Family, care & life events
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In short: Births, deaths, divorce, illness, caring for a parent — the events that change your life most also change your money the most.
Births, deaths, divorce, illness, caring for a parent — the events that change your life most also change your money the most. The state offers more help than most people realise, but you have to ask for it.
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- Kaiser Khan, Editorial Director
Having a baby
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid by your employer for up to 39 weeks: 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks, then the lower of £194.32 (2026/27 rate) or 90% of earnings for the next 33 weeks. Self-employed or recently changed jobs? You may qualify for Maternity Allowance instead, paid by the DWP.
Statutory Paternity Pay is two weeks at the same flat rate. Shared Parental Leave lets parents split up to 50 weeks of leave (37 paid) between them, in chunks if needed.
Childcare help
UK working parents now have access to several layers of childcare support. You usually have to apply through a government portal — it isn't automatic.
- Free childcare hours
Working parents of children aged 9 months to school age can access up to 30 hours per week of funded childcare in term time (England). Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own schemes.
- Tax-Free Childcare
The government adds £2 for every £8 you pay in, up to £2,000 per child per year (£4,000 if disabled). Apply via childcarechoices.gov.uk. You can't combine it with childcare vouchers from your employer.
- Universal Credit childcare element
Reimburses up to 85% of childcare costs (capped monthly) for low-income working parents — but you have to pay upfront and claim back, which causes real cash-flow problems. Ask your work coach about the Flexible Support Fund advance.
UK benefits for a child with autism
There is no single autism benefit. Most families claim Disability Living Allowance (England, Wales, NI) or Child Disability Payment (Scotland) — tax-free, not means-tested, based on extra care or getting-about needs compared with other children the same age. A diagnosis is not required. Official: www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children. Full stack: UK benefits for a child with autism.
2026/27 DLA care rates are £30.30 / £76.70 / £114.60 a week; mobility £30.30 or £80. Middle or highest care can unlock Carer's Allowance (£86.45 a week) if you care 35+ hours and earn £204 a week or less after deductions. Universal Credit can add a disabled child amount of £164.79 or £514.71 a month.
Parent-written daily-life and EHCP guides: Autism Parent Guide* — start with financial support* and EHCP for an autistic child*. Independent information, not HM Government.
- Start with DLA or Child Disability Payment
Needs test, not a diagnosis test. Claim walkthrough: how to claim DLA.
- Then check the household stack
Carer's Allowance, extra Universal Credit, Tax-Free Childcare (£4,000 cap if disabled), Blue Badge and Motability. At 16: PIP at 16 — keep the under-16 URL for the child stack.
- School support is separate
An EHCP is not a DWP payment. England walkthrough: EHCP guide*.
Child Benefit and the HICBC
Child Benefit is £27.05/week for the first child and £17.90/week for each subsequent child (2026/27). Always claim it — even if you'll have to repay it — because it gives the non-earning parent National Insurance credits towards the State Pension.
If either parent earns over £60,000, you start repaying via the High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC). At £80,000 the charge equals the benefit. Above £60,000 you can either keep claiming and repay via Self Assessment, or opt out of payments and just register for the NI credits.
How to make a will in the UK — writing a will, costs and free wills
How to make a will UK: put your wishes in writing, then sign in wet ink with two independent adult witnesses in the same room. Writing a will is not reserved to solicitors. For a straightforward England and Wales estate you can make a will online from around £35, instruct a solicitor, or use seasonal free wills campaigns — then print and witness it. Official overview: www.gov.uk/make-will. Full explainer: how to make a will in the UK.
If you die without a will (intestate), statute decides who inherits — not you. Unmarried partners get nothing, however long you have lived together. Stepchildren inherit nothing unless adopted. A spouse with children takes personal possessions, a £322,000 statutory legacy and half the rest. That is why making a will UK households delay is usually the one that would have protected a partner or named a guardian.
How much does a will cost UK in 2026: DIY templates from £0; a simple online will UK* from around £35 (SwiftWill is £35 single / £55 mirror wills, instant PDF, free lifetime updates — document-prep software, not a law firm); solicitor-reviewed platforms from around £90; high-street solicitors typically £150–£500; charity free wills (Free Wills Month, Will Aid) for a suggested donation. Live comparison: will cost UK*.
