I'm 27 and I've already written my will - here's why

Writing a will is probably not on the to-do lists of most 27-year-olds.

But Erin Atkinson has already decided what should happen to her money and belongings when she dies.

"At first it felt quite surreal because you associate wills with older people," she says.

Erin works in psychological research at a London university and moved to the capital from Bristol four years ago.

She now rents and, although she did not want to share her exact salary, does not see herself as particularly wealthy. Even so, she has already decided where some of her things should go.

Her £7,000 car will go to her sister. A gold necklace given to her by her partner will go back to him. And she has asked for some of her money to go to a cause that matters deeply to her.

"One thing that's close to my heart is an endometriosis charity," she says.

"It felt really empowering that I could have that written down to say I want X amount donated."

The 2025 National Wills Report found that just one in five 18 to 24-year-olds has a will in place. That rises to 33% of 22 to 34-year-olds, compared with 56% of people aged over 55.

Writing a will can seem daunting and expensive. But there are ways to get one written for free or at a lower cost.

For example, every November, Will Aid, external works with solicitors who volunteer their time and waive their fee for writing a basic will.

Members of a trade union may also benefit from a free will writing service, according to Citizens Advice., external

For many young people, making a will may not seem necessary, particularly if they feel they have little to leave behind.

Sophia Maslin, founder of Morby, a website that allows people to create wills online, says the idea that you need to own a lot before making a will is one of the biggest misconceptions she comes across.

"People believe they don't own enough. But actually, if you've got some sort of savings, investments, pensions, your social media accounts, if you've got pets, even funeral wishes, these are all things to think about," she says.

For Erin, the idea of making a will first came up when her friend bought a home.

Then she began seeing Maslin talking about wills on TikTok. Maslin had shared the story of her cousin, who died young without a will, and how complicated things became for her family.