Two thirds of UK adults without an up-to-date Will as millions wrongly believe they have ‘nothing worth leaving’

Two thirds of UK adults risk leaving their loved ones without clear instructions about their final wishes, new research has revealed – with almost three in ten people without a Will believing they have nothing worth leaving behind.

A new national poll commissioned by charity will-writing campaign Will Aid has found a staggering 67% of adults either do not have a Will or admit the one they have is out of date.

The research, released to mark the opening of appointments for the Will Aid 2026 campaign, found 57% of people have never made a Will, while a further 10% admit their existing Will no longer reflects their current circumstances or wishes.

And despite the potential consequences for the people they leave behind, 44% say they are unlikely to write a Will within the next year.

Will Aid is warning that misconceptions about who needs a Will could be leaving millions of families unnecessarily exposed.

Peter de Vena Franks, Campaign Director at Will Aid, said: “The fact that two thirds of adults either don’t have a Will or have one which is no longer up to date should concern all of us.

“But perhaps one of the most striking findings is that almost three in ten people without a Will believe they simply don’t have anything worth leaving.

“A Will is about far more than the value of the money or property you leave behind. It is about making your wishes clear, protecting the people you care about and making incredibly difficult decisions easier for those you love at what will already be a distressing time.

“You may have children whose future you want to protect, possessions with enormous sentimental value, pets you want cared for or very clear wishes about who should – and should not – benefit from your estate.

“Without a valid Will, you lose the opportunity to make many of those decisions yourself.”

Of the 1,151 people surveyed who had not made a Will, the most common reason – cited by 29% – was the belief that they did not have anything worth leaving.

Cost and simply not finding the time were each cited by 19%, while 18% said they felt uncomfortable thinking about death and 14% were put off by the perceived complexity of the process.

The research also reveals some of the life events that finally prompt people to act.

Among the 857 respondents who had made a Will, 23% said they wanted the reassurance of knowing their children would be looked after if they died, while the same proportion said having children had prompted them to make one.

More than one in five (22%) said hearing stories about people who had died without a Will encouraged them to act, while 18% made theirs after buying a house.

Will Aid is also urging people who already have a Will not to assume the job is finished.

More information on Will Aid can be found at www.willaid.org.uk.