Jane Hunter at mlplaw in Altrincham is encouraging people to consider the risks of not having a will in place following new research revealing nearly half of UK adults aged over 30 who don’t have a will say it’s on their to-do list, with 43% saying it’s been on their to-do list for more than 12 months.
The research from The Association of Lifetime Lawyers shows that almost half (49%) of UK adults don’t have a will in place, meaning their wishes might not be carried out when they die.
The new data reveals 1 in 10 UK adults have started making a will but haven’t finished it, and nearly a third (32%) say they haven’t made a will because they don’t know how to get started. A quarter of people who have making a will on their to-do list, would prioritise watching TV over getting a will in place.
Research shows 21% of wills are handwritten or have handwritten amendments which could make them illegible and therefore difficult to understand. To get your will right, it’s always safest to speak to a specialist, like an Accredited Lifetime Lawyer, who can help you plan for the future and communicate your wishes in the right way.
We all know how important this type of life admin is, but research shows just how hard people find it to get started.
It doesn’t need to take a long time to prepare or update your will, especially if you have an expert to guide you through the process. And it’s time well spent, reducing the burden on your loved ones after your death, and reducing the risk of disputes that can be costly in time and money to resolve.
If you’re not sure where to get started with writing your will, here’s some tips on things to consider: https://www.mlplaw.co.uk/wills/
*Survey data (commissioned by The Association of Lifetime Lawyers). In February 2024, Censuswide polled 2,008 UK adults age 30+ for The Association of Lifetime Lawyers