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47 is 'average age at which people write their will'

Nearly half (47 per cent) of people in Northern Ireland have a will in place says a Which? survey
Nearly half (47 per cent) of people in Northern Ireland have a will in place says a Which? survey Nearly half (47 per cent) of people in Northern Ireland have a will in place says a Which? survey

THE average age at which people write their will is 47, a survey has found.

But six in 10 people surveyed by Which? Legal say they have no will in place, with 38 per cent of these people claiming to have nothing worth inheriting.

A fifth (20 per cent) of people with no will in place say making a will had not occurred to them, while 16 per cent claim to have been too busy.

Which? Legal found that those who did have a will in place waited until they were 47, on average, before writing it.

The survey found fewer than a third (31 per cent) of people in Scotland have written a will, compared with 35 per cent in Wales.

Nearly half (47 per cent) of people surveyed in Northern Ireland have a will in place.

The research also found 57 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds say they would leave money to charity in their will, while 19 per cent of those aged over 65 said they would make some form of donation.

Darren Stott, managing director of Which? Legal, said: "It's clear that people don't appreciate the risks of not having a valid will in place.

"Even if you think you have nothing worth inheriting, this is often not the case.

"Whatever stage of life you're at, a will offers peace of mind and ensures that your money, property and other possessions go to the right place.

"Giving money to charity in your will can be a tax efficient way to pass your money on."

More than 2,070 people across the UK were surveyed.

Here are the percentages of people with a will, according to Which? Legal:

- South West, 47 per cent

- Northern Ireland, 47 per cent

- Eastern England, 44 per cent

- East Midlands, 44 per cent

- South East, 40 per cent

- North East, 36 per cent

- North West, 36 per cent

- Wales, 35 per cent

- West Midlands, 35 per cent

- Yorkshire and Humberside, 34 per cent

- Scotland, 31 per cent

- London, 31 per cent