More than three-quarters of unmarried adults living with a partner have no up-to-date Will, new research has revealed – potentially leaving thousands of loved ones facing financial hardship and legal uncertainty if the worst should happen.
A national poll commissioned by charity Will-writing campaign Will Aid found that a staggering 76% of cohabiting adults either have no Will or one that is out of date, including 67% who have never made one and a further 9% who admit theirs no longer reflects their wishes.
And despite unmarried couples in the UK having no automatic right to inherit from one another, more than one in three (35%) wrongly believed their estate would automatically pass to their partner if they died without a Will.
Last year, just one in four (25%) cohabiting adults held the same mistaken belief, suggesting the misconception is becoming more widespread.
According to the Office for National Statistics, 300,000 couples in the East of England were living together without being married or in a civil partnership in 2025.
The poll findings have prompted a warning from Will Aid that couples could be leaving their loved ones facing financial hardship, uncertainty and potentially lengthy legal disputes because of widespread misconceptions about inheritance rights.
Unlike married couples and civil partners, unmarried couples do not automatically inherit from one another under the UK’s intestacy rules, regardless of how long they have lived together or whether they have children.
This means without a valid Will, a surviving partner could find themselves with no entitlement to their loved one’s estate, even after decades of sharing a home and building a life together.
Peter de Vena Franks, Campaign Director at Will Aid, said: “These findings are deeply concerning. So many people are sharing their lives, homes and finances with a partner, yet three-quarters have no up-to-date Will in place to make sure their wishes are respected.
“But perhaps even more worrying is the misconception that your partner will automatically inherit everything if you die, and the fact that this misunderstanding appears to be growing.
“You could have spent decades building a life with someone, only for them to face enormous uncertainty and financial difficulties at an already devastating time. Making a Will means you can decide who benefits from your estate, rather than leaving those decisions to the law.”
The research also revealed further confusion about what happens when someone dies without a Will.
More than a quarter (28%) of cohabiting adults believed their estate would be divided between family members, while 17% thought it would go to the Government. A further 14% admitted they did not know what would happen.
Under the Rules of Intestacy, which differ across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, a person’s estate is distributed according to legal rules if they die without a valid Will.
Although surviving unmarried partners may be able to make a claim against an estate in certain circumstances, there is no guarantee they will inherit anything.
Emma Howlett, Partner at Thomas Mansfield Solicitors, which is taking part in this year’s Will Aid campaign, said: “One of the biggest misconceptions we come across is that couples who have lived together for years automatically have the same inheritance rights as married couples.
“Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. If you die without a Will, your partner could find themselves in an incredibly difficult position, particularly if you own a home together or have children.
“People often don’t realise the implications until it’s too late. A surviving partner may have to go through a lengthy and costly legal process to try to secure financial provision from the estate, at a time when they’re already dealing with the loss of someone they love.
“Having a professionally written Will gives you the opportunity to make your wishes clear and provide reassurance that the people closest to you will be looked after. Will Aid is a fantastic opportunity to get that protection in place while also supporting charities doing vital work.”
Will Aid is now urging unmarried couples to use this November’s campaign to put their affairs in order and ensure their wishes are clearly documented.
Peter added: “It’s easy to put off making a Will, particularly when you’re young, healthy or simply don’t want to think about what might happen in the future.
“But none of us knows what is around the corner, and having a professionally written Will can make an enormous difference to those we leave behind.
“Will Aid provides an opportunity to take that important step while also helping charities that support vulnerable people here in the UK and around the world.”
Will Aid is a nationwide campaign that sees participating solicitors across the UK volunteer their time every November to write basic Wills, waiving their usual fee in exchange for a voluntary donation.
The suggested donations are £120 for a single basic Will and £200 for a pair of basic mirror Wills, with proceeds supporting eight UK charities: Age UK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, Crisis, NSPCC, SCIAF (Scotland), Shelter and Trócaire (Northern Ireland).
Appointments are available now, with participating solicitors offering appointments in person or remotely.
For more information or to find a participating solicitor, visit www.willaid.org.uk
