Wills & Family
Who should I choose as executor if I don’t trust my family?
Not everyone has a relative they would trust to handle their estate. Here is how to think about other options, from friends to professional executors.
Plans can go out of date
An estate plan reflects your life at the time you made it. When your life changes, your plans may no longer do what you expect. In some cases, the law changes the effect of your documents automatically. A short review after a big event can avoid unwelcome surprises for the people you leave behind.
Life events that often prompt a review
Marriage or civil partnership
In England and Wales, GOV.UK says that getting married cancels any Will you made before. The same applies to forming a civil partnership. A Will made specifically in expectation of a particular marriage can be an exception, but this needs to be clear in the Will. If you marry without making a new Will, the intestacy rules may decide who inherits.
Separation or divorce
Separation alone does not change your Will. After a divorce or dissolution, a former spouse or civil partner is generally treated as if they had died for the purposes of your Will, but other parts of the Will still stand. Pension nominations, life insurance and jointly owned property are not automatically updated. Our guide to updating a Will covers this in more detail.
Living with a partner
Unmarried partners do not inherit from each other under the intestacy rules, however long they have lived together.
Children and grandchildren
A new child or grandchild may lead you to think about guardians, trusts for young beneficiaries, or how your estate should be shared.
A death in the family
If an executor, attorney, guardian or beneficiary dies, parts of your documents may no longer work as intended.
Moving home or buying property
A new home may be owned differently from your last one. Check whether you are joint tenants or tenants in common. See how property ownership affects inheritance.
Changes in wealth or health
An inheritance, the sale of a business or retirement can change your Inheritance Tax position. A change in health may make Lasting Powers of Attorney more pressing, as they can only be made while you have capacity.
Moving abroad or to another part of the UK
Scotland and Northern Ireland have different succession law. Moving abroad can raise questions about which country’s law applies.
Changes in the law
Your circumstances are not the only things that change. At the time of writing (October 2026), examples of recent or upcoming changes include:
- business and agricultural property relief changes from 6 April 2026
- most unused pension funds and death benefits due to come into the scope of Inheritance Tax for deaths on or after 6 April 2027
- Inheritance Tax thresholds frozen until 5 April 2031
Our Inheritance Tax explainer gives the details.
What to review
- Your Will – beneficiaries, executors, guardians and any trusts
- Lasting Powers of Attorney – whether you have them and whether your attorneys are still right
- Pension nominations – often separate from your Will
- Life insurance – who it pays to, and whether it is written in trust
- Property ownership – how your home and other property are held
- Records – where documents are kept, and who knows
A practical example
Ellen made a Will in her thirties leaving everything to her then-husband. They divorced, and she later remarried. Her marriage cancelled the old Will, so she has no valid Will. Her pension nomination still names her former husband. A review leads her to make a new Will, update her nomination and make LPAs naming her new husband and her sister.
How to make changes
GOV.UK explains that small changes can be made with a codicil, which must be signed and witnessed like a Will. For bigger changes, it is usually better to make a new Will that revokes the old one. You should not write on or alter an existing Will. Pension and insurance nominations are usually updated directly with the provider.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Some of the rules above, such as marriage cancelling a Will, apply in England and Wales. Rules differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland; see mygov.scot or nidirect.
When to get professional help
A professional review may be worthwhile after marriage, divorce, a new relationship or blended family, a significant inheritance or sale, a business change, or a move abroad. A qualified professional can check how your documents work together.
Next steps
If you would like to discuss your situation with a qualified professional, you can read about our estate planning introductions or start the estate planning questionnaire. WillHarbour is an introduction service, not a law firm, and does not give legal, tax or financial advice. With your permission, we share your enquiry with up to three suitable firms that offer estate-planning services. They will explain their fees and their referral arrangement with us before you decide to go ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Does getting married cancel my Will?
In England and Wales, yes, generally. GOV.UK says marriage cancels any Will made before, unless it was made in expectation of that marriage.
Does divorce cancel my Will?
Not entirely. A former spouse is generally treated as if they had died for the purposes of the Will, but the rest of the Will remains. A review is usually sensible.
How often should I review my plans?
Many people review every few years and after any major life event, or when the law changes in a way that may affect them.
Official sources
This guide is general information about the law in England and Wales at the time it was last reviewed. It isn’t legal, tax or financial advice. For advice on your own situation, speak to a qualified professional.
