Why Writing Your Will Online Might Be the First Step but Not the Right One

Why Writing Your Will Online Might Be the First Step but Not the Right One

If you're under 40 and thinking about writing your Will, first of all, you're not alone. And second? You're ahead of the game.

In a recent survey, over 40% of UK adults reported having a Will, and for the first time, a significant number of those were under 40.

Gen-Z and millennials are stepping up, driven by digital life management, health awareness following the pandemic, and a desire to ‘get their house in order’ even if that house is a rented flat and a half-used Lifetime ISA.

But as always, there is a catch and something we want to highlight.

Not Every Will is the Right Will

We’re increasingly turning to online platforms to create our Wills due to them being a low-cost, fast, and accessible option. That sounds ideal, right?

But the reality is that over half of young people who make an online will still end up seeking professional advice afterwards. And why? Well, it’s often because the first version of their Will didn’t do what they thought it did.

From digital assets and future children to stepfamilies and sentimental items, online templates can’t ask the right questions. And not all online services are regulated or legally sound.

You know you wouldn’t blindly accept terms on a mortgage app without talking to someone. So why trust a quick online form to protect everything, and everyone, you care about?

What You Might Be Missing

Here’s what online will kits rarely account for:

Blended families and the risk of unintentionally cutting out loved ones
Digital assets: what happens to your TikTok, domain names, or crypto?
Future-proofing: what if your circumstances change?
Legal validity: some Wills aren’t even enforceable due to how they’re signed or witnessed

And let’s not forget: a Will is just one part of a bigger picture.

Advisers help you consider things like lasting powers of attorney, inheritance tax, property ownership, and how your will aligns with pension or insurance nominations. That’s not just legal advice; it’s life strategy.