Is your Will up to date? The Importance of Having an Up-To-Date Will

This Update Your Will Week, Hanne & Co Solicitors are proud to support The Association of Lifetime Lawyers to raise awareness around the importance of keeping Wills up to date.

A Will is much more than just a legal document – it is your personal wishes, your choices and your legacy. Yet many people may not realise how quickly life changes, which can make an old Will outdated and susceptible to being challenged. With more than 50% of UK adults aged over 30 not having a Will, it is crucial to ensure that you record your wishes to prevent any family disputes or legal complications arising when administering your estate.

Having a Will ensures that your money, property and personal possessions go to the people that you choose. Without having a Will or an up-to-date Will, you risk your estate being divided according to the intestacy rules, which are a statutory order under which your estate would be distributed – this means that your estate may be administered in a way which does not align with your wishes or the needs of your family. This is particularly important if you would want your estate to pass to anyone other than your spouse or closest blood relatives.

A Will allows you to appoint executors, who are people you instruct to have control of and administer your estate when you pass away. Your choices regarding who you would like to act as executor may vary over time and change depending on different circumstances. Without updating your Will, you risk your executors being people you would not necessarily like to appoint if your circumstances have changed. Along with executors you can also appoint guardians of your minor children in your Will. Keeping these appointments up to date is essential as, for example, the guardians you might want your children to have when they are little may be different to when they are teenagers. Additionally, previously appointed guardians may become unwell or no longer be willing to take on the role.

Without an up-to-date Will, there is a risk of potential family disputes and legal complications arising, meaning additional uncertainty for loved ones at an already emotional and stressful time.

Furthermore, without having a Will, your pets, digital assets and even charitable donations which you intend to make may be overlooked and your wishes in relation to these possessions disregarded.

Think of your Will as a living document – it should evolve as your life does.

It is best practice to review your Will every few years to ensure that it still complies with your intentions and wishes. However, there are also certain major life events which will also necessitate a Will being updated, such as:

If one of the above applies to you or even if it has just been a while since you last looked at your Will – or you don’t have one at all – now is the time to take action.
At Hanne & Co Solicitors, our Private Client solicitors offer specialist expertise in later-life legal matters. They provide personalised support with care, empathy and attention to detail, ensuring your wishes are clearly documented and legally protected.
We aim to make the process simple, stress-free and tailored to you, so you can plan for the future with confidence.
Whether it is updating a Will that you wrote 20 years ago or helping you to navigate this process for the first time, our team of expert Private Client solicitors are here to help. Our services include specialist advice on:

Don’t wait until it is too late, ensure your future wishes are in place today.

If you need to make or update your Will, contact our Private Client team for expert advice.