Does Your Will Need an MOT?

Why Your Will Deserves a Regular Check-Up – Just Like Your Car. We all know the drill: a new car doesn't need an MOT for its first three years. But after that, it’s checked annually to ensure it’s still roadworthy. Now, imagine if we took the same approach with our Wills. Most people write a Will and assume the job is done — filed away, forgotten. But the reality is, just like a car, your Will can become out of date, less effective, or even unfit for purpose if left unchecked for too long. That’s where a Will MOT comes in.

What Is a Will MOT?

Think of it as a structured review to make sure your Will is:

• Legally valid
• Up-to-date with your needs and wishes
• Tax-efficient under the current rules
• Aligned with any major life or family changes

Just like an MOT for your car, your Will can come out of the review with one of three outcomes:

✅ PASS: Your Will Is Good to Go

A pass means your Will is still perfectly suited to your current life. It:

• Reflects your up-to-date needs and wishes
• Names living and capable executors
• Covers all your assets
• Complies with current law
• Makes good use of available inheritance tax allowances (like the RNRB)
• Covers all beneficiaries and has a backup plan
• You can find and access the original version for free

If that’s the case, great – no action needed, but make a note to check again in 12 months or after any significant life changes. Just like the Government MOT reminder, you can ask to be on our reminder service and set the frequency from 1-3 years. We will send a checklist and reminder, including changes to HMRC and Estate Planning Law that you may not have been aware of. You do not need to be a Fern Wills & LPAs client to use this free service.

🟠 ADVISORY: Still Valid, But Needs Attention Soon

Just like when your car’s tyres are wearing thin or your brake pads are nearing the limit, some issues don’t make your Will invalid, but they’re warning signs.

Examples of Will Advisories:

• You’ve moved house 
• You’d like to change your executors or guardians
• You’ve started a new relationship but aren’t married
• Your children are now adults – perhaps it’s time to alter age-based restrictions
• Your financial situation has changed significantly
• You've made lifetime gifts or loans not reflected in the Will
• A beneficiary’s circumstances have changed (e.g. disability, bankruptcy, or potential divorce)
• You’ve acquired new assets not specifically mentioned 
• Your assets are over the Inheritance tax threshold without a suitable plan
• You are considering changing marital status in the next three years
• You don't have an electronic and paper copy within easy access

These may not cause a failure, but they’re signs your Will isn’t as effective or reflective of your wishes as it should be.

❌ FAIL: Your Will Is No Longer Fit for Purpose

If your Will falls into this category, it may not work at all — or worse, it might lead to unintended consequences, family disputes, or unnecessary tax bills.

Common Reasons for Will Failures:

• An executor has died or lost capacity – and there’s no replacement
• A beneficiary has died – and no substitute is named
• You’ve married or entered a civil partnership – this revokes most Wills
• You’ve divorced/ divorcing or separated – this affects your spouse’s role and inheritance
• You now have children or grandchildren not included in the Will
• The Will was never properly signed or witnessed
• The Will doesn’t deal with your estate effectively (e.g. it excludes your house or savings)
• The people you’ve left things to are no longer part of your life
• Either no guardians or a change of guardians for children under 18.
• You don't understand it
• You can't find it

In these cases, your Will may no longer be legally valid, or could result in an entirely different outcome from what you intended.

🛠️ When Should You Book Your Will MOT?

• After major life events – marriage, divorce, new children, bereavement, house moves
• After financial changes – buying/selling property, changes in business ownership, inheritance
• Changes in number and ages of children/ grandchildren 
• Every 3-5 years at minimum – even if nothing significant has changed

🚗 Conclusion: Don’t Wait for a Breakdown

No one would put their family in a car they had had not been checked for five years. So why do that with something as important as your Will? A Will MOT gives you peace of mind that your final wishes will be honoured, your loved ones protected, and your estate managed as efficiently as possible. Whether it passes, has advisories, or fails — knowing is better than gambling/ guessing.

🧰 How We Can Help

We offer a free Will MOT — even if we didn’t write your original Will. It’s quick, straightforward, and gives you the peace of mind that everything is still in good order. You’ll always receive an honest and impartial opinion.

If your Will still meets your needs, I’ll say so — no pressure, no unnecessary changes. And if it does need updating, I’ll explain precisely why, and provide a clear, written, fixed quote upfront before doing any work. You’ll always be in control. Ready to check if your Will is still roadworthy?

Contact us today to book your Will MOT or subscribe to our reminder service.

🛡️ Don't Forget the Insurance

When you're checking your Will is roadworthy, don't forget about the insurance. After all, even the safest car needs cover — and so does your most important document. By choosing to store your Will with us professionally, it will automatically be insured for up to £2 million against loss, damage, or legal costs arising from accidental destruction or misplacement. This protects both your wishes and your loved ones from costly disputes or delays.

We can store and insure Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney prepared elsewhere — giving you extra peace of mind, no matter where they came from. Because being truly life-worthy means more than just passing the MOT — it means making sure you're covered if something goes wrong.

🔧 Servicing Your LPAs

A good Will makes sure your wishes are followed after death — but what about during life, if you ever lose the ability to make decisions? That’s where Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) come in — and just like your Will, they need regular checks to stay in good working order. Think of them as your long-term insurance and servicing plan. If your attorneys have changed, someone’s moved away, or your wishes around healthcare have evolved, it might be time for an LPA Service.

➡️ Read our guide to giving your LPAs a proper Service →

🚗 Not All Wills Are Built the Same. What will do I need?   

Whether your budget is more Fiat Panda or Rolls-Royce, the key is making sure your Will matches your needs. A straightforward, standard will might be perfectly suitable — like a trusty little Fiat Panda: simple, reliable, and gets the job done. But if your situation involves property, inheritance tax, unmarried couples or a blended family, you may need something more sophisticated under the bonnet. What you don’t want is to pay Rolls-Royce prices for something you could have got for less, or cut corners with a bargain-bin Will when your family needed the reliability and quality of a Mercedes-Benz. Even if a standard Will is right for you, make sure it's legally sound and fit for purpose. After all, you're putting your life's assets — and your loved ones’ future — in it.