Wills - Who are you leaving your estate to?

[Cosmication]

I need to create a will but I'm not sure who to leave my money to. If I died now, it wouldn't be much, but if I died in older age then it might be a lot more. I have several siblings, and 2 nieces and my mum is still alive too. I have a partner that doesn't live with me who is much wealthier than I am but it would be strange to leave him out. Also keen to leave at least some to charity. Do I just leave it all to the nieces? Or shall I split it equally between my siblings? Do I include my mum and partner or is that unusual? I'm also considering friends. I'm not sure what percentage to allocate to each. As you can tell I'm just confused. I want it to feel fair and reasonable. Any inspiration welcome.

My nephews and nieces don't need the money, so my plan is to sell my house when I'm 70ish then just rent using the capital. It will be a lot easier for any relatives to dispose of money in the bank than a property, and it will mean I can have an OK life living off the cash and not have to pay maintenance on the property. In my will it all goes to charity and any pets go to a friend with money to support them. My poor niece who will get to deal with my estate can have a few thousand to pay her for the effort.

I have several friends with children who are planning on selling up and renting as well and have already told their kids they're planning on using up all their funds (their kids are all quite well off in their own right!)

The problem basically seems to be summed up as ruthless and/or rapacious attitudes towards grieving families.

On one hand, I can understand their job is to get as much money as possible (asap) and in the circumstances, there is never a good time. But it seems a % really brings out the worst of them to absolutely maximise their cut; whereas a fixed lump sum is what it is. Obviously this isn't every lawyer, every charity, every time but there's no way to know in advance.

My old will left it to siblings and even my mother (in case I died early). But I need to make a new one. Everything will go to DH is he's still about. Otherwise I think nieces and nephews as they are all adults but stuck with the cost of living, whereas siblings are comfortably off. Also charity, but not sure which one(s).

Our charity gets occasional bequests. We have normal solicitors which we hire in the same way anyone else would. We take what the will gives us. However very often the relatives will try very hard to fight the will, leaving everyone, bar the lawyers, with very little. And it's nearly always relatives who have had no contact with the deceased for decades.

DH in the first instance, then my sister/DH’s nieces/my god daughters.

It’s likely to be a big enough estate (unless I live long enough to spend it all - and I hope I do!) that it would be something meaningful if not life changing for all of them (probably £100k each if DH and I both died today, growing until I retire and then dwindling away assuming I’m well enough for a lot of big holidays)

The deceased have a habit of losing their jewellery.
Anything of value needs to be removed immediately post mortem.