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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think making a Will is pointless if yoyu have no assets?

206 replies

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 16:27

Just that really. My husband and I have literally nothing so nothing to give away!!

OP posts:
ElizaSchuyler · 28/08/2026 12:54

FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 00:23

@concertinacornflake I will look into how much a cheap one costs to draw up and see if I can afford. But would I have to pay again if things change?

My will was free to draw up. I did it via a charity organisation but I wasn;ty obliged to leave anything to the charity.

pinkspeakers · 28/08/2026 12:48

We have a will, but it doesn't specify who gets individual items. It's just a very straightforward "everything to DH/DW if they are still alive, otherwise split equally between our children" sort of will. And it names an executor. I've been meaning to add some charity donations but not got round to it yet.

Do people really normally specify who should get individual items? I have no intention of doing that. My parents didn't either.

ElizaSchuyler · 28/08/2026 12:46

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 16:46

@Edgelands Adult children, a car worth not very much at all, no jewellery of any value.

I have my nanna's ring which used to belong to her mum. It is worth very little.

When her sister came round to visit she demanded to know where the ring was. I was wearing it. You might thing something is not worth anything in monetary value but it makes your wishes clear.

FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 12:33

@CloudPop See above.

OP posts:
CloudPop · 28/08/2026 12:33

singthing · 28/08/2026 10:04

Its like OP is determined to be oh so cool she doesn't need a Will, her family are much better and not "pathetic" like other peoples are and will gladly sort her non-existent life out with no emotion or issue at all.

The fact it's their mum who has just died and they will likely be in pieces not knowing what she wanted them to have or do is neither here nor there, and nor is the fact she probably does have possessions, however cheap and valueless to her, that they might want to remember her by (like the mug and saucepan mentioned by pp). They can also get stuffed for the way a Will eases all the administrative issues too. Why not just cause them a bit more hassle, wahey!

Oh, and guardianship for the school age daughter is not an issue, after all who cares?

OP could have written about 5 Wills in the time she's spent reply-whinging about why she doesn't need one, in the face of everyone pointing out why it would help a lot, after she asked the question.

One of many instances where I wonder what the purpose of the post is.

FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 12:32

@TheOwlShootAtNight It would be interesting to hear from those in a similar position re what they've done.

OP posts:
TheOwlShootAtNight · 28/08/2026 12:31

FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 10:55

Daughter has been sorted separately ages ago as of course she's priority. Ultimately she matters more than any possession of course.
Still don't see the point of writing a will for assets of which there are none except a wedding ring which can go to our daughter if she wants it.
But will double check re shutting down bank account and notifying Landlord/Landlady as I thought a Death Certificate would suffice.

So don’t do it if you don’t see a point in it. Why bother posting in the first place?

FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 12:00

@eclipsed Thank you. We literally just have the basics - no Netflix, subscriptions or anything like that. Hopefully things will be a bit financially easier when the time comes, although my concern is there could well be worse with increasing rent costs and bills, especially if I part-retire at some point.
My sons are incredibly well off, but I still wouldn't want them to have to pay to burn me!
My husband would not have the spare money to.
So I will need to find the money from somewhere at some point, it just isn't feasible right now.

OP posts:
eclipsed · 28/08/2026 11:53

If you do decide after reading all the comments on here, that you do want to make a will, but don't have the funds to pay for it, there are various charities that offer to write wills for free in return for you leaving them a gift in your will. Macmillan is one such example, but there are lots of others.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/donate/gifts-in-wills/free-will-service

You could write the will to appoint whichever child you feel would be best placed to sort out whatever needs sorting as your executor. You could leave the charity a gift of say £200 in your will. (I appreciate you don't have that now, but things might change before you die, as hopefully it won't be for a long time yet). If you don't have £200 to leave in your estate before you die, the charity won't receive the donation (unless your children are well enough off and generous enough to donate it themselves in your memory). The rest of your estate, you can leave to be divided equally between all of your children. (Even though you don't think there will be anything to leave).

You say you don't want a funeral, so you need to decide what you want your children to do with your body when you die. Would they be willing to club together to pay for a direct cremation? This could still cost a couple of thousand pounds). If you don't want to pass this burden on to them, you ought to see what bills you can cut back on to invest the money in an insurance policy to cover the cost of an insurance policy. Perhaps if you have Netflix or Spotify or anything, cancel that to save your children from worrying about the cost of disposing of your body. There are pauper's funerals paid for by the council for people that die with no assets, but only if the next of kin have no assets either, so in your case, your husband or children would be expected to pay.

Macmillan Free Wills Service | Macmillan Cancer Support

The Macmillan Free Wills Service offers free will writing with our trusted partners or solicitors. Write your will online or however suits you with Macmillan.

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/donate/gifts-in-wills/free-will-service

FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 11:36

@Ponoka7 All of the children are biologically mine so equal here.

OP posts:
FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 11:35

@DurinsBane How do the rent and bills get paid if it is invested? These costs are only going to rise...

OP posts:
FunPartyIdeas · 28/08/2026 10:55

Daughter has been sorted separately ages ago as of course she's priority. Ultimately she matters more than any possession of course.
Still don't see the point of writing a will for assets of which there are none except a wedding ring which can go to our daughter if she wants it.
But will double check re shutting down bank account and notifying Landlord/Landlady as I thought a Death Certificate would suffice.

