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Wills & Will Writing Articles
Everything about making and updating a valid will in England and Wales: formal requirements under the Wills Act 1837, choosing executors and guardians, gifts and legacies, codicils, and the mistakes that get DIY wills challenged.
All 85 wills & will writing articles
- Best Online Will Writing Service UK 2026, Compared & RankedBeyond has exited the UK market. Compare the online will writing services still active for England and Wales on price, scope and legal validity. 2026 guide.19 June 2026
- Beneficiary Dies Before You UK: Lapse RuleSee what happens when a beneficiary dies before you, how the lapse rule and section 33 work, and how substitution clauses stop a gift from failing outright.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Charitable Legacy in a Will UKHow to leave a charitable legacy in your will: gifts to charity are exempt under IHTA 1984 s.23, and leaving 10% of the net estate cuts the IHT rate to 36%.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Mutual Wills UK: Binding Agreements Between CouplesMutual wills are a binding agreement not to revoke after the first death, creating a floating constructive trust (Dufour v Pereira); compared with mirror wills.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Overseas Property and UK WillsIf you own property in Spain, France, Portugal, the usa, or anywhere else abroad, a UK will alone may not be enough to deal with it effectively.9 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Will for a Business Owner UKA business owner's will guide: Business Property Relief and the April 2026 cap, the two-pot approach, shareholder agreements and choosing the right executors.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Where to Store a Will UK: Safe Options That Cost LittleA will is only useful if it can be found. Storage options compared: HMCTS will deposit, the National Will Register, solicitor storage and the lost-will risk.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Wills Act 1837 UK: The Rules That Make Wills ValidThe Wills Act 1837 sets the rules for a valid will in England and Wales: s.9 formalities, in writing, signed, two independent witnesses, presence and intent.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Wills Act 1963 UK: Foreign Wills Recognised HereThe Wills Act 1963 decides whether a foreign will is formally valid in England and Wales. How the formal-validity rules apply to international estates.9 June 2026 · 4 min read
- Beneficiary of a Will UK: Your Rights ExplainedWhat a beneficiary of a will is and their rights in England and Wales: specific versus residuary gifts, lapse, and why a witness beneficiary forfeits the gift.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Beneficiary Rights in an Estate UKBeneficiary rights in an estate: what you can ask an executor for, including estate accounts and your inheritance, and what to do if the executor delays.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- Digital Legacy Planning UKMost people hold dozens of online accounts. Learn how to plan for your email, social media, cloud files and crypto so your executor can manage them properly.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Write a Will for Free UK: 5 Genuine OptionsYou don't need a solicitor or any fee to write a valid will in England and Wales. Five free and low-cost routes compared, with who qualifies for each.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Letter of Wishes UK: Guide Your Executors and TrusteesA letter of wishes privately guides your executors and trustees alongside your will; not legally binding, but essential where you have a discretionary trust.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Residuary Beneficiary UKWhat a residuary beneficiary receives after debts and gifts, your rights to estate accounts, how residue is taxed, plus abatement and lapse explained.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- Tenants in Common Will UKIf you own property as tenants in common in England and Wales, your share does not pass automatically to your co-owner, it goes through your will or intestacy.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Types of Will UK: Which One Fits Your Family?The main types of will in England and Wales: simple, mirror, mutual, trust (life interest IPDI, discretionary, NRB), statutory and privileged wills compared.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- What Is a Codicil UK? How to Amend a Will WithoutA codicil amends an existing will without replacing it, using the same Wills Act 1837 s.9 execution: signed plus two witnesses. When to use one, and the risks.8 June 2026 · 4 min read
- When Does a Will Become Public Record in the UK?A will becomes public once probate is granted and anyone can order a copy (£16 online). Learn how to search, why wills are public and how to keep plans private.8 June 2026 · 6 min read
