Is Your Will Still Up to Date? Why 2026 Is the Year to Review It
Life moves fast — marriages, births, house moves and tax changes can all make an old Will out of date. Here's why reviewing your Will in 2026 protects your family and how we make it easy across Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside.
Writing a Will is one of the most important things you'll ever do — but a Will is not a 'write it once and forget it' document. Life changes, the law changes, and a Will that was perfect ten years ago may no longer reflect your wishes today. With the Inheritance Tax changes in April 2026 and Power of Attorney reform in October, this year is a particularly good time to review your Will. Here's why, and what to look for, for families across Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside.
Life events that should trigger a review
- Marriage or civil partnership — in England and Wales, marriage automatically cancels an existing Will unless it was made in contemplation of that marriage.
- Divorce or separation — your Will isn't cancelled, but gifts to a former spouse are treated as if they died before you.
- Births and adoptions — new children or grandchildren may need to be included or provided for.
- A house move or significant change in your assets — your Will may reference property or accounts you no longer hold.
- Bereavement — if an executor or beneficiary named in your Will has passed away, you need to update it.
Legal and tax changes in 2026
Even if your family circumstances haven't changed, the law has. The new £1 million cap on business and agricultural reliefs from April 2026 could affect families with a business or farm, and ongoing speculation about wider Inheritance Tax reform makes now a sensible time to check your Will still does what you intend it to.
"An old Will isn't necessarily a wrong Will — but it's rarely the best one for who you are today."
How often should you review?
As a rule of thumb, we suggest reviewing your Will every three to five years, and whenever a major life event happens. You don't always need a brand new Will — sometimes a small update (a codicil) is enough. We'll always tell you honestly which is right for you.
We make reviewing easy
If you're not sure whether your Will is still up to date, book a free home visit. We'll read through your existing Will with you at your kitchen table across Oldham, Rochdale and Tameside, explain in plain English what it currently says, and let you know whether anything needs updating. No obligation, no pressure — just friendly local advice to give you peace of mind.
Sources & further reading
We believe in honest, well-sourced advice. These independent, official resources offer more detail on the topics covered above.
- Gov.uk — Update your willOfficial guidance on when and how to update an existing Will.
- The Law Society — Wills and probateIndependent information on Wills, updates and executors.
- MoneyHelper — Writing a willImpartial guidance on keeping your Will up to date.
- Certainty — The National Will RegisterThe official national register of Wills, useful when locating an existing Will for review.
Talk it through with a friendly local expert
Reading is a great start — but a quick chat can answer everything specific to your family. Free home visits across Oldham, Rochdale & Tameside.