A will writing service should give you executors, guardians, gifts, residue and a witnessing card — not a silent subscription or an executor upsell. Make a will online* only if your estate is simple and in England or Wales. Skip it for trusts, foreign property, Inheritance Tax planning or blended-family protection. Scotland uses prior rights, legal rights and confirmation — Scotland wills and intestacy. Intestacy hub: wills and intestacy. Free-will pitfalls: free and charity will schemes.
Probate is the later process of administering an estate. Estates under the £325,000 nil-rate band are usually free of Inheritance Tax. The main residence nil-rate band can add up to £175,000 when leaving a home to direct descendants. A will does not replace a Lasting Power of Attorney — that covers decisions while you are alive.
- Online will UK
Answer questions, download a PDF, print and sign with two witnesses. SwiftWill* from around £35 once for England and Wales. Validity is the signing, not the website — is an online will legal*.
- Free wills
Free Wills Month and Will Aid waive solicitor fees for a suggested charity donation. Some 'free' websites charge later via storage or executor fees — compare SwiftWill vs free wills*.
- Will writing service vs solicitor
Use a solicitor for trusts, business or foreign assets, or a likely dispute — do I need a solicitor*. A simple residue gift does not need one.
How to change name on passport in the UK
To change name on passport you apply for a new British passport — you cannot amend the printed name on the old book. Send your original wet-ink change of name deed* plus one name-in-use document. Adult online applications cost £102; child online £66.50. There is no extra HM Passport Office surcharge. Official: www.gov.uk/changing-passport-information. Full explainer: change name on passport.
A home-printed unenrolled deed poll* is accepted if you sign it in both names with witnesses. Enrolment is not required. Fastest name-in-use route: free DVLA licence update*, then the passport. If you only took a spouse’s surname exactly as on the marriage certificate, send that certificate instead of a deed.
Instant Deed Poll is an independent document service — not HM Government and not a law firm. Adult PDFs are typically £14.99 once. Partner walkthrough: change name on passport*. After the name settles, remake the will* so probate matches your ID. Deed poll hub: deed poll name change.
- What HMPO wants
Original signed change of name deed* plus one name-in-use record (usually from the last 12 months). A UK driving licence issued after the deed can be older.
- Home-printed deed polls
Accepted if dated, wet-ink signed in both names, and witnessed. Rejections are e-signatures, photocopies of signed deeds, and missing dates — not “DIY” itself.
- Who to notify next
Licence, passport, bank, HMRC, employer, NHS. Order: who to notify after a name change. Partner checklist: who to notify*. Free GB licence update: change name on driving licence.
How to change name on a UK driving licence
A GB driving-licence name change is free. Post form D1 (car or motorcycle) or D2 (lorry or bus) with your current licence and original wet-ink change of name deed* — or a marriage certificate if you only took a spouse’s surname printed on it. You can still drive while you wait. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a name or address change. Official: www.gov.uk/change-name-driving-licence. Full explainer: change name on driving licence.
Do the licence before the passport — it is usually the fastest name-in-use document. Then work the rest of the list: who to notify after a name change. Instant Deed Poll is an independent document service, not HM Government. Partner walkthrough: change name on driving licence*. Also update every V5C log book. Northern Ireland uses the DVA.
Power of attorney
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets someone you trust handle your affairs if you can't — for example after a stroke or dementia diagnosis. There are two types: Property & Financial Affairs, and Health & Welfare. Set them up while you have mental capacity; afterwards it's far harder and more expensive — a deputyship through the Court of Protection (£432 to apply per type in 2026, plus yearly OPG supervision).
Application costs £92 per LPA through the Office of the Public Guardian. People on certain benefits or low incomes qualify for a fee remission or exemption. If you only need to manage benefits, a DWP appointee is enough — that is not a deputyship.
Paying for care in later life
In England, if your assets are above £23,250 you pay for your own care (the 'self-funder' threshold). Below £14,250 your savings are ignored, though you still contribute from your income; between the two, you pay a tariff of £1 a week for every £250. Scotland and Wales use different thresholds; Northern Ireland uses England's. Our care home funding guide walks through self-funding, council support, NHS Continuing Healthcare and deprivation-of-assets rules.
