Why A Will Is A Cornerstone For Your Estate Plan

Ravi Solanki • June 18, 2026

Although writing your will and carrying out estate planning can often be confused as being one and the same, a will is not the entirety of your estate plan.

However, it is an essential component and all of us should make sure we have a will in place as soon as possible in our adult lives.

And yet, over half of the adult population in the UK still don’t have a will. Research from the Money & Pensions Service last year found that 56 per cent of adults don’t have a will in the UK.

But what is scary is that this figure doesn’t get much lower as people get older, with 53 per cent of those between the ages of 50 and 64 still without a will.

Why do you need a will?

In the most simple terms, your will dictates who will inherit your estate when you pass away. Even if you don’t have significant savings or investments, it is likely that you will still leave wealth behind, perhaps in the form of a property, business or even a pension.

When you work with a professional will writer, you can stipulate who you would like to receive what. This ensures that your wealth moves to the people you care about the most, whether that is a partner, children or close family and friends who have supported you.

But a will doesn’t only cover your financial wealth. If you have dependent children, your will sets out who you would like to become their legal guardian in the event that both you and their other parent passes away.

What happens if you die without a will?

If you die without a will in place, the government will decide who inherits your estate. Typically, this happens based on standard intestacy rules, which stipulate that your wealth to the value of £322,000 will pass to your spouse or civil partner.

Any remaining after that will be split half between your spouse or civil partner and your children.

This makes the situation sound overly simplistic, however, because it does not take into account any family nuances, or your wishes.

As a result, if you die intestate (which simply means without a will) you could make your passing more stressful for your family than it needs to be. If there is any kind of tension within your family, this could flare up as a result of you not having clearly expressed your wishes.

How to write a will that meets your needs

You need to think about your will in conjunction with the rest of your estate planning, which is why it’s so important to speak to a qualified professional who can help you with both parts of this process.

Will writing might feel scary or complicated, but with the right person to guide you it can become an exercise in finding clarity and reducing stress for you and those you love.

When you come to write your will, you need to think about what assets you have and who you would like your wealth to pass to. Consider also any sentimental items that you may want to give to specific people.

For further guidance and advice, book a clarity call today.

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3 Reasons To Get Support With Your Estate Plan

By Ravi Solanki • September 7, 2026

Discover three of the top reasons to seek professional support with your estate plan and learn how working with an estate planner can improve your situation.

When Should You Start Estate Planning?

By Ravi Solanki • August 28, 2026

Too many people in the UK still shy away from estate planning, as evidenced by research indicating that 56 per cent of adults in the country do not have a will in place. This only falls slightly, to 53 per cent, for those aged 50 to 64, indicating that many people are sticking their heads in the sand when it comes to what will happen to their assets when they pass away. But, of course, a will is only one element of an estate plan. There are many approaches you can use to help protect the wealth you have accumulated throughout your lifetime to pass on to your family and ensure they continue to reap the benefits of what you’ve sown. When should you start estate planning? The reality is that the sooner you start estate planning, the better. This is because an estate plan is not an activity you do once and then ignore. It is a living, breathing plan that can adapt as your life changes. Many people wait until their later years before they start thinking about what will happen to their wealth once they pass away. While it is certainly better to engage with estate planning services in your 60s than not to do so at all, it is even more helpful if you start at a younger age. One of the reasons for starting earlier is that you can make your wishes clear and ensure you have a plan in place before there could be questions over your mental capacity. It is a confronting fact, but the number of people with dementia in the UK is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040 , which means if you leave this process too late you may not be in a position to take control of your estate planning yourself. I share this not to scare you, but to highlight a genuine risk that many people overlook. What are the benefits of early estate planning? There are many advantages to starting your estate planning as soon as possible, chief among them that it gives you control over your future. Estate planning is an overwhelmingly empowering process and I see my clients go from feeling nervous at the prospect to feeling both relieved and in more control of their finances once they have created an estate plan with me. Other benefits of estate planning include: Being in a position to adapt your approach to new legislation around taxation. Being able to maximise the money you give tax-free to your family and loved ones. Reducing your inheritance tax bill by making smart financial choices. Maximising the amount you can give to members of your family and loved ones as tax-free gifts can be an important part of an estate plan. Under current rules, when you give someone money, that sum becomes exempt from inheritance tax provided you survive for at least seven years after making the gift. Of course, there are more complex rules surrounding this process than merely surviving seven years, and there are annual limits on how much of your wealth you can give away and in what form. This is why working with an experienced estate planner is so important. I’m here to talk you through your estate planning options at any time, simply book a Clarity Call to get started.