27/08/2026
Where there's a Will, there's a say
If you die without a valid Will, the rules of intestacy set out who inherits your estate.
For unmarried couples, a surviving partner would have no entitlement to their partner’s estate unless this wish had been explicitly documented in a valid Will.
For cohabiting couples, how you own your home matters. If owned as joint tenants, the whole property will automatically pass to the surviving partner on death.
There are many reasons for not making a Will. These range from ‘not getting round to it’ to thinking we’re too young to need one. There is also a common assumption that partners and children will automatically receive their fair share.
However, with family structures more blended than ever before, failing to prepare for who should benefit from your assets could mean your wishes are not realised.
According to the 2025 National Wills Report, 79% of UK adults are comfortable talking about death1. Yet when it comes to considering finances, only 36% of people have made a Will2.. This highlights the uncomfortable gap many of us fall into between discussing and doing.