When we think about estate planning, we often picture retirees or older adults with homes, pensions and well-established financial portfolios. But what happens when the unexpected impacts the young? What happens when a family loses a child or young adult and suddenly, they are left navigating emotional devastation alongside complicated legal and financial systems?
This is not a comfortable subject, but it is a necessary one.
Thinking the unthinkable now can spare loved ones greater trauma later.
Three Life Stages That Call for Preparation
As a parent or guardian, it helps to consider young people in three key life stages:
1. Under 18: Still Learning, Still Protected
Legally, minors cannot make a will, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t understand why they will need one. Some young people may already have assets: an inheritance, a child ISA funded by grandparents, or earnings from early fame. More often, though, their “estate” consists of modest belongings, some with financial worth, but most priceless in sentiment: a smartphone, a laptop, an Xbox, a VR headset, a few pieces of jewellery and a digital world of photos and videos that quietly tell the story of who they were and who they loved.
Preparing them with the right mindset and helping them understand the responsibilities that come with adulthood, sets a strong foundation for future financial literacy and decision-making.
2. 18-25: In Between, In Transition
These young adults may be away at university, travelling or starting their first jobs. They likely pay rent, manage bills, hold online subscriptions and might even contribute to a workplace pension. Yet few in this age group consider writing a will.
Without one, if something tragic occurs, the legal burden shifts to the next of kin (usually the parents) who may have little idea where to begin. Many parents wouldn’t even know the name of their child’s bank, let alone how to access their phone.
Even for digitally fluent families, unlocking personal digital devices can be a nightmare. Ask yourself the question: Would you have a clue how to access your child’s phone, tablet or laptop? Social media accounts, email passwords and digital wallets often remain out of reach. Without a will or digital legacy plan in place, these digital footprints can stay locked away indefinitely, turning cherished memories and vital information into sealed treasures, adding confusion, frustration and heartache at an already overwhelming time.
3. 25 and Over: Responsibilities Grow
As young people settle into careers, buy property and start families, their financial and personal lives become even more complex. Many enter long-term partnerships that aren’t formalised by marriage. Shocking to many, in the eyes of the law, these partners may have no rights if there’s no will in place.
In some cases, a partner left behind can be evicted from a shared property simply because, under intestacy law, ownership automatically reverts to the deceased’s parents. This heartbreaking outcome often happens when no clear instructions are left behind, forcing families into difficult situations that could have been avoided with proper planning.
The Power of a Will: More Than Just a Document
A will is not just about who gets what. It’s about:
- Naming trusted executors: Those who can act swiftly and compassionately without being overwhelmed by emotion.
- Protecting digital assets: Including access to photos, emails and accounts that hold deep emotional or financial value.
- Reducing complexity: Avoiding the need for Letters of Administration, which can delay important decisions and increase distress.
- Clarifying intent: Preventing family disputes and legal confusion at an already difficult time.
- Providing estate protection: Ensuring valuable or sentimental assets do not get lost, mismanaged, or unintentionally inherited by the wrong parties.
Without a will, even seemingly simple estates can become tangled. For example, if a young adult with a partner but no children dies, their share of a home could legally pass to their parents, not the person they lived with. Intestacy law often produces outcomes that do not reflect modern family dynamics or emotional bonds.
What the Numbers Say
Despite the significant risks and potential consequences of dying without a will, making one remains surprisingly uncommon among young adults:
- Just 41% of 18-24 year-olds and 47% of 25-54 year-olds in the UK have written a will.
- Around 60% of UK adults have no will at all.
- Alarmingly, 65% of parents with children under 18 have yet to make a will themselves.
Searches for terms such as “do I need a will if I’m under 30” and “wills for young adults” have surged by over 25% in the past year, signalling rising awareness.. This is yet still follow-through to executed wills indicating work remains to be done on education and motivation.
These numbers represent more than just unfinished paperwork, they reveal the risk of emotional distress, complex legal battles, and wishes left unfulfilled.