NHS Continuing Healthcare is fully funded by the NHS — not means-tested — if your primary need is medical rather than social. Many families wrongly assume they don't qualify and don't even apply. Beacon CHC offers a free helpline and assessment service.
Divorce and money
On divorce, pensions are usually the largest financial asset and the most commonly overlooked. They can be split via a Pension Sharing Order, offset against other assets, or attached for future payments. Get specialist advice — splitting fairly often makes more difference than the family home.
Free mediation is available through the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme (up to £500 contribution per family) and via Citizens Advice. Court should usually be the last resort, not the first.
Child Maintenance Service
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) calculates maintenance owed by a non-resident parent based on gross income, number of children, and overnight stays with the paying parent. Many separated parents reach a 'family-based arrangement' privately — cheaper and more flexible. CMS uses 'Direct Pay' (free) or 'Collect & Pay' (charged at 20% to the paying parent and 4% to the receiving parent).
Use the gov.uk CMS calculator to estimate liability. CMS arrears can be enforced via deductions from earnings, bank accounts or even passport revocation.
Marriage, civil partnerships and money
Marriage and civil partnership create inheritance and tax rights that cohabitation does not automatically provide. Bereavement Support Payment is different: a qualifying cohabiting survivor may also claim if the Child Benefit or pregnancy conditions and other eligibility rules are met. Check BSP eligibility.
Marriage Allowance lets the non-earning or basic-rate-paying spouse transfer £1,260 of personal allowance — saving up to £252/year. You can backdate the claim 4 tax years. Free to apply at gov.uk.
Bereavement support
Bereavement Support Payment provides a tax-free lump sum and monthly payments for up to 18 months if your spouse, civil partner or qualifying cohabiting partner dies. Cohabiting claims normally need Child Benefit entitlement/receipt for a resident child or pregnancy at the death, plus the other eligibility conditions. The Tell Us Once service at gov.uk notifies most government departments about a death from a single appointment with the registrar.
If you get a qualifying benefit and you are arranging the funeral, claim Funeral Expenses Payment within six months (Scotland: Funeral Support Payment). Typical prices sit on cost of a UK funeral.
The probate application fee in England and Wales is £526 for estates over £5,000, and nothing for smaller estates. Cruse Bereavement Care offers free emotional support; The Bereavement Advice Centre provides free practical and money guidance.
Go deeper on family, care
Lasting Power of Attorney — what it is and why almost everyone needs one
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity. Without one, your family may have to apply to the Court of Protection — a slow and expensive process.
Read the explainer →Wills and intestacy — what happens if you die without making a will
If you die without a will (intestate), the intestacy rules* decide who inherits — not you. For unmarried couples and blended families the result can be very far from what you would have wanted. Writing a will — including a simple online will UK* document from around £35 — is how you appoint executors, name guardians, and choose beneficiaries. This page is England and Wales unless stated.
Read the explainer →Tax-free childcare and free hours — every parent's UK childcare support
UK working parents have two big government childcare schemes: Tax-Free Childcare (£2 added for every £8 paid in, worth up to £2,000 a year per child) and Free Childcare Hours (15 or 30 hours of subsidised care, expanding to 9-month-olds from September 2025).
Read the explainer →The probate process in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Probate is the legal right to deal with someone's estate after they die — collecting assets, paying debts and Inheritance Tax, and distributing what's left. Most estates need it, but small and joint-owned estates often don't. This guide explains the process across the UK, the fees, typical timescales and the common reasons probate takes longer than people expect.
Read the explainer →Digital assets in your will: the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 explained
Until recently, English law was unsettled on whether things like cryptoassets, NFTs, in-game items and tokenised carbon credits could be 'property' you could leave in a will. The Property (Digital Assets etc) Act 2025 provides a statutory clarification for England and Wales: a thing is not prevented from being the object of personal-property rights merely because it is neither a thing in possession nor a thing in action (the Law Commission's 'third category' framing). The Act itself is deliberately short and does not lay down detailed rules for digital property — it removes a doctrinal obstacle. This guide explains what that means in practice for including digital assets in a UK will.
