Making a will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death. From making sure your assets go to the people you want them to, to ensuring your children are cared for, you can put it all in your will.

It is also a good idea to review your will after any major life events such as having a child, getting divorced, buying a property, or getting married. Marriage revokes existing wills. 

Making a will is one of those things that people often put off or think that they don’t need but there are plenty of reasons why everybody should have a will. In making a will you can ensure:-

• You retain control over the destiny of your money and possessions even after your death
• You can provide for the future of your family
• You can appoint a guardian for you children in the event that you die whilst they are still young
• You can provide for friends who would not otherwise benefit from your assets after your death
• You can leave money to particular Charities you may wish to benefit
• You can leave gifts of specific possessions that you would wish to stay in the family
• You can specify how you would like your body to be disposed of after your death, or state that you wish your body to be used for medical research or training
• You can relieve the pressures on your family & friends by deciding how to distribute your assets after your death

What happens if someone dies without a will

If you are married, the first £270,000 goes to your spouse. After that the estate is split between your spouse and your children. If you are not married, the estate will go to your blood relatives starting with the closest so children, parents, siblings, half-siblings, grandparents then aunts and uncles or any blood relatives that can be found.

Another common misconception is the idea of common law marriage; that if you have been co-habiting for a number of years or even have children together that you are granted the same rights as spouses that married couples are. This is not true. In English and Welsh law there is no such thing as common law marriage and so, no matter how long you have been living together, if one of your dies without leaving a will the other is not entitled to anything. This can create all kinds of complications especially if you own property together as your other half could be left to your family not your partner.