A survey by unbiased.co.uk suggests that there's still a widespread reluctance to write a will among the UK population, with 56 per cent of adults surveyed not having written one. This means that the majority of people will have their estate passed on according to intestacy law, which may not reflect their wishes.

Of the 2,006 people surveyed, just over 75 per cent of people in their thirties are currently intestate, with 65 per cent of those in their forties.

Regional differences also show that Northern Ireland has the highest percentage of people without a will (68 per cent), with the south west the lowest (48 per cent), and adults living in Brighton being the most likely to have made no arrangements at all (70 per cent).

One reason is thought to be people’s assumptions that they aren’t wealthy enough to bother with a will. Others are putting it off until they’re older, and assuming that their estate will end up with the correct individuals.

Commenting that there’s a certain amount of lack of knowledge where intestacy laws are concerned, Karen Barrett, chief executive or unbiased.co.uk, explained the apparent contradiction at work:

“We confirmed that people really do want to ensure their loved ones are taken care of after they’ve gone – but that most aren’t doing anything about this. Writing a will clearly has significant emotional implications, so it’s likely that people delay doing it through a mixture of denial and simply not getting around to it.”

Read more: Today’s Wills and Probate and www.unbiased.co.uk. 

See also: Wills and LPAs: a guide to effective estate planning