Reviewing your Will: the complete guide

Most people treat a Will as a task completed: signed, stored, done. In reality a Will is a moment-in-time document, and life moves. With the launch of our complimentary Will review service, this guide covers when to review, what a proper review involves, and what reviews typically find.

When to review

As a rule: every five years, and immediately after any major life event. The triggers that most often defeat an old Will are marriage (which revokes a Will entirely in the absence of correct drafting)marriage or civil partnership (which revokes a Will entirely in the absence of correct drafting), divorce (which rewrites who benefits), new children or stepchildren, a house move or change in how property is owned, acquiring business or agricultural assets, and changes in the law - the treatment of business assets changes in April 2026, and pensions enter the inheritance tax net from April 2027.

What a proper review covers

A review worth having goes behind the document. Ours checks your current situation, estate value and wishes (is the existing Will still fit for purpose?); the Will's legal effectiveness and drafting; how your property is actually owned at the Land Registry (joint tenants or tenants in common - the detail that decides whether your Will controls the home at all); any existing trusts and their status; whether the Will still matches your family as it really is; LPAs; and whether recent law changes affect the structure. The review is carried out by a STEP-qualified estate planner, and it is complimentary - you pay nothing unless you choose to act on what we find.

What reviews find

Independent population studies suggest around 30% of Wills have major issues and around 50% have some form of issue. Our own reviews are consistent with that picture: around 1 in 4 of the Wills we review contain a legal or drafting defect, and only around 1 in 7 need no action at all. The findings range from out-of-date wishes and missing LPAs to Wills silently defeated by property ownership, forgotten trusts, or post-Will marriages.

What happens next

If the review finds nothing, you get confirmation and peace of mind. If it finds issues, you get a clear explanation and options - from a simple new, up-to-date Will to a rebuilt plan. Either way, you know where you stand, which is the entire point.

Key takeaways

• Review every five years and after every major life event
• A real review checks behind the Will: ownership, trusts, LPAs, law changes, current estate value, personal circumstances
• Only around 1 in 7 reviewed Wills need no action - find out before your family does

Book your complimentary Will review with a STEP-qualified estate planner at kinherit.co.uk.