In the UK today, we face a quiet but significant risk to families and their futures, and it’s hiding in plain sight.
Despite the certainties of life (aka death and taxes), more than half of UK adults either don’t have a valid Will or have one that no longer reflects their current circumstances. Surveys vary, but recent findings put the figure between 48% and 67% – which as I’m sure you’ll agree, is significantly higher than we would want it to be!
And while this might sound like a personal issue, it’s something we believe professional advisers have a responsibility to help with.
The Statistics Speak for Themselves
- Just 41% of 18–24-year-olds, 47% of 25–54-year-olds, and 69% of those over 55 have Wills in place.
- Among adults over 30 who don’t have a Will, 43% say it’s been on their to-do list for over a year.
- Around 10% have started a Will but haven’t completed it; often because they simply don’t know how.
Many assume they don’t need one yet because they’re too young, too healthy, or don’t have “enough” to pass on. But death doesn’t wait for the ideal moment. And without a valid Will, intestacy laws take over…laws that ignore relationships, values, and personal wishes entirely.
Where Professionals Like You Make the Difference
If your clients are receiving a basic Will document drafting service, where someone asks what they want, types it up, and sends it over, then they haven’t received proper advice.
And as professionals, we believe that matters.
At Secure Inheritance, we offer something very different:
We offer a fully advised service by trained professionals who listen, ask the right questions, and gently educate clients on what they don’t know.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- A qualified adviser spends time (in-home, over Zoom or phone) exploring family dynamics, financial realities, and intentions.
- We discuss what the client wants to achieve by writing a Will — and more importantly, why.
- All options are explained in Plain English, with pros and cons laid out clearly.
- If something is unnecessary or overcomplicated, we’ll say so.
- We always advise in the client’s best interest, not just what they ask for.
- Beneficiaries are asked to step out during key discussions to protect the client’s autonomy.
- We offer full indemnity cover, a 14-day cooling off period, and a STEP-qualified Head of Legal overseeing the process.
- Our secure online portal allows clients to review and approve drafts, and we can even oversee the signing to ensure validity.
Outdated Wills Are a Risk
We also see growing risks from un-updated wills.
Marriages, divorces, births, and deaths all impact how a will should function. But these are rarely followed up with a redraft. About 21% of Wills contain handwritten amendments, which often cause confusion, legal disputes or invalidate it.
Wills should be reviewed every three to five years or after major life changes, yet most clients don’t know this, unless their adviser tells them.
Why This Matters for Your Clients (and Your Reputation)
You wouldn’t recommend a pension plan without proper advice, or file tax returns based on guesswork. So why should legacy planning be any different?
As a trusted accountant or financial adviser, you’re often the one person clients will turn to for life’s big decisions. Helping them access properly advised Will writing services isn’t just another task; it’s a way to protect them, their families, and everything they’ve worked hard for.
A Final Thought
We believe a Will isn’t just a legal document. It’s a final act of care, clarity and protection and one of the most meaningful decisions a person will ever make.
So, the next time your client says, “I’ve got it covered” please think about asking them who wrote their Will, how long ago it was, and whether anyone really asked the right questions.
If the answer’s no, we’re here to help.
