simple will and mirror wills, and how to decide which is right for you and your partner.
What Is a Codicil?
What a codicil is, when to use one, and when it's better to write a new will instead.
Wills for Blended Families
How to write a will that protects all members of your blended family, including stepchildren and children from previous relationships.
Letter of Wishes
What a letter of wishes is, what to include, and how it works alongside your will.
How to Choose an Executor
What executors do, who to choose, and the common mistakes to avoid when appointing executors in your will.
What Is Probate and Do You Need It?
A plain English explanation of probate — what it is, when it's needed, and how the process works in England and Wales.
Lasting Power of Attorney and Wills
How a lasting power of attorney works alongside your will, and why you might need both.
Updating Your Will After Marriage or Divorce
How marriage and divorce affect your will, and what you need to do to keep your estate plan up to date.
Wills and Children: Guardianship
How to use your will to appoint legal guardians for your children, and what happens if you don't.
Can You Disinherit Someone?
Whether you can legally exclude someone from your will in England and Wales, and what claims they might make.
What to Do When Someone Dies
A practical step-by-step guide to what you need to do when a loved one dies in England and Wales.
How to Find a Will
Where to look for a deceased person's will, and what to do if you can't find one.
Overseas Assets in Your Will
How to deal with foreign property, bank accounts, and other assets in your English or Welsh will.
What to Do After Receiving Your Will
A practical guide to signing, witnessing, and storing your will once it arrives.
The New Wills Act: What Could Change
The Law Commission has proposed replacing the Wills Act 1837. Here is what their draft Wills Bill would mean for anyone making a will in England and Wales.
Electronic Wills: What the Law Commission Is Proposing
The Law Commission's draft Wills Bill proposes making electronic wills legally valid for the first time. Here is how they would work and what it could mean for you.
Marriage May No Longer Revoke Your Will
Under the current law, getting married automatically revokes your will. The Law Commission's draft Wills Bill proposes abolishing this rule. Here is what that could mean.
Testamentary Capacity: What Is Changing
The Law Commission proposes replacing the Victorian-era capacity test for making a will with the modern Mental Capacity Act 2005 framework. Here is what that means.
The Dispensing Power: Courts Could Save Informal Wills
The Law Commission proposes giving courts the power to validate wills that fail on technicalities. Here is how the dispensing power would work and why it matters.
Undue Influence and Wills: What Could Change
It is notoriously difficult to prove someone was pressured into making a will. The Law Commission proposes a new statutory framework. Here is what it would mean.
Children Making Wills: The Age Could Drop to 16
The Law Commission proposes lowering the minimum age for making a will from 18 to 16. Here is why they recommend this change and what it would mean in practice.
Will Witness Rules: What Is Changing
The Law Commission proposes extending the witness-beneficiary rule to cohabitants and to those who sign on behalf of the testator. Here is what that means.