You choose the beneficiaries
You can provide for family, an unmarried partner, friends, charities and anyone else you deliberately wish to include.
A major lottery win can change the size and complexity of your estate overnight. An old will may still be legally valid while no longer reflecting the family, assets or decisions you now need to plan for.
A current, properly executed will can set out who inherits, who administers the estate, how younger beneficiaries are provided for and what should happen to property, investments, businesses, charities and personal gifts.
A major lottery winner should review any existing will promptly after the prize has been confirmed.
A new will is not automatically required simply because you won, but the old document may no longer suit a much larger or more complex estate. New property, investments, beneficiaries, charitable plans, trusts and tax considerations can all justify a professionally drafted update.
A will is not simply a list of who gets the money. It is the legal foundation for how the estate should be managed after death.
You can provide for family, an unmarried partner, friends, charities and anyone else you deliberately wish to include.
You choose the people or professionals responsible for identifying assets, settling liabilities and distributing the estate.
A carefully drafted will can use trusts and trustees rather than leaving a large inheritance outright at the earliest legal age.
Parents can record who they want to care for children under 18 if both parents die.
Specific gifts or a share of the estate can be left to causes that matter to the winner.
Clear instructions make it less likely that relatives are left guessing, arguing or relying entirely on intestacy law.
The legal principles are the same, but the practical consequences are much larger.
A winner may acquire several properties, investment portfolios, businesses, overseas assets or trusts. Executors need enough authority and skill to manage them.
The £325,000 nil-rate band and possible residence nil-rate band can be small compared with a multimillion-pound estate. Exemptions and reliefs require careful, individual advice.
Relatives, friends and charities may believe they were promised something. A clear will and accurate records can reduce ambiguity.
Receiving £20,000 at 18 is different from controlling millions. Trustees, access ages and guidance may become central to the plan.
An estate may be valuable but hold much of that value in property or private investments. Executors may need flexibility rather than being forced into quick sales.
The will becomes a public document after probate is granted in England and Wales, so confidential detail is often better placed in a separate letter of wishes where appropriate.
The estate is distributed under intestacy rules. Those rules follow family relationships—not personal promises or assumptions.
The final wording belongs with a qualified solicitor, but these are the issues a winner should expect to discuss.
Who will take legal responsibility for administering the estate?
Who receives specific gifts, cash sums or shares of the remaining estate?
Who should care for children under 18 if both parents die?
Who will manage money held for children or other beneficiaries?
Should beneficiaries receive money at 18, 21, 25 or under a more flexible trust?
How should homes, holiday properties and investment property be treated?
What happens to shares, control and any family or trading business?
Jewellery, vehicles, collections and sentimental belongings can be addressed.
Named charities can receive a fixed gift, percentage or part of the residue.
What happens if an executor or beneficiary dies before the winner?
Good estate planning only works if the will itself is validly made and executed.
The person making the will must normally be at least 18 and have the required testamentary capacity.
The will must reflect the will-maker’s own decisions, without coercion or undue influence.
The will-maker signs or acknowledges the signature in the presence of two witnesses, who must both be present at the same time.
Each witness signs in the will-maker’s presence. The same document must be correctly executed.
A beneficiary, or the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary, should not witness the will because the intended gift can fail.
Do not make informal handwritten alterations after execution. A valid codicil uses the same signing formalities, while major changes are usually better dealt with by a new will.
A will is central, but it does not control every asset in every case. The wider estate plan should review:
Property held as joint tenants may pass automatically to the surviving owner. A tenancy in common is treated differently.
Many pension benefits are distributed under scheme rules, nominations and trustee or administrator decisions rather than by the will itself. Separately, from 6 April 2027 most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will be brought into the estate for Inheritance Tax purposes, with specified exceptions.
These may sit outside the estate and pay to named trustees or beneficiaries.
Property already held in trust is governed by the trust terms, not simply by the winner’s will.
Foreign succession and tax rules may apply. Separate or coordinated wills may be needed.
Access, ownership and provider terms vary. A secure digital record may help executors find what exists.
For many winners, the most important question is not who inherits, but when and under whose supervision.
A parent with parental responsibility can name a testamentary guardian in a will. Whether that appointment takes effect immediately can depend on who else has parental responsibility and any relevant court orders.
Trustees manage money and property held for children. They should be capable, trustworthy and able to work together.
