The Impact of Marriage on Existing Wills: What You Need to Know
When it comes to life events, getting married or entering into a civil partnership with someone you love and care for is one of life’s most important milestones. While it is important to enjoy every moment of the run-up to your wedding and the big day itself, once the celebrations are over, it is also worth taking time to think about your future together.
Many people find that getting married means they need to start thinking about their will, particularly if they already have one in place.
Marriage can have an impact on your will, which is something that not everyone realises. In fact, under UK law, an existing will will generally be revoked when you get married or enter into a civil partnership, unless it was made in contemplation of that particular marriage or civil partnership. But why does this happen, and what should you do if you are getting married and already have a will in place?
Why there is an impact of marriage on your will
The law is not personalised to you or your circumstances. Instead, it is largely based on assumptions and generalisations. The law assumes that a major life event, such as getting married, may mean that you also want to change how you would like your estate to be distributed after your death. This is why marriage can have an impact on your will.
The best way to ensure that your wishes are protected is to make your will in contemplation of marriage. This can be done even if you do not currently have a partner. Your will should make it clear that it has been made in contemplation of a specific future marriage.
If you do not do this and do not make a new will after getting married, your existing will may be revoked. If you then die without a valid will, your estate will generally be distributed according to the rules of intestacy. These rules determine who inherits your estate and may not reflect the wishes you had expressed in your previous will.
Make a new will after your marriage
If you want to make sure that your loved ones are protected and that any wishes you have are carried out, then you are going to need to make sure that you create a will as soon as you become married or enter into a civil partnership. It is even better if you ensure that your will is professionally created with expert guidance.
Having an expert support with your will creation makes sure of a few key things:
You can name your spouse or civil partner as your beneficiary
You can set out a full and clear list of beneficiaries
You can appoint executors and guardians, which is most important in blended families
You can structure your estate in a way that is most tax-efficient
We know that it can be difficult to think about anything beyond the joy of getting married or starting a new chapter with your partner, but it is important to always look at the future. Having a valid will in place helps ensure that the people you care about now, as well as those who may depend on you in the future, are properly provided for and that your wishes are respected.
To make the process less stressful, it is best to seek out expert help and guidance on the process of making a will, giving you peace of mind that no matter what happens, those who you love are protected and taken care of in the future.
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