Making a Will and planning for the future 

The National Wills Register has been carrying out surveys for the past three years in order to understand peoples’ attitudes towards making Wills and estate planning in the UK. They also publish annual reports setting out their findings and statistics on Will-writing trends.

According to the 2024 report, 57% of men and 50% of women had written a Will in the UK. However, last year’s report shows that the proportion of UK adults surveyed who have made a Will is just 37%. This disparity demonstrates that making a Will is not one of the priorities of younger generations, even though there seems to be a growing interest in estate and inheritance planning among younger adults. This may also be explained by the increasing number of people who are not in a long-term relationship. Single people are less likely to make a will in comparison to people who are in a relationship, married, divorced, or widowed.

On the basis of the findings in the 2024 survey, the main reasons for not making a Will included a lack of assets, being in good health, and just not getting around to writing a Will. There is also a sense amongst some that making a will could be morose, convoluted, or costly.

Despite this, last year’s survey paints a brighter picture. There seems to be more interest in making Wills and estate planning more generally, perhaps in light of the proposed introduction of inheritance tax on pensions, which is set to change tax planning practices. 34% of adults surveyed said that they intended to write a will in the near future. Nearly half of people making wills choose to instruct a solicitor to act on their behalf, presumably because they are then more confident that the Will will be made correctly so that their wishes will take effect.

Last year’s report also highlights an increasing willingness to discuss death and estate planning. 79% of adults surveyed stated that they are comfortable talking about death.

It would appear that there is still some work to be done to encourage people to seek professional support in estate planning and will writing. The report recommends enhancing public education in relation to Will-making, improving communication practices, and embracing digital and technological solutions to make the process less daunting.

With professional help and assistance, making a Will can be a positive experience. It will give you peace of mind in knowing that your affairs are in order and that those you want to benefit from your estate are protected.

If making a Will is on your list of New Year’s resolutions, our Private Client team will be happy to assist you. We aim to make the process as smooth and simple as possible.

Tel: 020 7613 1402 Email: privateclient@rfblegal.co.uk.