Dying without a will—known as dying intestate—means that the laws of intestacy will decide who inherits your property, money, and possessions. These laws, which date back over 100 years, don’t reflect modern families, leaving many loved ones unprotected.
🔹 Unmarried Partners & Stepchildren – If you're not married or in a civil partnership, your partner won’t automatically inherit your assets. Stepchildren also aren’t included under intestacy laws.
🔹 Children Under 18 – In some cases, social services or the courts may decide who takes care of them, rather than you choosing a legal guardian.
Writing a will is the best way to ensure your wishes are followed and your loved ones are protected.

A will trust allows you to give a person or group of people control over specific assets after you pass away. It can be useful in several situations, such as:
🔹 Protecting Assets – Ensuring a young person or vulnerable beneficiary receives their inheritance when they’re ready.
🔹 Providing for a Partner – Giving a spouse or partner a home or income for life while preserving assets for other beneficiaries.
🔹 Safeguarding Inheritance – Protecting money for beneficiaries going through divorce, bankruptcy, or other financial difficulties.
When you write a will with Life Plan, we’ll ask a few simple questions to help determine if a trust is right for you. If it is, one of our will specialists will guide you through your options and recommend the best approach for your situation.

If you write a will with a high-street solicitor, making changes can be expensive. Small updates require a codicil, which costs around £70 per change. For bigger changes, you may need to write a completely new will—often costing hundreds of pounds.
With Life Plan, updating your will is completely free. We understand that life changes, so we make it easy to keep your will up to date without any extra cost.
Good Reasons to Update Your Will:
✔ Getting married, divorced, or entering a civil partnership
✔ Becoming a parent or grandparent
✔ Moving home
✔ A significant change in your financial situation
✔ The death of an executor or beneficiary
With us, you can update your will anytime—at no extra cost.

An executor is the person responsible for ensuring your wishes are carried out after you pass away. This can be a friend, family member, or a professional service—what matters most is that they are willing and able to handle the responsibilities of managing your estate.
Their duties may include:
✔ Applying for grant of probate
✔ Selling or transferring property and assets
✔ Distributing your estate to beneficiaries

When you write a will with Life Plan, appointing an executor is simple. Whether you choose friends, family, Life Plan Trustees, or a combination of all three, you can do it quickly and easily—online in just a few clicks or with the help of a specialist over the phone.

Yes, but for a will to be legally valid, it must be signed in the presence of two witnesses. Both witnesses must:
✔ Be present at the same time when you sign your will
✔ Sign and provide their details after watching you sign

This process ensures that if your will is ever challenged, your witnesses can confirm that they saw you sign it.
Who Can Be a Witness?
Your witnesses should be:
✔ Over 18 years old
✔ Trustworthy and impartial
✘ Not a beneficiary in your will (or married to someone who is)
Following these steps ensures your will is legally binding and stands up in court if ever needed.