Why making a will matters: advice from UEA’s Prof Polly Morgan
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Making a will is an opportunity to provide for the people you care about and remember the causes that matter to you. But what happens if you don’t have one? Prof Polly Morgan (LAW96), director of UEA’s multi award-winning Law Clinic, holds a solicitor’s practising certificate and runs a free family law advice service. Here, she explains why making a will matters.
What happens if you don't leave a will?
For those who don’t leave a will, their estates will be distributed according to the Intestacy Rules. This gives specific shares to a spouse and children, and then if they do not exist it goes to a list of increasingly distant relatives.
If there is no one on the list alive, then the Crown, Duchy of Lancaster, or Duchy of Cornwall receive the proceeds. Cohabitants – unmarried partners – aren’t included at all. Given that many people are in unmarried relationships, this is a huge omission.
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Making your wishes clear
There’s an easy way to fix this and ensure that your money goes to those people and those causes you believe in, and that is to make a will. People frequently put this off, but making a will is not difficult and will make it much easier for those you leave behind.
Ensure that you use a reputable solicitor (not all will writers are regulated and not all are insured) and, most importantly, that your executors have the powers they need.
Remembering a cause that matters to you
Alongside providing for loved ones, a will offers the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy by supporting a cause you believe in.
At UEA, gifts in wills help talented students access education, support research and provide opportunities for future generations. You can choose to support an area that has personal meaning for you.
Find out more about leaving a gift in your will to UEA, or contact our team at legacy@uea.ac.uk.
Adapted from UEA’s Gifts in Wills brochure, published in January 2025.