OUTDATED WILLS COULD COST FAMILIES THOUSANDS IN TAX AND LEGAL DISPUTES

Regular Will Reviews Essential as Inheritance Tax and Complex Family Structures Grow

Families across the UK are being urged to review their Wills regularly as changing personal circumstances, rising asset values and evolving inheritance tax rules increase the risks associated with outdated estate planning documents.

Steve Bish, a wills and estate planning specialist and founder of S Bish Estate Planning, has warned that too many individuals treat writing a Will as a one-off administrative task, only to leave the document untouched for decades. According to Bish, this approach can expose families to unnecessary tax liabilities, administrative complications and, in some cases, damaging disputes between beneficiaries.

“Writing a Will is one of the most important steps you can take to protect the people you love,” he said. “But it’s not something you do once and forget about. Your life changes, the rules around inheritance tax change and your Will should keep up.”

Bish, who is also the author of Where There’s A Will There’s A Way, said that while awareness of estate planning has grown in recent years, many households still underestimate how quickly a Will can become outdated.

His warning coincides with new findings from the 2026 Private Client Industry Report on wills and estate planning trends, published by Leap Estates. The report highlights the increasing complexity of modern estates, driven by rising property ownership, blended family arrangements and growing concern among households about exposure to inheritance tax.

Advisers surveyed for the report said demand is increasing not only for Will drafting but also for broader estate planning advice, including trusts, tax mitigation strategies and long-term wealth structuring.

At the same time, the research points to a persistent advice gap. Despite rising asset values across the UK, a significant proportion of adults still do not have a valid or up-to-date Will. Practitioners reported that outdated Wills are now one of the most common issues they encounter, particularly where marriages, divorces or second families have altered the intended distribution of assets.

Digital wealth is also emerging as a new challenge in estate administration. According to the Leap Estates report, many estates now include online accounts, digital investments and other virtual assets that can be overlooked in traditional estate planning documents. Without clear instructions, these assets can complicate probate processes and increase the potential for conflict among beneficiaries.

Against this backdrop, Bish says regularly reviewing estate plans is becoming essential.

“I’ve seen too many families caught out because a Will was written years ago and never looked at again,” he said. “The consequences can range from unnecessary stress to serious family disputes, all at a time when loved ones are already grieving.”

As a practical guideline, he recommends reviewing a Will every five years, or sooner following a major life event.

“The birth of a child or grandchild, buying or selling property, receiving an inheritance, these should all prompt a review,” he said. “Marriage or divorce are particularly critical because a change in legal status can invalidate an existing Will.”

Even without significant life changes, Bish argues that building a regular review habit can prevent problems later.

“Spring, which is now upon us, is a great time to pause, reflect and make sure everything is still as it should be. It gives you, and your family, peace of mind for the year ahead.”

He also notes that estate planning practices themselves have evolved. Historically, minor amendments could sometimes be made using a codicil — a supplementary document attached to a Will — but this approach is now widely discouraged.

“Minor amendments used to be sometimes handled by a codicil, a one page addition to the Will which needed to be signed and witnessed and kept with the Will but not stapled or affixed to the Will in any way. But these days codicils are generally frowned upon and rarely seen as a new Will is safer and clearer,” he advises.

Ultimately, Bish says the effectiveness of a Will depends on how closely it reflects a person’s current circumstances.

“A good Will gives your loved ones clarity, protects your assets and ensures your wishes are followed. But it only does that if it’s kept up to date.”