The only way to protect your children from becoming the responsibility of the courts if both parents pass, is to name a Guardian in your Will.

You can name as many Guardians as you like, and it’s often beneficial to name a primary Guardian and then a substitute Guardian to act if the primary one can’t.

A common misconception is that a “common law” partner will automatically inherit if the other partner dies. Sadly, common law marriage doesn’t exist in England and Wales. Without a Will, a long-term partner can be treated very differently to a spouse, no matter how long you’ve shared a life, a home, or a Netflix account.

Step-children and chosen family are also quietly ignored if there’s no Will in place. The law that governs Wills dates back to 1837, and it was not designed with modern families in mind. Writing a Will is how you stop outdated defaults from making decisions about your real life once you’re gone.

A Will is about more than who inherits. It’s also about who doesn’t.

From treasured heirlooms to your first property, your Will lets you be clear about what goes where and why.

That clarity helps prevent misunderstandings, protects relationships, and stops outdated default rules from stepping in where they don’t belong.

Including funeral preferences in your Will takes the pressure off the people you leave behind. It means fewer debates, fewer second-guessing moments, and no one having to say, “I think this is what they would’ve wanted.”

Protecting assets isn’t about mistrust. It’s about planning ahead.

A Will can help future-proof inheritances from life’s curveballs, whether that’s divorce, financial wobble, or a few questionable choices along the way.