Be honest, how many times have you thought about making a will, then promptly pushed it to the bottom of your to-do list?

You’re not alone. Most of us know we should sort out our wills and estate planning, but there’s always something else that feels more urgent. A kitchen that needs updating. A holiday to book. That strange noise the car’s making.

But here’s the thing: putting off your will doesn’t make it less important. It just makes things harder for the people you care about most.

If you’ve been putting it off because you think “I don’t need one yet” or “It’s too complicated,” chances are you’ve fallen for one of the common myths about wills. Let’s tackle the biggest ones head-on, so you can finally tick this off your list with confidence.

The 5 Biggest Myths About Making a Will

📝 Myth 1: “I Don’t Have Many Assets, So I Don’t Need a Will”

This is easily the most common excuse I hear from local families. Whether you’re a first-time buyer in Manchester or have a long-term family home in Wigan, you might think that because you’re not sitting on a property empire, a will isn’t necessary. Whether you’ve just bought your first home in Manchester, have a long-term family property in Wigan, or are settled in Bolton, it’s about so much more than just assets—it’s about protecting the people you love.

Wrong.

Even if you don’t consider yourself wealthy, you probably have more than you think. Your home (whether you own it outright or have a mortgage), your car, savings accounts, personal belongings, jewellery, family heirlooms, these all have value. And more importantly, they have sentimental value to the people you’ll leave behind.

Without a will, the law decides who gets what. Not you. Not your family’s wishes. The law.

That antique ring your grandmother gave you? It might not go to the person you’d choose. Your savings that you’d earmarked for your children’s education? They could be split in ways you never intended. And if you have young children, a will is the only way to legally name guardians who’ll look after them if something happens to you.

It’s not about how much you have. It’s about making sure what you do have goes to the right people.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Myth 2: “My Spouse Will Automatically Inherit Everything”

If you’re married or in a civil partnership, you might assume your other half automatically gets everything when you pass away.

Not quite.

Under UK intestacy laws (the rules that apply when you die without a will), your spouse doesn’t necessarily inherit your entire estate, especially if you have children. In England and Wales, if your estate is worth more than £270,000, your spouse receives the first £270,000 plus half of everything above that amount. The rest goes to your children.

Sounds complicated? That’s because it is.

And it gets even messier if you’re in an unmarried relationship. Without a will, your partner has no automatic right to inherit anything from you, regardless of how long you’ve been together or whether you have children. They’d need to make a claim through the courts, a stressful, expensive process at an already difficult time.

A will gives you control. You decide who gets what, and you can make sure your loved ones are looked after exactly how you want.

🖊️ Myth 3: “I Don’t Need a Lawyer to Write My Will”

In theory, you can write your own will. Print off a template, fill in the blanks, get a couple of witnesses, job done. Easy, right?

In practice? DIY wills are a minefield.

I’ve seen families torn apart by wills that weren’t properly witnessed, used vague language that led to disputes, or simply didn’t comply with legal requirements. And once you’re gone, you can’t pop back to clarify what you meant or fix the mistakes.

Common problems with DIY wills include:

• Not meeting witness requirements
• Using unclear language that’s open to interpretation
• Forgetting to update after major life changes (marriage, divorce, new children)
• Not accounting for tax implications
• Missing out on ways to protect vulnerable beneficiaries

A specialist in wills and estate planning can help you create a document that’s legally sound, tax-efficient, and actually reflects your wishes. It’s not just about writing words on paper, it’s about getting it right.

At Black & Gold Financial Services, we work with trusted legal professionals who can guide you through the process. It’s one of those things that’s absolutely worth doing properly.

💰 Myth 4: “A Will Covers All My Assets”

Here’s something that surprises a lot of people: not everything you own can be passed on through your will.

Certain assets bypass your will entirely and go directly to named beneficiaries or joint owners. These include:

• Joint bank accounts – These automatically pass to the surviving account holder
• Life insurance policies – The money goes to whoever you’ve named as beneficiary
• Pension benefits – Usually paid to nominated beneficiaries
• Property held as joint tenants – Your share automatically goes to the other owner(s)

This is why estate planning is about more than just writing a will. You need to make sure all your beneficiary designations are up to date and aligned with your wishes. That life insurance policy you took out fifteen years ago? Check who’s named on it. Your workplace pension? Make sure the nomination form reflects your current circumstances.

If you’ve remarried, had more children, or gone through any major life changes, these designations might be hopelessly out of date. And unlike your will, they won’t automatically update when your circumstances change.

It sounds like a lot to keep track of (because it is), but this is exactly the kind of thing we help clients organize every day. A quick review can save your family a lot of headaches down the line.

✏️ Myth 5: “I Can Make Changes to My Will by Marking It Up”

Found a mistake in your will? Want to add someone new or change how much someone inherits?

You might think you can just cross out a line, initial the change, and you’re good to go.

Absolutely not.

Once your will is properly executed (signed and witnessed), you cannot make changes by scribbling on it. Any handwritten amendments, crossed-out sections, or post-it notes will be completely ignored by the courts. In fact, marking up your will could invalidate the entire document, leaving you in a situation of intestacy, as if you’d never made a will at all.

If you need to make changes, you have two options:

1. Create a codicil – A formal amendment that’s signed and witnessed just like your original will
2. Write a new will – Often simpler, especially if you’re making significant changes

Life changes. Your will should change with it. Got married? Had a baby? Divorced? Inherited money? Each of these is a good reason to review and potentially update your will.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait

I know. Thinking about death isn’t fun. None of us wake up on a Saturday morning and think, “You know what sounds brilliant? Sorting out what happens after I die!”

But here’s the thing: life is unpredictable.

Without a will, your family could face:

• Lengthy court proceedings that drag on for months or even years
• Higher costs as your estate goes through intestacy
• Family disputes when the law divides things differently than you would have wanted
• No legal guardian named for your children
• Uncertainty about your final wishes

And it’s not just about what happens to your stuff. A will can include your preferences for your funeral, instructions for your digital assets (yes, your social media accounts and online banking), and even messages for your loved ones.

Making a will isn’t morbid: it’s one of the most caring things you can do for your family. It’s a final act of love that says, “I’ve thought about this, and I want to make things as easy as possible for you.”

Let’s Get This Sorted

At Black & Gold Financial Services, we help families across Manchester and the surrounding towns like Wigan and Bolton get their affairs in order. We’ll connect you with trusted professionals who specialise in wills and estate planning, ensuring everything from your life insurance to your pensions is working together to protect those you love.

Making a will doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. With the right guidance, you can have everything sorted in a matter of weeks, giving you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved ones are protected.

Ready to tick this off your list? Get in touch with us at Black & Gold Financial Services, and let’s have a proper conversation about what matters most to you and the people you care about.

Because the best time to make a will was ten years ago. The second-best time is today.

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