Making or Updating a Will, What Should I Think About?
A will is easiest to think about when you separate two jobs.
A will is easiest to think about when you separate two jobs.
Your job is to understand your family, assets and wishes.
The legal adviser’s job is to explain the legal consequences and, where instructed, prepare arrangements that properly reflect them.
You do not need to arrive at a solicitor’s office already knowing which clauses or legal structures you want.
Who matters in your life?
List the people you want the adviser to understand.
That may include a spouse or civil partner, an unmarried partner, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, somebody financially dependent on you or a disabled or vulnerable beneficiary.
Also mention important family circumstances even if they are uncomfortable: estrangement, a previous marriage, somebody you do not intend to benefit, or concerns about a beneficiary managing money.
Those facts can be legally relevant.
What do you actually own?
Prepare a broad picture of property, savings, investments, pensions, insurance, business interests and significant possessions, together with major liabilities.
For jointly owned assets, establish how they are held.
A will may not control every asset. Joint-tenancy property, pension arrangements and other assets can operate under separate rules, so the adviser needs the wider picture.
Who could deal with the estate?
Think about possible executors.
The role can involve identifying assets and debts, dealing with tax and probate requirements, collecting the estate, paying liabilities and distributing what remains.
Choosing somebody because they are the eldest child is not compulsory. Consider whether the person is willing, able and likely to cope with the practical responsibility.
Do you have children under 18?
Parents may wish to discuss guardianship and how money for children would be managed.
Do not assume that naming somebody informally gives them legal authority or that leaving a large sum directly to a child creates a simple immediate payment.
Explain the family circumstances and what you are trying to achieve, then obtain qualified advice about the appropriate legal arrangements.
When should an existing will be reviewed?
Government guidance suggests reviewing a will every five years and after major life changes.
Particularly important triggers include marriage, separation or divorce, having a child, moving house and the death of an executor.
Marriage or civil partnership will usually cancel a will made beforehand unless a specific legal exception applies, so do not assume an old will remains effective after marriage.
Do not write changes onto the signed will
Once a will has been signed and witnessed, informal handwritten alterations are not the proper way to update it.
Government guidance explains that changes can be made through a properly executed codicil, while major changes may justify a new will.
If circumstances have changed, take the existing document to a qualified adviser rather than trying to repair it yourself.
Before the appointment
A useful pack might contain:
your existing will and codicils;
a family and dependant list;
a broad asset and debt summary;
property ownership information;
details of business or overseas interests;
questions about executors, guardians or vulnerable beneficiaries; and
a simple explanation of what you want to achieve.
The aim is not to choose the legal solution yourself. It is to give the adviser enough accurate information to advise properly.
Last reviewed
5 September 2026
Important legal informationThis guide provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. It is not intended to recommend any particular legal arrangement, course of action or solution. Wills, inheritance, trusts, powers of attorney, mental capacity and related matters can have significant legal and financial consequences, and the appropriate approach will depend on individual circumstances. Professionally qualified legal advice should be sought before making, changing or acting upon important legal arrangements or decisions.