- Writing a Will Over 70 UKWriting or updating a will at 70 or older: documenting capacity, the urgency of an LPA, reviewing old wills, later-life tax planning and DIY versus solicitor.8 June 2026 · 8 min read
- Will Writing Services UK: Types, Costs and AlternativesThe four ways to make a will in England and Wales compared: high-street solicitor, online service or kit, will writing company and charity will scheme.8 June 2026 · 5 min read
- Writing a Will with Mental Illness UKCan you make a valid will with a mental health condition? How the Banks v Goodfellow capacity test applies, documentation steps and statutory wills explained.8 June 2026 · 7 min read
- Modernising Wills: Where Does Reform Stand in 2026?Where does will reform stand after the Law Commission's Making a Will report? Learn what changes are proposed for England and Wales and what it means for you.31 May 2026 · 8 min read
- UK Wills Law Reform 2026: What Happened to the BillThe government missed its 16 May 2026 deadline to respond to the Law Commission's Modernising Wills Law report; your properly executed will remains fully valid.19 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Blended Family Wills UK: Protecting All Your ChildrenStandard mirror wills can accidentally disinherit children from a first relationship. How a life interest trust protects every child in a blended family.18 May 2026 · 10 min read
- What Happens If a Beneficiary Dies Before You UKIf a beneficiary dies before you, their gift lapses and falls into residue, unless you name a substitute or the section 33 Wills Act 1837 exception applies.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Leaving a Charitable Legacy in Your Will UKHow to leave a gift to charity in your will, the 10% rule that reduces inheritance tax from 40% to 36%, and how to word a charitable legacy correctly.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Codicil to a Will UK: A Cheap Way to Make Small ChangesA codicil amends your will without rewriting it, but must be signed and witnessed under section 9 of the Wills Act 1837; when to write a new will instead.13 May 2026 · 7 min read
- Cy-Pres Doctrine UK: When a Charity Gift FailsIf a charity named in your will has closed or merged, the cy-pres doctrine redirects the gift to a similar charitable purpose instead of failing to intestacy.13 May 2026 · 7 min read
- Handwritten Wills UK: Are They Legally Valid?Can you write a will by hand in England and Wales? The legal requirements, why a handwritten will is no more valid than typed, witness rules, common mistakes.13 May 2026 · 7 min read
- How to Find a Will After Someone Dies UKHow to find a will after someone dies in England and Wales: searching the home, contacting solicitors, the National Will Register and the Probate Registry.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Making a Will with Children UKIf you have children under 18, your will needs to appoint a guardian and set up a trust for their inheritance. How to do both and protect their future.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Pecuniary Legacies UK: Cash Gifts in a WillA pecuniary legacy is a fixed cash gift in a will; how it differs from specific and residuary gifts, what abatement means, and how to draft one that works.13 May 2026 · 7 min read
- Personal Chattels in a Will UK: Who Gets Your ThingsPersonal chattels are defined in s55(1)(x) of the Administration of Estates Act 1925: furniture, jewellery, vehicles and household goods; how they pass.13 May 2026 · 7 min read
- How to Revoke a Will in the UKThe four legal ways to revoke a will in England and Wales: destruction under s20 Wills Act 1837, a new will, a declaration, or marriage, plus automatic traps.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Specific Legacies UK: Gifting Named Items in a WillA legacy in a will can be specific, general, demonstrative or residuary. Learn how each type of gift works, and what happens if an asset no longer exists.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Statutory Legacy UK: What the Surviving Spouse Gets FirstThe statutory legacy is the fixed sum a surviving spouse receives first from an intestate estate with children, currently £322,000 in England and Wales.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Statutory Wills UK: Wills Made by the Court of ProtectionWhere someone lacks capacity, the Court of Protection can authorise a statutory will under s18(1)(i) Mental Capacity Act 2005: who can apply and when it fits.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Survivorship Clause in Will UK: 30-Day RuleA survivorship clause makes a gift conditional on the beneficiary outliving you by a set period, usually 30 days. The commorientes rule and the IHT trap.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Undue Influence and Wills UK: Spotting and Proving ItUndue influence is where coercion overpowers a testator's free will; the test from Hall v Hall, how to prove and challenge it, and the evidence the court needs.13 May 2026 · 9 min read
