Guides Wills

Writing or updating your will

What is next of kin?

Next of kin is the term used to describe your closest living relative, such as your spouse or civil partner. The UK doesn’t have laws around who you can name as your next of kin, but there are specific rules for who takes responsibility when someone dies.

What is an executor of a will and how do you appoint them?

One of the most important parts of writing a will is choosing your executors. Here, we’ll cover who can be an executor, what they do and why they’re so important.

We read thousands of wills in 2019. This is what we learned...

As the UK’s number one online will writing service, we helped more people write a will last year than anyone else in the UK. And that means we checked and approved more wills too. Here’s what we learned.

3 reasons every parent needs a will

If you have children, you need a will to secure their future. Over the next few minutes, we’ll explain the 3 ways your will protects your family, and how you can get it done online in less than 15 minutes.

The perfect age to write your will

Your last will and testament – it’s not really something they teach you about at school, is it? Thankfully, we’re here to shed a little light on things so you know what it is, when to write it and how to get it done quickly.

How to make your will ‘legally binding’

Your will is the best place to set out what you want to happen to you, your loved ones and your money when you die. Here, our Head of Legal, Lorraine Robinson, explains exactly how to make sure your wishes are legally binding.

5 ways we’ve taken the stress out of writing a will

Over 30 million adults in the UK don’t have a will. And who can blame them? It’s complex, stressful and incredibly expensive. At least, that’s the way it used to be...

Mirror, joint or individual? Which will do I need for me and my partner?

There's lots of types of wills, but which do you need for you and your partner?

Where can I leave a gift to charity?

We go into how we first encountered legacy giving as well as how Farewill and charities can work together to help each other.

Amanda Clarke: “Making a will became a priority following the unexpected death of my ex-husband”

In the UK, over 30 million people are at risk of dying without a will. Here, we see the tragic consequences of leaving your loved ones unprotected.

How to avoid inheritance tax

You can avoid inheritance tax by leaving everything to your spouse or civil partner in your will. Alternatively, you could reduce your inheritance tax bill by giving gifts while you're alive or leaving part of your estate to charity.

Who can witness and sign a will?

A will can be witnessed and signed by anyone over the age of 18 – such as a neighbour, friend or colleague. The only rules are that they can't be a beneficiary of your will, married to a beneficiary, or blind.

What happens if you don't write a will?

When someone dies without writing a will, their estate is shared out following the rules of intestacy. Here, we’ll cover what this means and who can inherit when there isn’t a valid will in place.

GuidesWills