69% of adults in the South East without an up-to-date Will as millions wrongly believe they have ‘nothing worth leaving'

Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Seven out of 10 adults in the South East risk leaving loved ones without clear instructions about their final wishes, new research has revealed. A new poll commissioned by charity Will-writing campaign Will Aid has found 69% of adults in the region either do not have a Will or admit the one they have is out of date. The research, released to mark the opening of appointments for the Will Aid 2026 campaign, found 60% of people in the South East have never made a Will, while a further 9% admit their existing Will no longer reflects their current circumstances or wishes. Nationally, the picture is similarly concerning, with 67% of UK adults either without a Will or with one that is out of date - 57% have never made one and 10% admit theirs is no longer up to date. And despite the potential consequences for the people they leave behind, 44% of UK adults say they are unlikely to write a Will within the next year. Will Aid is warning that misconceptions about who needs a Will could be leaving millions of families unnecessarily exposed. Peter de Vena Franks, Campaign Director at Will Aid, said: 'The fact that 69% of people in the South East either don't have a Will or have one which is no longer up to date should concern all of us. 'A Will is about far more than the value of the money or property you leave behind. It is about making your wishes clear, protecting the people you care about and making incredibly difficult decisions easier for those you love at what will already be a distressing time. 'You may have children whose future you want to protect, possessions with enormous sentimental value, pets you want cared for or very clear wishes about who should – and should not – benefit from your estate. 'Without a valid Will, you lose the opportunity to make many of those decisions yourself.' The national research revealed that one of the biggest barriers to making a Will is the belief that people simply do not have enough to leave behind. Of the 1,151 UK respondents surveyed who had not made a Will, the most common reason - cited by 29% - was the belief that they did not have anything worth leaving. Cost and simply not finding the time were each cited by 19%, while 18% said they felt uncomfortable thinking about death and 14% were put off by the perceived complexity of the process. Peter added: 'Perhaps one of the most striking findings from our national research is that almost three in ten people without a Will believe they simply don't have anything worth leaving. 'But Wills are not just for people with substantial wealth or property. They are about giving you a say in what happens after you die and making your wishes clear for the people you leave behind. 'We want people in the region to recognise that making a Will is relevant to them, whatever their circumstances.' The national research also revealed some of the life events that finally prompt people to act. Among 857 respondents who had made a Will, 23% said they wanted the reassurance of knowing their children would be looked after if they died, while the same proportion said having children had prompted them to make one. More than one in five (22%) said hearing stories about people who had died without a Will encouraged them to act, while 18% made theirs after buying a house. Will Aid is also urging people who already have a Will not to assume the job is finished. With 9% of the regional respondents admitting their Will is out of date, the campaign is reminding people that a document written years ago may no longer reflect their family, relationships, assets or wishes, particularly following significant life changes. Peter said: 'Making a Will is not something you should do once and then forget about for the rest of your life. 'Families change. Relationships change. People marry, separate and divorce. Children and grandchildren are born. People buy homes, build businesses and acquire assets. Sadly, people we intended to include in our Wills can also die before us. 'If you know your Will no longer reflects what you want to happen, it is important not to keep putting off reviewing it. 'There may never feel like a perfect time to think about death, but making or updating a Will is ultimately about looking after the people you leave behind.' The findings have been released as Will Aid 2026 opens for appointments, giving people in the South East and across the UK the opportunity to have a basic Will professionally prepared by a participating solicitor while supporting good causes. Every November, participating solicitors volunteer their time and waive their usual fee for writing a basic Will. Instead, clients are invited to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid, with the money raised supporting the campaign's charity partners. Since it was founded, the campaign has brought together the legal profession and some of the UK's best-known charities, helping people put their affairs in order while raising millions of pounds for vital charitable work. Lauren Smith, Partner at Taylor Bracewell Solicitors, said: 'One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that Wills are only for people who are wealthy or own significant assets. 'That simply isn't the case. A professionally drafted Will gives you control over what happens after your death and allows you to make your wishes clear rather than leaving important decisions to chance. 'It is particularly important for parents and for people whose family circumstances may not be straightforward. 'We would also encourage anyone in the region who already has a Will to think about when they last looked at it. If your life has changed significantly since it was written, your Will may need to change too. 'Will Aid is an opportunity to sit down with a professional solicitor, talk through your circumstances and make sure your wishes are properly recorded – while at the same time helping charities carrying out extraordinary work in the UK and around the world.' Appointments for Will Aid 2026 are now open and can be made with a participating firm either in person, where available, or remotely. To find a participating Will Aid solicitor and book an appointment, or for more information about Will Aid, visit willaid.org.uk