OP posts:
JustAQuestion12 · 28/08/2026 10:18

singthing · 28/08/2026 10:04

Its like OP is determined to be oh so cool she doesn't need a Will, her family are much better and not "pathetic" like other peoples are and will gladly sort her non-existent life out with no emotion or issue at all.

The fact it's their mum who has just died and they will likely be in pieces not knowing what she wanted them to have or do is neither here nor there, and nor is the fact she probably does have possessions, however cheap and valueless to her, that they might want to remember her by (like the mug and saucepan mentioned by pp). They can also get stuffed for the way a Will eases all the administrative issues too. Why not just cause them a bit more hassle, wahey!

Oh, and guardianship for the school age daughter is not an issue, after all who cares?

OP could have written about 5 Wills in the time she's spent reply-whinging about why she doesn't need one, in the face of everyone pointing out why it would help a lot, after she asked the question.

Yep. That's a very good summary!

Ponoka7 · 28/08/2026 10:09

Firefly100 · 27/08/2026 16:34

If you have children it is worth it to document who should have care of them otherwise the stat will decide

That state still decides, however for that, you need a living will. The most common cause is car accidents. While the parent (s) are in hospital, the child needs to be placed. If a relative takes them, SS will be reluctant to remove them, if they tick enough boxes. The will after death, which could take months, won't be the deciding factor. This is important if the parents go on holiday without the children.

singthing · 28/08/2026 10:04

User2856420 · 28/08/2026 08:07

OP you sound angry and rather unpleasant and almost as if you are just out to annoy the people on here trying to help you.
Why not spend some time talking to the people important to you in real life instead of strangers on the internet.

Its like OP is determined to be oh so cool she doesn't need a Will, her family are much better and not "pathetic" like other peoples are and will gladly sort her non-existent life out with no emotion or issue at all.

The fact it's their mum who has just died and they will likely be in pieces not knowing what she wanted them to have or do is neither here nor there, and nor is the fact she probably does have possessions, however cheap and valueless to her, that they might want to remember her by (like the mug and saucepan mentioned by pp). They can also get stuffed for the way a Will eases all the administrative issues too. Why not just cause them a bit more hassle, wahey!

Oh, and guardianship for the school age daughter is not an issue, after all who cares?

OP could have written about 5 Wills in the time she's spent reply-whinging about why she doesn't need one, in the face of everyone pointing out why it would help a lot, after she asked the question.

Ponoka7 · 28/08/2026 10:04

Missey85 · 28/08/2026 09:43

I have no assets or kids so I don't have one there's nothing for anyone to fight over 😂😂

There might be if you die in a car accident. Or on holiday. I'd rather give to a local charity, via a hand written will, than the government get it.

Ponoka7 · 28/08/2026 10:02

Did you not see the storyline in coronation Street were Les died in an industrial accident and Toyah and Leanne was at war, because Toyah wasn't his biological child? That might seem ridiculous, but I've known three cases, one were the 'common law wife' got nothing. They were, an accident at work, a car accident and a death on holiday. All covered by insurance/payouts. Plus no-one should ever assume that their current partner won't meet someone and jewellery gets given away, photos destroyed etc.

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 28/08/2026 09:54

I’d say it’s worth it. My dad’s mum thought she had nothing of value but there was a big fall out over the table (two of my aunties). She’s said both of them could have it at different times and forgotten about it. Ended with my dad saying flip a coin and let that decide or I’m going to saw it in half.

It was needless drama tbh and it soured things between them for a bit. They did get over it but it’s not worth the hassle when you’ve got to arrange the funeral. My aunties are a bit dramatic and I think the death of their mum brought out the absolute worst in both of them.

DurinsBane · 28/08/2026 09:44

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 23:14

@DurinsBane Pension will (hopefully) just about cover the rent and bills so there won't be any to invest unfortunately. If not, I will need to look for top-up work. There won't be any left over.

That’s how most defined contributions pensions work though, they are invested and your pension is the interest on the capital (and some of the capital as well if the interest alone is not enough). Unless you have a defined benefit (final salary) but they are rarer now. Unless you buy an annuity when your pension matures, some people do. Otherwise, it will be invested

Missey85 · 28/08/2026 09:43

I have no assets or kids so I don't have one there's nothing for anyone to fight over 😂😂

TheOnlyWayIsIlford · 28/08/2026 09:37

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 17:20

@Edgelands My eldest would happily do that.

Great.

But it will be so much easier and quicker if he is authorised to do so by being named as your executor in a Will.

TheOnlyWayIsIlford · 28/08/2026 09:35

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 17:19

@OnlyUsername Is it free to do so?

Yes.
It can be

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 28/08/2026 09:09

What about your school age daughter OP?

What do you want to happen to her if you die? It's probably best to name an appointed guardian. What if both you and your husband die? Where will she live? Will she not inherit anything at all? Not even the last £12.86 in your bank account?

You said your husband has pensions, you'd have to hope you were named in them as a beneficiary, and if you die before him another person. Best just to get these things checked out. You might think you have absolutely nothing to give, but you probably do

TheOwlShootAtNight · 28/08/2026 09:03

FunPartyIdeas · 27/08/2026 16:27

Just that really. My husband and I have literally nothing so nothing to give away!!

Do you have pension, life insurance?

Daisy54 · 28/08/2026 08:44

My sister had no will, nor was I officially the executor, but it was very easy to deal with all the admin e.g close bank accounts, utilities etc