Most people assume writing a will is something you do later in life. Something to think about when you’re older, when you’ve got more to leave behind, when it feels more relevant. The reality is quite different.
If you have children, own anything, earn anything, or love anyone, a will is worth having – whatever your age. And the sooner you have one in place, the better protected the people around you will be.
In this article we explain why writing a will isn’t just for the older generation, what happens if you don’t have one, and why putting a will in place now could save your family considerable stress in the future.
Why Do So Many Young People Put Off Writing a Will?
It’s more common than you’d think. According to the National Wills Report 2025, just 37% of UK adults currently have a valid will. And age is a big factor – only around 30% of adults aged 25 to 54 have planned ahead, compared to over 55% of those aged 55 and older.
It’s not that younger people don’t care. It’s that it doesn’t feel urgent. There’s always something more pressing, and the idea of sitting down to think about your own death isn’t exactly anyone’s idea of a good evening.
But putting it off doesn’t make the need go away. It just leaves the people you care about unprotected.
What Actually Happens If You Die Without a Will?
If you die without a valid will, the Rules of Intestacy kick in. These are a fixed set of legal rules that decide who inherits your estate – and they don’t take into account your personal wishes, your relationships, or the way your family actually works.
Under intestacy:
- Unmarried partners inherit nothing automatically, regardless of how long you’ve been together
- Stepchildren don’t automatically inherit unless they’ve been legally adopted
- Certain family members may receive nothing at all
- There can be unexpected inheritance tax implications too
This can create real uncertainty, financial difficulty and, in some cases, disputes between family members at an already difficult time. A valid will ensures your estate passes to the people you choose, rather than being decided by a rigid legal formula that knows nothing about your life.
You Don’t Need to Be Wealthy to Need a Will
One of the most common misconceptions is that wills are for people with large estates. They’re not.
If you have a bank account, a car, savings, personal possessions, or any kind of digital life, you have an estate. For first-time buyers in Bolton, your property is likely your single biggest asset – and from the day you get the keys, a will matters.
Even modest estates can cause real disputes without one. A professionally drafted will ensures those assets pass to the people you choose, without ambiguity or conflict.
Reasons You Might Need a Will Sooner Than You Think
You’re in a Relationship but Not Married
This is one of the biggest risks for young people, and it catches a lot of couples off guard.
Unmarried partners have no automatic right to inherit anything under UK law. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been together, whether you live together, or how intertwined your finances are. Without a will, your partner could be left with nothing while your estate passes to distant relatives.
Common law marriage is a myth. It has no legal standing in England and Wales. If you want to protect each other, you need a will – and potentially a cohabitation agreement to outline how assets and finances would be handled if the relationship ends. Updating pension nominations at the same time is worth doing too.
You’ve Bought a Property
A mortgage and a property means you have a significant asset that needs to be accounted for.
If you own your home as joint tenants, it passes automatically to the surviving owner on death. But if you own as tenants in common – which is common for couples who want to protect their individual shares – your share of the property can be directed by your will. Without one, that direction doesn’t exist.
You Have Children
If you have children, writing a will isn’t optional – it’s essential.
A will lets you appoint legal guardians, decide who manages your children’s inheritance, and set up trusts to hold assets until they’re old enough to inherit responsibly. Without a will, those decisions could be left to the courts. That’s not a position anyone wants to be in.
You Have a Business or Side Income
If you’re self-employed or run a business in Bolton, your business interests form part of your estate. Without a will, you have no control over what happens to them. That uncertainty could leave your loved ones without income for a significant period of time while things are sorted out.
You Want to Leave Something to a Friend or Charity
Around 40% of people in the UK say they’d like to leave a gift to charity after taking care of their loved ones. Only 7% currently do. If leaving a legacy matters to you, a will is the only way to make it happen. At Liberay Legal, we’re proud to be a campaign supporter for Remember a Charity in Your Will.
You Have Digital Assets
Between 8% and 11% of UK adults now own cryptoassets – that’s approximately four to six million people. Digital assets are easily overlooked but can hold real financial value. A will can include clear instructions on how to access and deal with them, so nothing gets lost.
What About a Lasting Power of Attorney?
A will covers what happens after you die. But what about if you’re incapacitated through illness or an accident and can’t make decisions for yourself?
That’s where a Lasting Power of Attorney comes in – and it’s something a lot of younger people haven’t thought about.
Without an LPA, even a spouse or partner has no automatic legal authority to manage your finances or make decisions about your medical care. There are two types: one covering property and financial affairs, and one covering health and welfare. Both are worth having.
Setting up an LPA at the same time as your will makes a lot of sense – it rounds out your planning and means everything is in place in one go. At Liberay Legal, we can advise on both as part of your wider estate planning.
Common Myths About Writing a Will Young
“I’ll sort it when I’m older.” The problem is we don’t know when older is. None of us do.
“It’s too expensive.” A professionally drafted will is more affordable than most people think – and far less costly than the financial and emotional fallout of dying without one.
“My family will sort it out between themselves.” Families under stress don’t always agree. A will removes the ambiguity.
“I did it online so I’m covered.” Online wills aren’t always legally valid, and DIY wills are among the most common sources of estate disputes. It’s worth doing it properly.
“Everything will go to my partner anyway.” Only if you’re married, or if your will says so.
How Often Should You Update Your Will?
Writing a will isn’t something you do once and forget about. Life changes, and your will should keep pace with it.
Review it whenever something significant happens – a new relationship, a marriage, the birth of a child, a property purchase, a bereavement, or a major change in your finances. And remember: getting married automatically revokes an existing will in England and Wales, unless it was specifically made in contemplation of that marriage.
As a general guide, reviewing your will every three to five years is good practice even if nothing major has changed.
How Much Does It Cost to Write a Will in Bolton?
The cost varies depending on how complex your circumstances are. At Liberay Legal, we offer transparent pricing with no hidden surprises – you’ll know exactly what to expect before any work begins.
Think of a professionally drafted will as an investment. It ensures your wishes are in place and your loved ones are protected. The cost of not having one can be far higher.
Don’t Leave It Until Later
No one enjoys thinking about worst-case scenarios, especially when you’re young. But making a will isn’t about expecting something to happen – it’s about making sure the people you care about are looked after if it does.
At Liberay Legal, we help individuals and families across Bolton and the surrounding areas prepare wills that reflect their wishes and provide genuine peace of mind. Led by Lisa Kirk, Head of Private Client, our team offers straightforward legal advice in plain English – no jargon, no unnecessary complexity.
Whether you’re writing your first will, updating an existing one, or planning more broadly for your family’s future, we’re here to help. We also advise on Lasting Powers of Attorney, trusts and wider estate planning, so you can get everything sorted under one roof.
If you’re not sure where to start, we offer an initial no-obligation discussion to talk through your options. Get in touch with the private client team at Liberay Legal today.
Contact us here or call 03330 115 105.
