Wills and ways

As a private client solicitor you’re on the frontline, helping families navigate some of life’s most significant decisions and difficult situations. The National Wills Report 2025 reveals a landscape of shifting attitudes and persistent challenges that directly impact your work. The report’s findings paint a clear picture: while people are more willing to discuss death, a dangerous gap remains between conversation and concrete preparation.

This article translates the key findings from the report into practical strategies. It offers guidance on how you can address the prevalent issues of shadow wills, engage new generations of clients and overcome common barriers to will writing. 

The challenge: a nation unprepared

The 2025 report highlights several critical trends. While nearly four in five adults (79%) are now comfortable discussing death, this openness is not translating into effective planning. This creates a series of problems that often land at your door.

One of the most pressing issues is the rise of ‘shadow wills’ – wills that exist but can’t be found when they’re needed. Our research shows that 29% of people with a will have not told anyone where to find it. Compounding this, over half of UK adults (51%) don’t know the location of their parents’ wills. When the time comes, this silence leaves executors and families in a stressful and potentially contentious position, forced to search for crucial documents during a period of grief.

Significant gaps persist in will writing itself. Only 37% of UK adults have a will, and while 34% intend to write one in the next year, past trends show that good intentions often fail to translate into action. Age is a factor, with just 20% of 18 to 24-year-olds having a will. Meanwhile, a quarter of people still claim they don’t know how to make one, indicating that complexity and a lack of confidence remain powerful deterrents.

Practical steps for proactive solicitors

These challenges represent clear opportunities for you, not only to provide immense value to your clients but also to solidify your relationship with them. By moving from a reactive to a proactive stance, you can guide your clients toward better preparation and prevent future complications.

Confront the shadow will problem

The discovery of a shadow will can derail the administration of an estate. Your role extends beyond drafting the document; it includes ensuring its future accessibility.

• Make storage a key conversation: During client consultations, actively discuss where the will is to be stored. Emphasise the importance of informing executors and family members of its location.
• Recommend will registration: A simple, effective solution is to register the will’s location. Registering a will with a service like The National Will Register provides a secure, confidential record of where the document is kept. It acts as a safety net, ensuring that a quick search can locate the will when it’s needed, saving families time, stress and money.

Engage and educate younger generations

The low uptake of wills among younger people is a societal issue with long-term consequences. As their trusted adviser, you’re perfectly positioned to change this narrative.

• Simplify the message: Frame will writing not as an end-of-life task but as a fundamental part of responsible financial planning, akin to opening a savings account or a pension.
• Embrace digital: The report shows that 36% of people would happily have a digital will. While the legal framework evolves, acknowledging this preference and discussing digital solutions demonstrates that you understand the needs of a more tech-savvy generation.

Demystify the process

With 25% of people unsure how to make a will, clarity and reassurance are your most effective tools.

• Focus on the ‘why’: Start by connecting the will to what clients value most – protecting their family, ensuring their assets are distributed correctly and having peace of mind.
• Provide clear guidance: Break down the process into simple, manageable steps. Your expertise provides the confidence clients need to move forward, countering the inertia caused by uncertainty.

Champion charitable legacies

The report found that 38% of wills include a charitable donation, yet 40% of people who haven’t left a legacy say they simply hadn’t thought about it. This is a significant opportunity gap.

• Introduce the idea: When discussing estate distribution, gently ask if the client has any causes they care about. This simple question can open the door to a meaningful conversation about leaving a legacy. You can help clients understand that even a small percentage of an estate can make a big difference to a charity, without compromising provisions for their family.

Build a more prepared nation

The findings of The National Wills Report 2025 are more than just statistics; they’re a call to action. As a society, we’re talking more about death but still failing to prepare for it. Private client solicitors are central to closing this gap. By proactively addressing will storage, educating clients on their options and simplifying the process, you can prevent families from facing confusion and dispute.

We encourage you to use the insights from the report to enhance your practice and empower your clients. Together, we can help build a nation that’s not only willing to talk about the future, but is truly prepared for it.