If you wrote your Will five or ten years ago and haven’t looked at it since, you’re not alone. For many people, making a Will feels like something to tick off the to-do list and then forget about. But a Will isn’t a one-and-done document — it’s a living reflection of your life, your wishes, and the people you love, and right now, there are more reasons than ever to make sure yours is up to date.
At Boyletts Law, we speak with clients every week who are surprised to discover that their existing Will no longer reflects their true intentions — or worse, could cause real problems for their family when the time comes. Here’s what you need to know.
The law has changed, and it could affect you
The most significant reason to review your Will this year is the ongoing reform of Inheritance Tax (IHT). In recent years, the Government has made sweeping changes to IHT thresholds and reliefs, including proposals affecting how property and estates are passed on.
For property owners, the stakes are particularly high. The nil-rate band — the amount you can pass on free of Inheritance Tax — has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009. With property values having risen substantially across Hertfordshire, Essex, and the wider South East, many more estates are now caught within the IHT net than their owners realise.
If your Will was written before these changes, it may not be structured in the way that best protects your estate. Taking the time to review it now could make a meaningful difference to what your loved ones actually receive.
Your life could have changed
Tax law aside, think about how much your own circumstances have shifted since you last updated your Will. Over the past few years, many people have:
- Moved home or remortgaged — if the property mentioned in your Will has changed, your Will needs to reflect that
- Experienced changes in family structure — marriage, divorce, new children or grandchildren, or the death of a beneficiary or executor all require your Will to be reviewed
- Acquired new assets — a second property, pension changes, investments or business interests that aren’t covered by your existing Will
- Changed their mind about executors or guardian— the people you trusted five years ago may no longer be the right choice
Any one of these changes could make your existing Will out of date. Several of them together could mean your estate is distributed in a way you would never have intended.
What happens if you don’t update your Will?
This is something we see more often than people might expect. An outdated Will can lead to:
- Unintended beneficiaries receiving assets — if an ex-partner is still named, for example, or a beneficiary has since passed away
- Disputes between family members — unclear or outdated instructions are one of the most common causes of contested estates
- Unnecessary Inheritance Tax — without proper planning, your estate could face a larger IHT bill than necessary, reducing what passes to your family
- Delays in probate — an executor who is no longer willing or able to act can significantly slow down the process at an already difficult time
We understand that thinking about these things isn’t always easy. But the peace of mind that comes from knowing your affairs are in order is genuinely valuable — both for you and for the people who matter most to you.
If you own property, your Will is even more important
For property owners, a Will isn’t just about who gets what. It’s about how your home is dealt with after you’re gone, whether it can pass to your chosen beneficiaries efficiently, and whether there are steps you can take now to reduce the tax burden on your estate.
For example, if you own your home jointly, you may benefit from reviewing how it is held — as joint tenants or tenants in common — as this can have significant implications for Inheritance Tax planning and asset protection. This is an area where a brief conversation with a specialist solicitor can make a real and lasting difference.
It’s also worth considering whether a trust might be appropriate as part of your overall estate plan. Trusts aren’t just for the very wealthy — for many property owners, they offer a practical way to protect assets for children or grandchildren while managing IHT exposure.
The rise of digital assets
2026 brings a new dimension that simply didn’t exist for most people a decade ago: digital assets. Online bank accounts, cryptocurrency, digital photo libraries, social media accounts, and even online businesses can form a meaningful part of an estate — yet most Wills written before 2020 make no provision for them at all.
If you hold any digital assets of value, or you simply want to make sure your executor knows how to access and manage your online presence, your Will (and your accompanying letter of wishes) should address this.
How often should you review your Will?
As a general guide, we recommend reviewing your Will:
- Every three to five years as a matter of course
- After any significant life event — marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or grandchild, or a bereavement
- Whenever your financial circumstances change materially — buying or selling property, inheritance, or retirement
- When tax law changes in a way that may affect your estate
If it’s been a while since you last looked at yours, now is a good time to act.
Why now?
With Inheritance Tax thresholds frozen and property values remaining high across Hertfordshire and Essex, more families than ever are finding that their estates are subject to tax they hadn’t planned for. At the same time, family structures have become more complex, digital assets are increasingly significant, and the legal landscape continues to evolve.
Updating your Will doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. At Boyletts Law, we make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible. Whether you need a simple update or a more comprehensive review of your estate planning, our friendly, expert team is here to help.
If you’re not sure whether your Will still reflects your wishes — or if you know it needs updating and have been putting it off — get in touch. You can call us on 01279 295047, Contact us via our contact form, or start your Will now. We offer appointments at our Sawbridgeworth offices, by video call or by telephone, and we can also arrange home visits for local clients.