Are You Too Young And Broke To Write A Will? Here's What Lawyers Say

Person writing a willFormer One Direction bandmate Liam Payne, who tragically died in 2024, reportedly did not have a will to help manage his £28 million fortune. He’s very far from alone. Most people are at least in their mid-forties when they first pen their will, company Farewill says – Liam was only 31 when he died suddenly. It’s not something many of us particularly want to think about, but life (and death) can be incredibly unpredictable. Nearly 40 million of us in the UK currently have no will, the Co-Op says. I’ll be honest; I’ve fallen guilty of feeling too broke and young to consider writing a will – I mean, I’m not sure who’d want my yarn collection – we spoke to lawyers about when you should consider writing a will.What age should I be when I write a will?Speaking to HuffPost UK, Anne Stockley, an associate solicitor in the wills, trusts, and probate team at SA Law, says: “Solicitors would say that everybody should make a will whatever their circumstances, but it is particularly important for parents of children under 18, and unmarried partners, as well as clients looking to minimise inheritance tax or care fees.”She adds, “Young people buying their first property together, for example, should certainly make wills as they have no rights under the intestacy rules which apply where there is no will.” Though you might hear the phrase “common law spouse” bandied about, Stockley explains that’s not recognised by UK law. Meanwhile, solicitor Qarrar Somji at Witan Solicitors says, “Any major life event – be it starting your first job, getting married or even buying a home – is reason enough to put one in place.”He adds, “Legally, you can write a will from the age of 18. So, if you’re old enough to have responsibilities, you should consider writing a will.” How much wealth do I need before I should write a will? “The majority of us won’t have Liam Payne’s £24 million fortune,” Stockley points out, “but the only way to be sure your assets pass to the people you want is to leave a valid will.”Somji agrees, telling us it doesn’t matter how much wealth you have. “If you have a family, a pet, a bank account, or even just a few personal belongings you’d want to pass to someone specific, a will gives you control over what happens after you’re gone,” he advises.“It also lets you make choices about things like organ donation or gifts to charity. It’s not about how much you have. It’s about making sure what you do have goes where you want it to.” Otherwise, Somji tells us, the law will act on your behalf – “This is what we call ‘dying intestate,’” which is what happened in Liam Payne’s case. “In many cases, this does not reflect what the person would have wanted, and it can lead to painful disputes, unexpected legal costs, and even family breakdowns.” In other words, as soon as you have legal responsibility for something you care about, you’re likely old enough to write your will. And so long as you own a single thing you want to know someone you love will inherit, you’re “wealthy” enough, too.Related...Here's How The Brit Awards Paid Tribute To Liam Payne In 2025Liam Payne Fans Moved To Tears Over Touching Grammys TributeHere's Why Adrian Chiles Was Wearing A West Brom Jacket At Liam Payne's Funeral

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