Do You Really Need a Will? 7 Reasons Every Adult Should Consider Making One

“I don’t need a Will. My family will get everything anyway.”

It is one of the most common assumptions people make.

Unfortunately, it is not necessarily true.

If you die without a valid Will, the law decides who inherits your estate under the intestacy rules. Your wishes, however clear they may have been during your lifetime, may not determine what happens.

So, do you really need a Will?

Here are seven reasons why you should consider making one.

1. You decide who inherits

A Will allows you to choose your beneficiaries.

Without one, the intestacy rules determine who inherits.

That may produce a result that is very different from what you intended.

2. You can provide for your children

If you have children, you may want to decide exactly what they inherit and when.

A Will can include provisions for children who are under 18 and can establish arrangements for managing their inheritance.

3. You can appoint guardians

Parents of young children often worry about what would happen to their children if both parents died.

A Will allows you to nominate guardians.

Although the appointment is not the only factor considered by the court, it gives you the opportunity to record your wishes formally.

4. You can protect your partner

Marriage and cohabitation are not legally identical.

An unmarried partner does not automatically have the same inheritance rights as a spouse.

A properly drafted Will can therefore be particularly important for unmarried couples.

5. You can plan for inheritance tax

A Will can form part of a wider estate planning strategy.

This is increasingly important because IHT rules are changing.

From April 2027, most unused pension funds and pension death benefits are due to be brought within the IHT estate.

The rules surrounding agricultural and business assets also changed in April 2026.

6. You can make your wishes clear

A Will is not just about money.

You can also include funeral wishes, guardianship provisions and other instructions.

Clear documentation can reduce uncertainty for your family at an already difficult time.

7. You can review it as your life changes

Your Will should not necessarily be something you write once and forget.

Marriage, divorce, children, grandchildren, property purchases, business ownership and changes to your finances can all be reasons to review your estate plan.

The law can change too.

For example, IHT thresholds are currently fixed at £325,000 for the Nil Rate Band and £175,000 for the Residence Nil Rate Band, with the government having announced that these thresholds are to remain fixed through the 2030/31 tax year.

A Will is ultimately about control.

Who should receive your assets? Who should look after your children? Who should deal with your estate?

If you don’t make those decisions yourself, the law may make them for you.

For professional Will writing and estate planning in Dereham, Norfolk and surrounding areas, The WillMaker Group can help you put your wishes into place.