Should I make a will?

A will sets out who will benefit from your property and possessions (your estate) after your death.

Although you do not have to make one by law, it is the best way to make sure your estate is passed on to family and friends exactly as you wish. If you die without a will, your assets may be distributed according to the law rather than your wishes.

Why it's important to make a will

There are many good reasons to make a will:

• you can decide how your assets are shared - if you don't have a will, the law says who gets what
• if you're an unmarried couple (whether or not it's a same-sex relationship), you can make sure your partner is provided for
• if you're divorced, you can decide whether to leave anything to your former partner
• you can make sure you don't pay more Inheritance Tax than necessary

External Link:

More information from DirectGov

External Link:

AgeUK - Making a will

External Link:

Information about living wills from AgeUK

CAB Advice Guide information about wills