Almost a third of people without a will believe they have nothing worth leaving behind, new research reveals.
A national poll of almost 2,000 respondents commissioned by the charity Will Aid suggests 67% of adults either do not have a will or the one they have is out of date.
The research 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.
Of the 1,151 people surveyed who had not made a will, the most common reason (29%) was the belief that they did not have anything worth leaving.
The survey also revealed 44% of people are unlikely to write a will within the next year.
Peter de Vena Franks, campaign director at Will Aid, said: “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.”
Cost and simply not finding the time were each cited by 19% of those without a current will, while 18% said they felt uncomfortable thinking about death and 14% were put off by the perceived complexity of the process.
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 forget about updating it.
De Vena Franks added: “Making a will is not something you should do once and then forget about for the rest of your life…If you know your will no longer reflects what you want to happen, it is important not to keep putting off reviewing it.”
The findings have been released as Will Aid 2026 opens for appointments. Every November, participating solicitors volunteer their time and waive their usual fee for writing a basic will. Clients are invited to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid, with the money raised supporting the campaign’s charity partners.
