Wills
Don’t leave your estate in the
waiting room.
A Will is not morbid. Dying without one under English and Welsh law is. Here’s what the intestacy rules actually say — and why it matters for your family right now.
Two Outcomes. One Decision.
What happens to your family
with and without a Will?
The difference between dying with a valid Will and dying intestate under English and Welsh law is not abstract. Here is what it looks like in practice — for the same family, in the same circumstances.
Without a Will (Intestate)
1
You pass away without a valid Will
The intestacy rules automatically apply. Your personal wishes, even if shared with family, may have no legal effect.
2
The law determines the Administrator
A family member must apply for Letters of Administration, which takes time, costs money, and may not be who you’d choose.
3
Unmarried partners receive nothing
Under the intestacy rules, cohabiting partners have no automatic right to inherit — even after many years together.
4
Children inherit outright at 18
Any inheritance held for minor children is released to them in full when they turn 18, with no conditions or ongoing trustee control.
5
No Guardian named for your children
If both parents pass away, the court decides who will raise your children, rather than someone you personally chose.
With a valid Will
1
You pass away with a valid, signed Will
Your Will is the legal record of your wishes. As long as it meets the requirements of the Wills Act 1837, it determines how your estate is handled.
2
Your named executor takes control
The person you appoint applies for Probate and manages your estate according to your instructions.
3
Your partner is protected
You decide exactly what your partner receives and how they’re protected.
4
Children inherit on your terms
You choose the age they inherit and appoint trustees to manage the money until then.
5
Your chosen Guardian is named
Your Will names the person you trust to care for your children, so the decision isn’t left to the court.
Four legal conditions that can
devastate your family
Without a valid Will, the Administration of Estates Act 1925 and the intestacy rules make the decisions. Here’s what those decisions look like.
01
Unmarried partners receive nothing
There is no such thing as common law marriage in England & Wales. Under the intestacy rules, an unmarried partner — no matter how many years you’ve lived together, no matter whether you have children together — receives absolutely nothing. Your estate passes to blood relatives instead. The only remedy is a claim under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, which is costly and uncertain.
02
Children inherit at 18, not 25
Under intestacy, children receive their full inheritance at 18. A Will allows you to set the age at 21, 25, or whenever you choose — and to appoint trustees to manage the money in the meantime. Most parents do not want their teenager receiving a life-changing sum on their 18th birthday with no conditions attached.
03
The marriage trap
Under section 18 of the Wills Act 1837, marriage in England & Wales automatically revokes your existing Will — unless it was specifically drafted in contemplation of that marriage. Millions of couples are unaware of this. If you wrote a Will in 2018 and married in 2022, your 2018 Will is legally void. You are intestate.
04
Estranged relatives gain legal standing
Without a Will naming an executor, the court appoints an Administrator under a Grant of Letters of Administration. Under intestacy, estranged relatives — siblings not spoken to in decades, distant cousins — may have priority. They can gain control of your estate and have a say in your funeral arrangements, regardless of your actual wishes.
WHY CHOOSE US
Your Will.
Sorted. Finally.
Prepared under English and Welsh law. Compliant with the Wills Act 1837. Completed in as little as two weeks.
From £325
Single Will
Wills from £325. LPAs from £350. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices. We quote upfront, you accept, and that’s what you pay.
From £395
Mirror Wills (Couples)
Two complementary Wills for you and your partner. Our most popular option for homeowners and parents. Each legally independent.
From £595
Will + Property Trust
Protect your share of the family home from care home fee assessments and sideways disinheritance. Includes a Life Interest Trust or Discretionary Trust.
POA
Business Owner Will
Succession planning, Business Property Relief under IHTA 1984, shareholder agreement interaction, and Agricultural Property Relief where applicable.