Read the explainer →How UK executors handle hardware wallets, seed phrases and multisig during probate
Being named executor used to mean dealing with bank accounts, a house and a Premium Bond holding. Today it can also mean recovering a hardware wallet, restoring a multisig setup, contacting half a dozen exchanges, and valuing an NFT collection — usually without any technical background. This guide sets out what UK executors should do, in what order, when an estate includes digital assets.
Read the explainer →How to write a will: your England and Wales checklist
A useful will does more than name a beneficiary. It covers the money left after debts and gifts, appoints people who can carry out your wishes, and includes a plan if those people die before you. This guide helps you prepare, choose a drafting route, complete the signing and keep the original accessible. It covers England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have different rules.
Read the explainer →Will witnessing rules in the UK — who can sign, when, and where it goes wrong
Under section 9 of the Wills Act 1837, a will in England and Wales must be signed by the testator in the presence of two adult witnesses who are themselves present at the same time, and who then each sign in the testator's presence. An online will* is only valid once that ceremony is done in wet ink — the PDF alone is not enough.
Read the explainer →Mirror wills vs mutual wills — what's the difference and which do couples need?
Mirror wills are two separate but matching wills (typically each leaving everything to the other, then to the children). Mutual wills are a much rarer arrangement where the couple legally bind themselves not to change their wills after the first death. The two are constantly confused, and the difference matters. For a simple couple estate in England and Wales, mirror wills* online can cost around £55 for both.
Read the explainer →The Inheritance Tax 7-year rule — taper relief, PETs and how it really works
Most lifetime gifts are 'potentially exempt transfers' (PETs). If you survive 7 years from the date of the gift, it falls completely outside your estate for Inheritance Tax. Die within 7 years and the gift is added back — but taper relief can reduce the tax charge from year 3 onwards.
Read the explainer →The residence nil-rate band — extra £175,000 IHT allowance for leaving your home to children
The residence nil-rate band (RNRB) gives an extra £175,000 of Inheritance Tax allowance when you leave a qualifying home to direct descendants. Combined with the £325,000 nil-rate band and full spousal transfer, a couple can pass up to £1 million tax-free.
Read the explainer →Deed of variation — rewriting a will after death for tax or family reasons
A deed of variation lets beneficiaries redirect an inheritance to someone else within 2 years of the death, as if the deceased had made the gift in their will. It's a powerful tool for skipping a generation, equalising family shares or improving the Inheritance Tax position.
Read the explainer →UK trusts basics — bare, interest in possession, discretionary and the trust register
A trust separates legal ownership (held by trustees) from beneficial ownership (the people who actually benefit). UK trusts are used to protect children's inheritances, manage assets for vulnerable beneficiaries, and structure family wealth. Tax treatment varies sharply by trust type.
Read the explainer →Estate planning for unmarried couples — the rules that cost partners everything
Unmarried partners (including long-term cohabitees) have no automatic inheritance rights under UK intestacy and no spousal Inheritance Tax exemption. Without a will, a surviving partner can be left with nothing, even after decades together. Three documents fix the worst of this.
Read the explainer →Advance decisions to refuse treatment (ADRT) — the UK living will explained
An advance decision to refuse treatment, often called a living will, lets you refuse specific medical treatments in advance — in case you later lose the capacity to decide. Under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 it is legally binding on clinicians in England and Wales, but only if it meets strict formality rules.
Read the explainer →Contesting a will in England & Wales — grounds, deadlines and the 1975 Act
A UK will can be challenged either by attacking its validity (it isn't really the deceased's will) or by claiming reasonable financial provision under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. Each route has different grounds, evidence and time limits.
Read the explainer →Appointing guardians for your children in your will (England & Wales)
If you have parental responsibility for a child under 18, you can appoint a guardian in your will to take over after your death. Without one, the court decides — and a contested guardianship application is the worst possible introduction to grief for a bereaved child.
Read the explainer →Free wills and low-cost will-writing in the UK — charity schemes, online services and what to avoid
Making a will need not be expensive. Free wills* usually mean a charity solicitor campaign (suggested donation) or a £0 website with later fees. A fixed-fee online will* for a simple England and Wales estate can start from around £35; solicitor-backed platforms often sit nearer £90–£150. Charity campaigns such as Free Wills Month and Will Aid can also reduce the cost for straightforward estates.
