When to update your will as a couple: UK guide

You’ve just got married, had a child, or bought a place together—and someone asks whether you’ve updated your will. It’s easy to put off. But in the UK, when you marry or your life changes, an old will (or no will) can leave your partner or your children in a very different position from what you’d want. This guide is about when to update your will as a couple: the life events that should trigger a review, how wills work in the UK in brief, and practical steps to get started. It’s not about assuming the worst; it’s about clarity and making sure you’re both protected.

Why wills matter for couples

If you die without a valid will, the law decides who gets what. In England and Wales, the rules of intestacy set out who inherits—typically your spouse or civil partner and children, in a set order. If you’re not married or in a civil partnership, your partner has no automatic right to your estate; they could be left with nothing. We’ve written about what UK law does not protect for cohabiting couples—and a big part of that is the lack of inheritance rights without a will. Even if you are married, intestacy might not match what you’d choose: for example, your spouse might not get everything, or the split might not reflect what you both wanted for your children. Updating your will when life changes ensures your partner (and any children or dependants) are provided for as you both want.

When to update (or make) your will

These life events should prompt you to make a new will or review an existing one:

Marriage or civil partnership — In England and Wales, getting married or forming a civil partnership generally revokes any will you made before the marriage, unless the will was made in contemplation of that marriage. So if you married without updating your will, you may effectively have no will. In Scotland, marriage does not automatically revoke a will, but it’s still a good time to update so your new spouse is properly provided for. Either way: after you marry or form a civil partnership, make or update your will. It’s on many couples’ financial checklist for newlyweds for a reason.
Having children — You may want to name guardians for minor children and decide how your estate is split between your partner and your children. Updating your will when you have (or expect) children makes sure your intentions are clear.
Buying property together — Once you own a home together, you’ll want to be clear who inherits it (or your share of it) and how it fits with the rest of your estate. A solicitor can help you structure this, especially if you own as joint tenants or tenants in common.
Separation or divorce — If you separate or divorce, update your will so your ex is not still the main beneficiary. In England and Wales, divorce does not revoke the whole will, but it does revoke any gift or appointment of the former spouse in the will—so the rest of the will still stands, but you should still update it to reflect your new wishes and avoid confusion.
A large inheritance or other big change in assets — If your estate grows significantly, or you receive an inheritance you want to pass on in a particular way, review your will so it still reflects what you want.

As a rule of thumb: any major life change is a good time to review. If in doubt, a solicitor can advise whether you need to update.

How wills work in the UK (brief)

A valid will in the UK usually needs to be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two people who are not beneficiaries. You must have mental capacity to make it, and it should clearly set out who gets what and who will act as your executor (the person who administers your estate). Rules differ slightly in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland—for example, the rule that marriage revokes a will applies in England and Wales but not in Scotland. We’re not giving legal advice here; a solicitor in your jurisdiction can explain the exact requirements and help you draft or update a will that works for you.

Practical steps

Talk as a couple — Decide who you want to provide for (each other, children, other family or charities) and who you’d like to act as executor. If talking about money has been tricky before, treat this as part of the same conversation: it’s about being clear together.
List your main assets — Property, savings, investments, pensions (though pensions often pass separately via nomination forms). You don’t need to list every item; the idea is so you and your solicitor know what you’re dealing with.
Each make (or update) your own will — You each need your own will. Many couples have “mirror wills” that leave everything to each other, and then to the same people (e.g. children) when the second person dies. A solicitor can explain the options.
Use a solicitor or a regulated will-writing service — Getting professional help reduces the risk of mistakes that could invalidate the will or cause disputes. Store signed copies safely and tell your executor where they are.
Review every few years (or when circumstances change) — Marriage, children, property, divorce, or a big change in assets are all reasons to look again. It doesn’t have to be expensive to update; many solicitors offer fixed fees for straightforward changes.

If you’re in your first year of marriage and working through the basics, our financial checklist for newlyweds includes wills alongside merging finances, joint accounts, and protection like prenuptial or postnuptial agreements. Wills sit alongside those as part of being clear and protected as a couple.

The bottom line

Update your will when you marry or form a civil partnership, have children, buy property, separate or divorce, or have another major change in your life or assets. In the UK, marriage in England and Wales generally revokes an existing will, so making a new one after the wedding is especially important. Get professional advice from a solicitor (or a regulated will-writing service); it doesn’t have to be expensive or scary, and it gives you both clarity and peace of mind.

You’re not planning for the worst—you’re making sure that if something happens, your partner and the people you care about are provided for as you intended.

Want to manage shared finances and plan together without merging everything? plan/ria helps couples split costs fairly and share visibility on their own terms, so you can grow your financial partnership step by step. Find out more at planria.co.uk.

Thank you for reading 💜