It’s important to look over your Will regularly to make sure it still reflects your wishes and your current circumstances. Family life events such as getting married or divorced, having children or grandchildren, losing a loved one, or receiving an inheritance can all affect what should happen to your estate. If your Will isn’t updated, it may no longer do what you intended. Reviewing your Will regularly helps make sure it stays valid, practical, and in line with your family situation.
If you’ve recently divorced, it’s important to make sure your Will still works the way you want it to. Any gifts, appointments, or instructions you made before the divorce could now be outdated or no longer reflect your wishes. This is especially important for executors or beneficiaries as someone you named before the divorce may no longer be right, and new people may need to be added. Reviewing and updating your Will after divorce ensures it accurately reflects your current intentions, protects your estate, and avoids confusion or disputes for your family later on.
Getting married usually cancels any Will you have made previously. This means that unless your Will clearly states it was made in contemplation of that specific marriage, it will no longer be valid once you marry. If this happens and you do not make a new Will, your estate will be dealt with under the rules of intestacy. These rules set out who inherits in a fixed order, and your new spouse is likely to receive most or in some cases all of your estate. This may not reflect your wishes, particularly if you have children from an earlier relationship or intended to leave gifts to other family members or friends. For this reason, it is very important to review and update your Will after marriage to ensure it reflects your current circumstances and intentions.
It is important to ensure that all intended beneficiaries and executors are clearly named in your Will. If you refer to individuals specifically for example, by naming a particular child or grandchild only those named will benefit. If another child or grandchild is born later and is not included, they will not automatically inherit under that gift. This can lead to unintended unfairness and, in some cases, disputes between family members.
Many Wills contain fixed names that do not take account of future additions to the family. It is therefore essential to review your Will regularly, particularly after major life events such as births, adoptions, or changes in family circumstances. Keeping your Will up to date helps ensure that it reflects your current wishes and provides properly for everyone you intend to benefit.
When your children or grandchildren reach the age of 18, certain provisions in your Will may no longer have a practical effect. For example, any guardianship clause appointing someone to care for minor children becomes irrelevant once those children are legally adults. Similarly, if your Will states that a child’s inheritance is to be held in trust until they reach 18, that provision will take effect immediately if they have already reached that age at the time of your death, meaning they are entitled to receive their inheritance outright.
It is also sensible to review your choice of executors and trustees as your family circumstances change. Many people appoint friends or other relatives to act in these roles when their children are young. However, once your children are adults, you may wish to consider whether they are now suitable to take on the responsibility of administering your estate.
If someone named in your Will has died, it is important to review your Will and consider appointing a replacement. This is particularly significant where the deceased person was your executor or a sole beneficiary. If an executor has died and no substitute is named, this can cause delays and added expense in administering your estate. If a sole beneficiary has died before you and no alternative provision has been made, the gift may fail or pass in a way you did not intend.
It is also sensible to review your Will if you have inherited money or property from a relative. An increase in the value of your estate may affect how your assets are distributed and could have inheritance tax implications. Reviewing your arrangements at this stage allows you to consider whether any tax planning is appropriate and ensures that your Will continues to reflect both your wishes and your current financial position.
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Article dated: 12.03.2026
Bethany is our Wills & Probate Paralegal based at our Melton Mowbray Office.
She has an impressive law background after achieving an Honours Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Beginning her career as a Litigation Paralegal in the Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia, Bethany has moved to th United Kingdom to become admitted as a Solicitor.
Outside of work, Bethany enjoys walking through the countryside with her dog as well as horse riding.
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