What Parents and Families Can Do Now
Surveys show that most young adults don’t skip a will for lack of money but because of five stubborn, human-scale barriers. The biggest is simple: trust in family: 54% assume loved ones will “sort it out,” not realising how tangled intestacy law can be. Close behind is procrastination (48%), a quiet resolve to “do it later” that often stretches for decades. Emotional discomfort keeps 40% from even opening the conversation, while perceived complexity (31%) makes the process feel like legal quicksand.
Finally, misconceptions. From “I’m too young” to “I don’t own anything worth bequeathing”, still hinder 24%. Normalising will-writing as an act of love, offering clear step-by-step guidance, and dispelling myths head-on are the surest ways to move past these obstacles and protect the people we care about most.
What Parents and Families Can Do Now
Start the conversation. Early. Clearly. Thoughtfully.
- Use life milestones: An 18th birthday, a new job, or moving out can be the perfect moment to introduce the importance of a will.
- Demystify the process: Many young adults think wills are only for the wealthy or elderly. Show them that it’s simply about clarity, protection and peace of mind.
- Encourage regular reviews: Relationships, property and responsibilities change. Wills should change with them.
- Ensure accessibility: A will has no value if no one knows where it is.
- Explore digital legacy planning: Think beyond possessions, online identities matter too.
A Human Obligation
As Vince Whiteford, Chiltern Corporation’s Founder reminds us, “No parent should ever have to bury their own child,” yet the reality is heartbreaking for some families. While “having a will is not enough,” it is a vital step in preventing added “sadness and distress” during unimaginable times. Whether it’s a child just starting to grasp the importance of planning, or a grown adult with complex ties, the simple act of preparing a will and choosing trusted executors can “make the consequences less traumatic.” Vince’s heartfelt advice is clear: “Think the Unthinkable” now, because early conversation and preparation can truly ease the burden on those left behind. It’s a difficult topic, but one worth facing for the sake of those we love most.
To listen to Vince’s full podcast on the subject, click here.
Preparing for the worst is not about pessimism; it’s about responsibility and love. Think the unthinkable. Plan with compassion.
At Chiltern Corporation we help families prepare for the full spectrum of life. That means looking ahead, not just at the opportunities, but also the hard questions. Our estate planning services include:
- Support in structuring wills for young adults
- Guidance on powers of attorney and digital asset management
- Family financial planning tools to align generations
- Bespoke inheritance and wealth protection strategies
- Assistance with probate and estate administration
If this topic has struck a chord, we invite you to speak to one of our advisors. We’re here to help make difficult conversations a little easier and the future a little more secure.
References:
- National Wills Report 2024 – National Will Register
Finding: Only 41% of 18-24-year-olds and 47% of 25-54-year-olds in the UK have written a will.
https://www.nationalwillregister.co.uk/news/national-wills-report-2024 - Will Aid & The Gazette, 2023
Finding: 56% of UK parents with children under 18 have no will.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/content/103302 - The Law Society, 2022
Finding: Many adults delay will-writing due to misconceptions about age, health, or the value of assets.
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/contact-or-visit-us/press-office/press-releases/most-adults-dont-have-a-will - Digital Legacy Association
Finding: Access to digital devices and accounts is one of the most common complications families face after a death.
https://digitallegacyassociation.org/ - GOV.UK – Applying for Probate Without a Will (Letters of Administration)
Explanation: The legal burden on next of kin when no will exists.
https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate - Step (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners) Intestacy Guide
Finding: Partners who are not married or in civil partnerships may have no inheritance rights under intestacy law.
https://www.step.org/system/files/media/files/2023-01/Intestacy%20factsheet.pdf - Google Trends, 2024
Observation: Search interest in phrases like “do I need a will if I’m under 30” has risen substantially over the past 12 months.
https://trends.google.com/ (Search: “do I need a will if I’m under 30”)