- Will Writing Checklist UK: Everything to Gather FirstThe complete will writing checklist for England and Wales: gather your estate inventory, choose executors and guardians, and decide your gifts and wishes.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Writing a Will When Ill UK: Acting Quickly and SafelyMaking a valid will when you are ill: the Banks v Goodfellow capacity test, deathbed wills, urgency steps, and how to protect the will from challenge.13 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Can You Write Your Own Will in the UK?Yes, you can write your own will in England and Wales without a solicitor: will-writing is not a reserved legal activity. The rules and DIY mistakes explained.12 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Contesting a Will UK: Grounds, Time Limits and CostsThe 5 legal grounds for contesting a will in England and Wales, lack of capacity, undue influence, improper execution, fraud, and Inheritance Act claims.12 May 2026 · 10 min read
- How to Appoint a Guardian for Your Children in Your Will UKAppointing a guardian in your will under section 5 of the Children Act 1989 is the only reliable way to choose who raises your children should you die.12 May 2026 · 7 min read
- Second Marriage Wills UK: Protect Children and SpouseMarriage automatically revokes your existing will under s18 Wills Act 1837. In a blended family, the wrong structure can disinherit your own children.12 May 2026 · 9 min read
- What Happens If You Die Without a Will UKIf you die without a will in England and Wales, the intestacy rules decide who inherits and your unmarried partner gets nothing; what happens and how to fix it.12 May 2026 · 8 min read
- What to Include in a Will UK: The Full ChecklistThe complete checklist of what a will needs: executors, beneficiaries, specific gifts, the residuary clause, guardians, digital assets and funeral wishes.12 May 2026 · 8 min read
- Who Can Witness a Will in the UK? Rules & Who Can'tTwo independent adult witnesses must sign your will in your presence for it to be valid. Who can and cannot witness, and why beneficiaries must never do it.12 May 2026 · 6 min read
- Beyond Wills Has Closed: What Customers Can Do NowBeyond, the online will service, shut down in 2025. A Beyond will you already made stays legally valid if correctly executed. The three checks to do now.11 May 2026 · 5 min read
- Farewill Alternatives 2026: UK Options ComparedFarewill still offers online wills in 2026. Compare the best UK will-writing alternatives for England and Wales on price, format, and who each service suits.11 May 2026 · 11 min read
- 5 Things the Post Office Will Kit Doesn't Tell YouA post office will kit seems simple, but there's a lot it leaves out. Here are 5 things you need to know before using one to write your will in the UK.26 April 2026 · 5 min read
- Cohabiting Couples and Inheritance UKCohabiting couples inheritance UK law is clear: living together gives you no automatic right to inherit. Here's what 3.6 million couples need to know in 2026.26 April 2026 · 6 min read
- Will Writing for New Parents UKExpecting a baby? A will for new parents UK means naming a guardian, setting up a trust, and protecting your child's future. Here's what you need to know.26 April 2026 · 5 min read
- How to Store a Will Safely UK: 5 Options ComparedWhere to keep your signed will so your executor can find the original: at home, with a solicitor, at the Probate Registry or in a digital store, compared.22 April 2026 · 5 min read
- What Is a Residuary Estate UK?The residuary estate is everything left after specific gifts, debts and taxes are paid. Why the residue matters and how to leave it clearly in your will.22 April 2026 · 5 min read
- Is a DIY Will Kit Actually Legal?Is a DIY will kit legal? For most people a home-made will is valid under the Wills Act 1837; will-writing is not reserved, so no solicitor is required by law.21 April 2026 · 7 min read
- The Ambulatory Nature of a Will UKA will is ambulatory: under section 24 of the Wills Act 1837 it speaks from death, not the date made, so it captures assets acquired after it was written.
- Bankrupt Beneficiary UK: Protecting an InheritanceIf a beneficiary in your will is bankrupt, their inheritance vests in their trustee in bankruptcy under section 307 of the Insolvency Act 1986, not in them. · 9 min read
- What Happens if a Beneficiary Dies After the Testator UK?If a beneficiary survives the testator but dies before distribution, their gift has vested and forms part of their own estate, passing under their own will.
- Benjamin Order UK: Distributing When an Heir Is MissingGuide to Benjamin orders in England and Wales. What a Benjamin order is, when probate courts grant one, how executors apply, missing beneficiary insurance. · 7 min read
- Charging Clause in a Will UK: Paying ProfessionalsA charging clause lets a professional executor or trustee be paid for their work. Without one they can only claim expenses. How to include it in a will. · 8 min read
- Class Gifts in a Will UK: Sharing Between a GroupA class gift leaves property to a group such as your children or grandchildren; who shares, and how the class closes at death under the Wills Act 1837 s.24.
