Things to Consider When Writing Your Will

A will is just a set of instructions — but most people find the thinking is the hard part, not the document.

This plain-English guide walks you through every decision in the order a professional would, so you arrive prepared whether you draft it yourself or sit down with an adviser. It covers what you actually own (including the joint-property and pension traps that catch most families), choosing executors and guardians, structuring gifts and legacies, inheritance tax in two pages, and the witnessing errors that quietly invalidate DIY wills.

• What you own — and why joint tenancy can override your will entirely
• Choosing executors, guardians and how children inherit
• Gifts, legacies and the residue, explained in layers
• What invalidates a will, and when to review yours

Instant PDF download. England & Wales only. Information, not legal advice — and if your situation needs a real conversation, every download includes an invitation to book a free chat with a Squiggle specialist.