If there’s a Will, there’s a way – yet a quarter of 55+ year olds don’t have a Will

March is Free Wills Month, giving people aged 55 and over the opportunity to have their will drafted or updated for free by a participating solicitor across the country. But the month also highlights the importance of having a will in place, no matter what your age

Writing a will allows you to have control over what happens to your property, money and belongings after you pass away, yet a quarter (26%) of those aged 55 and over do not have a will in place. This means that instead of your assets being split according to your wishes, they will be distributed according to the rules of intestacy and the law decides who inherits your property and money.

Research on wills from Charles Stanley found:

• A quarter (26%) of 55 year-olds and older do not have a will in place
  • This figure rises significantly when looking at the national average, with 46% of consumers admitting they do not have a will
• Looking at why 55+ year-olds do not have a will in place, alarmingly 58% of over 55 year-olds say they don’t have a will in place just because they haven’t thought about it. This could put them at risk of having no control over how their assets or finances are split and passed to loved ones in the event of their death.
• 26% say it is because they simply don’t think they need one
  • Of this, 11% say they don’t need one because everything will go to their spouse when they die
  • 8% say they don’t need one because they don’t plan to have anything left when they die
  • While 7% say they don’t need one because they don’t mind what happens when they die
• 7% of over 55 year-olds say they don’t have a will in place because they don’t know how to go about writing one
• 9% say they can’t afford to write a will
• Of those who do have a will in place, 8% of over 55 year-olds said they used a free will writing service offered by a charity, while another 7% used a free will writing service offered by an organisation that isn’t a charity.
  • A majority (59%), however, said they paid a professional to write their will

Lisa Caplan, Director of Advice and Guidance at Charles Stanley Direct, comments: “We were astounded to see how many people still do not have a will in place. While thinking about our own mortality is something we’d rather avoid, it is an important consideration to factor in when it comes to wealth planning, inheritance, and also any loved ones we may be leaving behind. 

“Inheritance can be a complicated labyrinth to navigate no matter how much wealth you have, and speaking to a financial adviser can help clear things in your mind while also putting effective estate planning strategies in place to structure your estate to make sure your beneficiaries get as much as possible when you die. 

“A will forms an important part of this inheritance planning, and is one area where you can still establish some certainty that your wishes will be carried out after you’re gone. It can also help your family manage your affairs more quickly, avoid infighting and ease the process at what will be an incredibly difficult time for them.”

Methodology

Research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 3,001 ‘mass affluent’ consumers, aged 18+ (defined as those earning above the UK average pre-tax salary (£33,000) AND with at least £1,000 in accessible cash/savings). The data was collected between 14.02.2025 – 21.02.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.