Everyone is encouraged to make a Will and keep it up-to-date. This need not be complicated or costly. A Will is not just for people with property, it is a helpful legal document that will let your relatives and friends know your wishes on your death.

Your Will appoints an executor to ensure that your wishes are carried out. Your executor and your next of kin can be the same person or different people. If they are different people bear in mind that it will be the executor who takes control of your possessions and is empowered to arrange your funeral.

If you die without a Will, UK law decides who will inherit all that you own and this may not be the people you would have chosen. The set legal approach for distributing your estate in this event does not currently recognise unmarried partners or non-civil partnerships.