The 2025 Annual Report from LEAP Estates has unveiled a detailed snapshot of estate planning habits in England and Wales, reflecting shifting societal values, charitable generosity, and demographic trends in will-making.
First launched by WillSuite in 2020 the report has expanded dramatically following the will writing software provider’s acquisition by LEAP Legal Software in 2022, the report now draws from a staggering dataset of over 200,000 wills and 400,000 estate planning documents. The latest edition, produced by LEAP Estates – LEAP’s private client division launched in late 2023 – provides a comprehensive look into the behaviours of UK citizens as they plan for the future.
In 2024 alone, LEAP’s software solutions processed 208,793 wills. Of those, 11.5% included charitable legacies, representing a combined donation value of £634.3 million. Women accounted for a slightly greater share of charitable wills (55.8%) than men (44.1%), though the average gift by men (£15,740.33) exceeded that of women (£13,425.83).
Age was a key factor in charitable bequests. The majority came from individuals aged 55 to 84, with only 0.4% of donors aged 18–24. Still, 8% of all wills by those under 24 included some form of charitable gift – showing signs of long-term change.
While wills made up 52% of all estate planning documents, Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs) have grown in popularity, rising to 38.5% from 35.8% in 2022. Letters of Wishes remain niche at 4.1%, and Living Wills are rare, making up just 0.2%.
The average cash gift in wills in 2024 was £15,138, with jewellery and watches among the most frequently bequeathed items – Rolex, Pandora, Tag Heuer, and Omega topping the brand list. Meanwhile, 9.8% of wills included exclusions, most commonly due to estrangement or prior financial support. Daughters (29.2%) and sons (32.8%) were the most commonly excluded relatives, followed by in-laws and ex-spouses.
In 2024, women were responsible for 53.6% of wills drafted, continuing a trend that has seen female representation increase by 1% since 2022. The average age of a testator has also increased slightly to 59.7 years, while LPA donors tend to be older still, averaging around 66.8 years.
What’s more, funeral preferences continue to shift towards cremation, with 55.4% of wills indicating this choice in 2024 – up from 53.2% in 2022. Burial remains less popular, though it has also seen a modest increase. Cost may be a deciding factor: the average cremation costs £4,431, significantly less than the £5,894 average burial cost.
Trust usage remains varied, with Property Trusts (39.4%) and Property Life Interest Trusts (39.5%) dominating. Trustees are typically younger than the testator – averaging 48 years – and nearly evenly split by gender (48% male, 52% female). Professional appointments appear in around 9% of all wills. Craig Matthews, CEO, LEAP Estates, commented:
“We are proud to present our 2025 Annual Report, offering a comprehensive view of the estate planning industry in England and Wales. Since the launch of the first report in 2020, the growth in the use of our software – accelerated greatly by its integration with LEAP & LEAP Estates practice management software – has allowed us to analyse more data than ever before. This year, drawing on insights from over 200,000 wills and 400,000 documents, we’re delighted to share the key trends shaping the future of estate planning.”