- Is a Codicil Valid UK? When to Use One vs Making a New WillWhen a codicil is legally valid in England and Wales: Wills Act 1837 formalities, the risks of amending rather than rewriting, and how to do it correctly. · 6 min read
- Contesting a Will for Undue Influence UK: What to ProveThe legal grounds for contesting a will in England and Wales: lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, want of knowledge and approval, and fraud. 2026.
- Contingent Gift in a Will UK: Age Conditions ExplainedA contingent gift takes effect only if a condition precedent is met, such as reaching an age or surviving to a set date; vested vs contingent gifts explained. · 8 min read
- death in service and will ukDeath in service benefits are paid outside your estate and ignore your will. Learn how nominations work and why they may bypass the people you intended.
- Doctrine of Election in a Will UKThe equitable doctrine of election requires a beneficiary who takes a benefit under a will to also give effect to the whole instrument, including others' gifts.
- Foreign Assets and Your UK WillIf you own property or assets abroad, your English will may not cover them. How foreign land is governed by local law and when you need a second will.
- The Forfeiture Rule UK: When Heirs Cannot InheritThe forfeiture rule stops a person who unlawfully kills from inheriting from their victim; how it applies to wills, intestacy and jointly owned property. · 8 min read
- Gift Aid and Legacies UK: What Charities and Donors Need to KnowGift Aid does not apply to legacies. But charitable legacies are 100% IHT-exempt and can reduce the rate on the rest of your estate. Here is how it works.
- Lapse of Gift in Will UK: s33 Wills ActA gift in a will lapses if the beneficiary dies before the person who made the will. How the lapse rule works, the anti-lapse exception, and how to plan.
- Lifetime Mortgage and Your Will UKHow a lifetime mortgage or equity release affects your will, what your family inherits, and your inheritance tax position. What to check before you borrow. · 9 min read
- National Will Register UK: Is Registering Worth It?What the National Will Register (Certainty) does, how will searches work when someone dies, and whether registering your will is worth it for your estate.
- Powers of Appointment in a Will UKGeneral, special and hybrid powers of appointment explained: who holds them, how they are exercised in a will, and IHT treatment under IHTA 1984 s.5(2). · 7 min read
- Privileged Wills UK: Armed Forces, Soldiers & MarinersSoldiers, sailors, airforce personnel, and mariners on active service can make a privileged will in England and Wales with no witnesses and no writing.
- Reading of the Will UK: The Myth and the RealityThere is no formal will-reading ceremony in English law. Here is what actually happens and what beneficiaries are entitled to know.
- Rectification of a Will UK: Fixing Drafting MistakesA court can rectify a will under section 20 of the Administration of Justice Act 1982 if it fails to carry out the testator's intentions due to a clerical.
- Republication of a Will UK: How Codicils Refresh WillsRepublication of a will by codicil re-dates the will to the codicil's execution date. What this changes, when it helps, and the traps for beneficiaries. · 8 min read
- Satisfaction and Performance UK WillsSatisfaction and performance are equitable doctrines that affect how will gifts interact with lifetime dealings in England and Wales. Full legal guide. · 7 min read
- Void vs Voidable Wills UK: The Crucial DifferenceA void will is a nullity from the outset; a voidable will stands until a court sets it aside. Why the difference matters when you challenge a will; the grounds. · 8 min read
- What Makes a Will Invalid UK: 7 Common MistakesLearn every ground that can make a will invalid in England and Wales, from failed execution under the Wills Act 1837 to lack of capacity, undue influence. · 8 min read
- Will Dispute Costs UK: What a Challenge Really CostsContesting a will or defending contested probate can cost tens of thousands of pounds. Who pays, how fees work, and how to keep a dispute out of court.
- Where to Store a Will UK: Solicitor OptionsThe safest places to store a will: solicitor storage, the National Will Register, and how executors find a stored will after a death in England and Wales. · 6 min read
- Writing a Will as a UK Expat: Assets in Two CountriesUK expatriates face complex will issues: domicile of origin and choice, foreign property, forced heirship rules, and whether a UK will is valid abroad.
Self-help information only. Articles on this blog are for general informational purposes and do not constitute legal advice. WillSafe UK is not a firm of solicitors. For complex estates, blended families, business assets or foreign property, please speak to a qualified solicitor.