Read the explainer →Pre-paid funeral plans in the UK — what changed after FCA regulation
A pre-paid funeral plan lets you pay (in full or by instalments) for the main costs of your funeral at today's prices. Since 29 July 2022 the sector has been regulated by the FCA, with much tighter rules on cold-calling, redress and what must be included.
Read the explainer →Care home fees and 'deliberate deprivation of assets' — what really triggers it
Many UK families worry that gifting the home will protect it from care-home fees. The local authority's 'deliberate deprivation of assets' test is more nuanced than the popular 7-year myth — and giving away the family home is one of the riskiest things you can do without taking advice.
Read the explainer →Joint tenants vs tenants in common — what happens to property on death
Two people can own a UK property in two very different ways. Joint tenants share one undivided whole that passes by survivorship outside the will. Tenants in common own defined shares that pass under the will (or intestacy). The choice has big consequences for estate planning, second marriages and care-fee planning.
Read the explainer →Care home funding options: who pays and what help exists
Care home fees are set by each home. Who pays depends on a financial assessment, whether your needs are primarily health or social care, and where you live in the UK. This guide explains the main funding routes — not how to avoid paying, but how the system actually works.
Read the explainer →Inheritance Tax planning basics: gifts, wills and pensions
Inheritance Tax (IHT) at 40% applies only above available nil-rate bands — many families never pay it. Planning is about making sure your wishes are carried out efficiently, not aggressive avoidance. This guide covers practical steps any UK adult can take; it is information only, not regulated tax advice.
Read the explainer →30 hours free childcare in England: 2026 rules for working parents
Free childcare hours expanded in stages from 2024 and are now available from 9 months old for eligible working families in England. This is separate from Tax-Free Childcare, which tops up private payments — many families use both. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run different schemes.
Read the explainer →Bereavement Support Payment explained
Bereavement Support Payment replaced the older Bereavement Allowance and Widowed Parent's Allowance. It is not means-tested but you must meet age, relationship and NI contribution rules. This guide explains rates, deadlines and how it fits with other bereavement help.
Read the explainer →Divorce finances in England and Wales: splitting money fairly
Divorce has two tracks: dissolving the marriage and sorting finances. The financial remedy process is separate from the decree nisi — do not assume a clean break without a court order. This guide explains splitting assets, pensions and maintenance.
Read the explainer →Change your name by deed poll: a practical UK guide
A deed poll links your old and new names. Preparing it is only the first part of a name change: you also need the right witnesses, accepted evidence and a plan for updating identity documents and accounts. This guide focuses on England and Wales and points to separate routes for Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Read the explainer →Change the name on your British passport: documents and checklist
A passport name change is a passport application, not simply a change to an online account. Check your evidence, other passports and travel plans before sending documents. This guide helps you choose the right evidence and keep the application consistent.
Read the explainer →Change a child's name by deed poll: consent and practical steps
For families, the first decision is whether the change can lawfully go ahead. Paperwork comes after agreement, not before it. This guide covers the main England and Wales decisions, the records to prepare, the age-16 distinction and where a paid service can help.
Read the explainer →What is an executor of a will in the UK — duties, who to choose and fees
Choosing executors is one of the most practical parts of making a will. Friends and relatives do most of the work unpaid; banks and solicitors can act for a fee. This guide covers what the job involves, who to appoint, and how to name them when you make a will online* or with a solicitor.
Read the explainer →Change name on driving licence UK — free DVLA D1 update
A driving-licence name change is free and is usually the fastest name-in-use document for a later passport. Do it before you post the passport pack. Partner walkthrough: change name on driving licence*.
Read the explainer →Who to notify after a UK name change — licence, passport, bank, HMRC, NHS
Check each organisation’s evidence requirements first. If using a deed poll, sign it with the required witnesses before using it as evidence, then work through the list. Partner checklist: who to notify*.
