Wills play an essential role in ensuring that an individual’s wishes are honoured and their loved ones are protected after their death. Despite this, many people in the UK still don’t have a will in place, leaving their estate at risk of disputes or unintended outcomes.

This raises an important question: what drives people to make a will, and what prevents others from doing so? Are there misconceptions about the cost or complexity of the process? Do people believe they are too young or have too few assets to make it worthwhile?

To explore these issues, we surveyed 1,097 UK adults to understand the factors that influence their decisions. Our findings shed light on the motivations, obstacles and common perceptions surrounding wills in the UK, offering valuable insights into how individuals approach this essential legal document.

Explore the key findings and analysis below.

Breaking Down the Figures

The headline findings of our survey reveal that while most people recognise the importance of having a will, a significant proportion are yet to take this crucial step. The data also highlights key misconceptions about the necessity of a will, alongside a range of factors that might be influencing whether people decide to create one.

Here, we go deeper into the statistics to uncover the motivations and barriers shaping these attitudes.

Most people agree wills are important - but do not have one

Our survey highlights that while most people recognise the importance of having a will, the majority of respondents still do not have one in place. The findings suggest a gap between understanding the value of wills and taking action to create one:

• 58% of people surveyed do not currently have a will
• 77% of respondents believe that having a will is important
• 78% say they would consider creating a will in the future
• When asked about the importance of leaving an inheritance, 30% said it is very important, 40% consider it somewhat important, and 25% say it is unimportant

People mainly create wills to look after their families - but are concerned about potential disputes

The data also reveals that wills are primarily created to support and protect family members, but also to help prevent potential disputes or undesired outcomes:

Nearly 9 in 10 wills are created with family members in mind. Of those surveyed:

• 61% said they created their will to benefit their children
• 20% did so for their partner
• 6% cited another family member as their motivation
• Nearly 1 in 10 wills (9%) were created specifically to prevent a family member from receiving an inheritance

Despite this focus on family, nearly half the UK lacks confidence in their family’s ability to resolve matters without a will:

• 54% believe their family could amicably and fairly distribute their assets without a will
• 46% either do not believe this is possible (23%) or are unsure (23%)

The following example responses highlight both the value that people place on the protective role that wills play in family planning, and the uncertainty many feel about leaving their assets unmanaged:

• “It’s important so that assets don’t get lost, and the people who you want to have the money or assets have it.”
• “For anyone with any significant assets and surviving family, a will almost definitely helps them manage your affairs after death, and allows for your wishes to be fulfilled.”
• “I think having a will is important in terms of leaving everyone a bit of you, such as your favourite jewellery or an ornament that makes you think of them. However, wills when it comes to money are different; I think people can worry about not leaving enough, or fallouts after having their will read within the family, which I imagine makes making a will when you have a lot of money or assets more difficult. But I do see the importance of it being you who decides where all of that goes.”
• “I won't know who claims what from my estate, and I would prefer to make the decision myself before I die.”
• “You never know how people (even loved ones) will act when grieving - so if you care at all about how your assets are handled after death, having a well thought-out will is a really important thing. If you have assets to distribute, having a will can also take a weight off the minds of already busy and emotionally vulnerable family and friends.”
• “I want to make sure my assets are distributed how I would like, and not have people fighting over what they think they are entitled to.”

Many people still believe their circumstances don’t require a will

Finally, our survey showed that misconceptions and lack of urgency are key reasons why many people delay creating a will:

• Only 25% of respondents created their first will before the age of 35, indicating that most people postpone this decision until later in life
• Common reasons for not creating a will include:
• 24% believe they don’t have enough assets to warrant one
• 14% say they haven’t thought about it
• 11% assume their assets will automatically go to their spouse or children
• 9% feel the process is too complicated or time-consuming
• 75% of respondents say media stories or high-profile inheritance cases do not affect their decision to create a will, suggesting that personal circumstances, rather than external factors, play the biggest role

The following example responses highlight some of the common attitudes and perceptions that prevent people from seeing will writing as a priority:

• “I have thought about it a few times, but it just keeps getting pushed down the list.”
• “It’s too expensive to make one, and a handwritten will apparently isn't legally binding. Everything seems to be about money.”
• “I'm bedridden with a chronic illness, and when I looked into writing a will, I either had to spend hours talking on a phone (which I'm unable to do) or have someone come around (and I'm unable to do that easily either).”
• “I don't know where to start with writing a will. I also don't believe I have many assets, and I have a husband, child and pets.”
• “I’m in a second marriage with one child of my own and two stepchildren. I kind of have a verbal agreement of a three-way split. Formalising that seems expensive.”
• “I think it’s heavily dependent on circumstances. I don’t currently have children or many assets that I would consider important enough to put into a will.”
• “If you have already made agreements with people, I see no reason to have a will.”
• “All our children know that our possessions should be divided equally between them all, and I trust them enough to know it will be true.”