1 Make a Will
Nearly six out of every 10 adults in the UK haven’t made a Will, according to recent research, and even among people over 55 the number without a Will is, worryingly, more than three in 10. It is important to make a Will, even if you have few possessions or little money. If you don’t, the rules of intestacy decide how your money, property or possessions will be allocated. This may or may not deliver the result that you or your loved ones would have wanted.
In some scenarios, intestacy rules can even cause your loved ones to miss out entirely, or land them with a hefty Inheritance Tax bill that could have been avoided by making a Will. Things may become particularly complicated if you and your partner are not married or in a civil partnership, and/or if one or both of you has children from another relationship. A valid Will is the only way to be sure that your wishes are carried out.
Don’t be deterred by what you might perceive to be cost. While would not) and (). Many charities will draw up a Will free of charge in return for you leaving them a legacy, including the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and the RSPCA.