Read the explainer →Funeral Expenses Payment UK — DWP funeral costs if you are on benefits
The grant pays specified items (burial or cremation fees, some travel, documents) plus up to £1,000 for other funeral expenses — or up to £120 if the deceased had a prepaid funeral plan. Money available from the estate is deducted. Official: www.gov.uk/funeral-payments
Read the explainer →Scotland wills, legal rights and prior rights — not England and Wales intestacy
Confirmation (not probate) is how executors prove title in Scotland. A Scottish will is usually signed by the granter and one witness under the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 — not the two-witness Wills Act 1837 rule. Official overview: www.mygov.scot/create-will
Read the explainer →Deputyship and the Court of Protection — when there is no Lasting Power of Attorney
Deputyship is the failure path of the LPA cluster: slower, more expensive, and supervised. Check for an existing LPA or enduring power of attorney before you apply. Official: www.gov.uk/become-deputy
Read the explainer →Changing your name without disrupting your UK credit history
A lender may still report an account under your previous name while your new details appear elsewhere. The practical goal is to keep the records connected and correct errors before you apply for credit. TransUnion explains how previous names can link accounts to a credit file.
Read the explainer →How to pay for a funeral: who pays and where the money can come from
A funeral bill often falls due before anyone can use the estate, so families may have to find the money quickly. This guide explains who is responsible for the bill, where the money can come from, how funeral costs are treated for Inheritance Tax and what happens when there's no money at all. It covers all four UK nations and flags where the rules differ.
Read the explainer →Direct cremation: what it includes, what it costs and how to compare
Direct cremation is sold by local funeral directors and by national online firms, and what's in the package, what happens to the ashes and how the price is shown can differ between them. This guide explains what the law says a direct cremation must include on a price list, how to compare quotes like for like, and whether benefits-linked funeral grants will pay for one.
Read the explainer →How to choose a funeral director and compare prices
The CMA found that the circumstances of a death make it hard for families to shop around for a funeral. Since 2021 the law has made comparing easier: every funeral director in the UK must publish the same standard price list. This guide explains what those rules require, what to get in writing, which third-party fees to expect and where to complain.
Read the explainer →Help with funeral costs: every scheme in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Help with funeral costs depends on where you live, which benefits you get and, for a child, where the funeral takes place. This guide puts every government scheme side by side with the amounts for 2026/27, shows how money in the estate affects what you get and explains what happens if nobody can pay. Our Funeral Expenses Payment guide has the full eligibility and claim detail.
Read the explainer →NHS continuing healthcare: who qualifies and how to apply
NHS continuing healthcare pays for a whole package of care, including care home fees, when the NHS decides someone's needs are primarily health needs. Many families only hear about it late, and the process can feel opaque. This guide walks through the checklist, the full assessment, the Decision Support Tool and how to challenge a decision, then covers NHS-funded nursing care and what happens in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Read the explainer →Paying for care at home: council assessments and charges
Care at home is charged differently from care in a care home, and the rules vary a lot across the UK. In England the council first assesses your needs, then can means-test you for the help it arranges, but it has to leave you enough to live on. This guide explains both assessments, the income you're protected, disability-related expenditure and the rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with a worked example using 2026/27 figures.
Read the explainer →Care home costs in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland compared with England
Social care is devolved, so how much you can keep before paying care home fees, the allowance you're left with and any free care payments all depend on where you live. This guide puts the 2026/27 figures for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland side by side. Each one is checked against the government circular or legislation that sets it, and we say so where a figure isn't published.
Read the explainer →Deferred payment agreements: using your home to pay care fees later
If most of your money is tied up in your home, a deferred payment agreement (DPA) means you don't have to sell it straight away, or at all in your lifetime, to pay care home fees. It's a loan secured on your home, with interest and admin charges, so it's worth understanding the terms before you sign. This guide covers who qualifies, how the interest cap is set, what happens on sale or death, the alternatives, and the rules in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Read the explainer →
Quick answers on family, care
Short, direct answers that link back to this guide and our calculators — useful when you need one rule fast.
- Can I write my own will in the UK?
- How much does a will cost in the UK?
- Who can witness a will in England and Wales?
- How much is Tax-Free Childcare worth?
- What is a Lasting Power of Attorney?
- Who is eligible for Bereavement Support Payment?
- How much is Bereavement Support Payment?
- Do I need a deed poll to change my name in the UK?
Common questions
- I'm not married — does my partner inherit if I die?
