Having children is the most important reason to make a will
As a parent, two things matter most: who would care for your children if you couldn't, and how they're provided for. A will lets you appoint guardians and set the age your children inherit. Without a will, the court decides guardianship and the intestacy rules hand your children their inheritance outright at 18.
What happens if you don’t have a will
- With no appointed guardians, if both parents die the court decides who raises your children.
- Under intestacy, children inherit outright at exactly 18 — often before they're ready to manage a large sum.
- An unmarried partner inherits nothing automatically, leaving your surviving partner and children financially exposed.
- Money for young children is locked in a default trust with far less flexibility than a will you design.
Why parents specifically need a will
- Appoint legal guardians of your choosing for any children under 18.
- Use a trust so your children inherit at an age you choose — commonly 21 or 25 — not automatically at 18.
- Provide for your partner explicitly, which intestacy will not do if you're unmarried.
- Name executors and trustees you trust to manage everything for your family.
- Give your family clarity and avoid disputes at the worst possible time.
How ClearLegacy helps
Answer a few guided questions
Tell us about your family, your children and who you'd want as guardians.
Review and confirm
You review and confirm every answer before anything is finalised.
Pay securely
Fixed £69 for a single will (£99 mirror wills for couples) via secure Stripe checkout.
Receive your will in 24 hours
Ready to print, sign and witness so it's legally binding in England & Wales.
Simple, fixed pricing
No hourly billing. No hidden fees. One free amendment included.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to my children if I die without a will?
Your children are your legal heirs, but without a will you won't have appointed guardians — so if both parents die the court decides who raises them. Their inheritance is also released outright at 18. A will lets you choose guardians and the age your children inherit.
Can I choose who looks after my children?
Yes. Appointing a guardian in your will is the way to record who you want to raise your children if you and the other parent both die. A guardian only steps in when both parents are gone.
We're not married — does that change things?
Significantly. Unmarried partners have no automatic right to inherit from each other, however long you've been together. Without a will your estate passes to your children (held until 18) and your partner could receive nothing. A will fixes both.