What should I include in an England and Wales will?
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In short: For an England and Wales will, plan who inherits specific gifts and the remainder, choose executors and substitutes, and consider guardians for children where appropriate. Prepare an asset and debt inventory separately, then complete the required signing and witnessing. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules.
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List assets, debts and joint ownership privately before drafting. Decide who receives any particular gifts, who receives the remainder, and what happens if a beneficiary or executor cannot act. Do not publish passwords, account logins or crypto recovery phrases in the will.
Consider guardianship and any dependent or vulnerable beneficiary. Seek individual advice for complex family arrangements, trusts, overseas assets or uncertain property ownership. Pension and life-insurance nominations may need separate action. GOV.UK writing a will.
If your England and Wales circumstances are straightforward, consider SwiftWill* for guided document preparation. It shares Money Guide’s operator and includes no individual solicitor review. You still print and sign correctly with witnesses. Choose advice suited to the relevant jurisdiction for Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Primary source: www.gov.uk/make-will/writing-your-will
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