- Not automatically. Under the rules of intestacy, an unmarried partner inherits nothing, regardless of how long you've lived together — 'common-law marriage' doesn't exist in UK law. Making a will is the only way to protect them — see wills for unmarried couples*.
- Do I have to apply for free childcare hours?
- Yes — register for an eligibility code at childcarechoices.gov.uk and give it to your provider. The code must be renewed every 3 months. Miss the deadline and you'll lose the funded hours for a full term.
- What benefits can a child with autism get in the UK?
- Usually Disability Living Allowance (England, Wales, NI) or Child Disability Payment (Scotland), based on extra care or mobility needs — a diagnosis is not required. That award can unlock Carer's Allowance, extra Universal Credit, higher Tax-Free Childcare, Blue Badge and Motability. Full guide: UK benefits for a child with autism. Parent-written overview: financial support*.
- Can I gift money to my children to avoid Inheritance Tax?
- You can gift up to £3,000 per tax year free of IHT (the annual exemption). Larger gifts are 'potentially exempt transfers' — fully exempt only if you survive seven years. Regular gifts out of surplus income are immediately exempt if they don't affect your standard of living.
- How do I claim Carer's Allowance?
- If you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who gets certain disability benefits, and you earn under £196/week after deductions, you can claim £83.30/week (2025/26). Be aware: it can reduce the benefits of the person you care for, so check both sides before claiming.
- Is a will written at home legally valid?
- Yes. In England and Wales a will is valid if it is in writing, signed by you in front of two adult independent witnesses (not beneficiaries or their spouses), who then both sign. Homemade wills are still the most common source of probate disputes. You can make a will online* from around £35, use a solicitor (£150–£300 typical), or look at charity free wills campaigns. Step-by-step: how to make a will in the UK.
- How much does a will cost in the UK?
- How much does a will cost UK: DIY from £0, a simple online will UK* from around £35, solicitor-reviewed platforms from around £90, high-street solicitors typically £150–£500, and charity free wills for a suggested donation in campaign months. Table: will cost UK*.
- How do I make a will online?
- Answer a questionnaire, download a PDF, print it and sign with two independent adult witnesses. Make a will online* with SwiftWill from around £35 for a simple England and Wales estate, then follow how to sign a will*.
- How do I change name on passport in the UK?
- Apply for a new British passport in the name you now use. Send your original signed change of name deed* plus one name-in-use document. Adult online applications cost £102 with no extra name-change surcharge. Full guide: change name on passport. Partner walkthrough: change name on passport*.
- Will HM Passport Office accept a deed poll I printed at home?
- Yes if you then sign it in wet ink in both names with witnesses. What they reject is a photocopy of an already-signed deed or an e-signature. Get a checked PDF from Instant Deed Poll* or use the free template*.
- What's the difference between LPA Property & Financial Affairs and Health & Welfare?
- Property & Financial Affairs LPA lets the attorney pay bills, manage bank accounts, sell property and handle investments — it can be used as soon as it's registered, with your permission. Health & Welfare LPA covers medical and care decisions and can only be used after you've lost mental capacity. Most people set up both. Each costs £92 to register (or free for those on certain benefits). If capacity is already lost, you cannot make an LPA — see deputyship.
- Does a Scottish estate follow England and Wales intestacy?
- No. Scotland has prior rights, legal rights on the moveable estate, and confirmation rather than probate. England and Wales online will tools do not work for a Scottish estate. Guide: Scotland wills and intestacy.
- Can the council take our home to pay for care?
- Only if it's not occupied by certain protected people: your spouse or partner, a relative aged 60 or over, your child under 18, or a relative who is incapacitated. Otherwise, in England, the home counts as a capital asset once you're permanently in residential care. The 12-week disregard gives breathing space, and a Deferred Payment Agreement lets the council fund care now and recover the money from the eventual sale.
- What is a discretionary trust and when do people use them?
- A trust where trustees decide how and when to distribute assets to a class of beneficiaries (e.g. 'my children and grandchildren'). Often used in wills to protect a vulnerable beneficiary, ring-fence assets from a beneficiary's divorce or bankruptcy, or manage Inheritance Tax over time. Trusts have their own tax rules (entry, periodic 10-year and exit charges) and need professional setup — skip a basic online will writing service for this and instruct a solicitor.