Write your own will

More than half of British adults haven't made a will.1 Although it can be hard to face your own mortality, it's really important to take responsibility for your financial affairs.

A will sets out who is to benefit from your property and possessions (your estate) after your death. There are many good reasons to make a will:

• you can decide how your assets are shared - if you don't have a will, the law says who gets what
• if you're an unmarried couple (whether or not it's a same-sex relationship), you can make sure your partner is provided for
• if you're divorced, you can decide whether to leave anything to your former partner
• you can make sure you don't pay more inheritance tax than necessary
• it gives you the peace of mind that those left behind won't be faced with a difficult and painful mess to sort out.

Making a will needn't be an expensive process. There are a number of options available, from picking up a will pack from your local bookshop to getting a solictor to draw up your will for you.

Using one of these online tools, start thinking about what you want your will to cover and which drafting method best suits your needs.

The Citizens Advice Bureau's will advice guide

Free guide to making a will in the UK

1 www.direct.gov.uk

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