Why you should make your Will (if you don't have one)

Did you know that less than half of adults in the UK have a Will?

And we get it. Thinking about death and what will happen when you’re not around anymore, well, it can feel unsettling. 

But the reality is that without a Will in place, you have no say over what happens to your belongings, property or your digital accounts.

Think about it – leaving your other half or your children, without any understanding of how you wanted things to be. Not only would they be dealing with your loss, they’d also be in for a long administrative journey with the Probate Registry. (We’ve got a podcast episode that discusses exactly how complicated this can be – have a watch).

But, there is something you can do today to make sure that future doesn’t happen. Many charities, including NKMT, offer free will-writing services. For most people, who don’t require any special advice around property, dependents or finances, the process can be relatively straightforward and produce a simple Will, or Mirror Will (where your spouse’s Will ‘mirror’s’ yours in terms of your wishes). For those with more complicated circumstances, partnering with a charity’s Will Month could mean a handy discount from what solicitors normally offer.

Importantly, taking that step as soon as possible means that you’ve given those you love the assurance and certainty that your wishes will be met in the future. Many people also often choose to provide for a cause or organisation they care about within their Will – particularly if they’re not able to support as much as they’d like day to day. According to Smee & Ford (check out their yearly legacy report here), charitable income from Wills was over £4.4bn in 2025.

Pledging this type of gift is one of the most amazing things you can do for a charity – for some, legacy income makes up around 30% of their total yearly income. That’s money that helps find cures, provide food and shelter for people experiencing homelessness, give support to nations in crisis. It could also one day find a cure for conditions like brain haemorrhages – transforming the lives of countless people and their loved ones in the future. Most importantly, it ensures that a charity can plan for the future, with the financial security they need to keep doing their valuable work.

If you’d like to consider leaving a gift in your Will to a cause you care about, our Legacy Guide can be a useful resource. You can also learn more about giving to charity from a personal perspective; read this special story from NKMT supporter, Jem, that shows why this kind of support is so crucial to charities like NKMT.