Do you actually have a will? Why 68% of UK adults don't — and what happens if you don't.

Around 60–68% of UK adults do not have a will. The most common reasons given are "I haven't got around to it yet" and "I don't think I need one." Both are likely to cause significant problems for the people left behind.

What happens if you die without a will in England and Wales

Dying without a valid will is called dying intestate. The government has a set of default rules — the Rules of Intestacy — that determine who inherits your estate. These rules have no knowledge of your circumstances, your relationships, or your wishes.

If you are married or in a civil partnership with children:

Your spouse/civil partner receives all personal property, the first £322,000 of the estate, and half of anything above that. Your children share the other half above £322,000.

If you are married or in a civil partnership without children:

Your spouse/civil partner inherits everything.

If you are unmarried:

Your partner inherits nothing, regardless of how long you've been together. The estate goes to children, then parents, then siblings, then more distant relatives. If no relatives can be found, the estate goes to the Crown.

The cohabiting couple problem

There is no such thing as a "common law spouse" in England and Wales. A couple who have lived together for 20 years, raised children together, and own a home together have zero automatic inheritance rights from each other under intestacy. This is one of the most significant sources of financial hardship following bereavement in the UK. If you are cohabiting and not married, writing a will is not optional — it is essential.

What a will actually does

• Names who inherits your assets, in what proportions
• Names an executor — the person responsible for administering your estate
• Names a guardian for any minor children
• Can include specific gifts (particular items to particular people)
• Can establish trusts for children or vulnerable beneficiaries

How much does a will cost?

A simple single will typically costs £150–£300 through a solicitor. A mirror will for a couple costs £200–£400 for both. Online will services can be cheaper — some from £30–£90 — but are best suited to straightforward estates.