Default arrangements may allow control at 18. A professionally drafted will may provide a later age or a discretionary structure where appropriate.
The trust can be drafted to permit payments for education, housing, health and maintenance before full access.
Disability, addiction, financial vulnerability or means-tested benefits may require specialist trust and benefits advice.
Different needs can justify different arrangements, but decisions should be documented carefully to reduce later disputes.
| Family position | Main issue | Planning discussion |
|---|---|---|
| Married or civil partners | Spouse exemption may apply, but outright inheritance may not achieve the family’s longer-term aims. | Review ownership, tax allowances, children from earlier relationships and what happens on the second death. |
| Unmarried partners | There is no automatic inheritance under intestacy. | A will, property ownership and nominations should clearly protect the intended partner. |
| Second marriage | An outright gift to the new spouse can leave children from an earlier relationship dependent on that spouse’s later decisions. | Consider appropriate trusts or rights of occupation with specialist advice. |
| Separated but not divorced | A spouse may still have legal rights and an existing will may remain relevant. | Obtain urgent legal advice and do not assume separation alone has resolved succession. |
| Blended family | Biological children, adopted children and stepchildren may not be treated identically under default law. | Name intended beneficiaries precisely and consider competing housing and inheritance needs. |
Executors may have to manage millions of pounds, property, investments, tax, businesses, trusts and sensitive family relationships.
They know the winner and family well, but may lack technical experience or become caught in emotional conflict.
A solicitor or trust corporation can add continuity and expertise, but professional fees should be understood in advance.
One trusted person and one professional can combine personal knowledge with technical support, provided they can work together.
Sometimes—but a trust is a legal structure, not a magic shield or automatic tax-saving device.
A trust can delay outright access or let trustees fund education, housing and wellbeing over time.
Specialist trusts may help protect a beneficiary who cannot safely manage a large inheritance.
A trust can sometimes provide for a spouse during life while preserving capital for children later.
Discretionary trusts allow trustees to respond to changing needs, although the winner must choose trustees carefully.
Trusts can have their own tax reporting, charges, costs and administrative burdens.
A non-binding letter may guide trustees without placing every personal detail in the public will.
No. A will can support sensible planning, but it does not make a large estate tax-free.
For the 2026/27 tax year, the standard nil-rate band is £325,000. A residence nil-rate band of up to £175,000 may also be available when a qualifying home passes to direct descendants. The standard Inheritance Tax rate on the taxable part of an estate is 40%.
The residence nil-rate band starts to taper when the net estate exceeds £2 million, reducing by £1 for every £2 above that threshold. Unused nil-rate bands can sometimes transfer between spouses or civil partners, so a qualifying surviving spouse or civil partner may have combined allowances of up to £1 million, but this is not automatic and the residence conditions still matter.
If the relevant charitable-giving test is met, leaving at least 10% of the appropriate net estate component to charity can reduce the Inheritance Tax rate on that component from 40% to 36%.
Review whether the existing will still fits the new scale and complexity of the estate.
This normally revokes an earlier will unless a specific legal exception applies.
Divorce affects provisions for a former spouse, but separation alone may not.
New children, grandchildren, deaths and changing family responsibilities matter.
New homes, overseas property, businesses and large investments can alter the plan.
Large gifts may change fairness between beneficiaries and create tax-record requirements.
Residence, domicile and foreign succession law can create cross-border complexity.
Government guidance recommends reviewing a will every five years and after major life changes. A very large estate may justify more frequent professional review.
| Document | When it operates | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Will | After death | Appoints executors and sets out how the estate should pass. |
| Letter of wishes | Usually after death alongside the will or trust | Gives non-binding guidance to executors or trustees and can hold personal detail more privately. |
| Property and financial affairs LPA | During life, once registered and subject to its terms | Can allow chosen attorneys to deal with money and property. It may be used while the donor still has capacity if the LPA permits this and the donor agrees. |
| Health and welfare LPA | During life when the donor cannot make the relevant decision | Allows chosen attorneys to make specified health and welfare decisions, subject to the authority given in the LPA. |
A document written for a modest estate may not suit multimillion-pound wealth.
Poor identification can create uncertainty, especially in blended or extended families.
The will may not control jointly held assets, pensions, trusts or nominated benefits.
A kind relative is not automatically the right person to administer a complex estate.
Do not simply write amendments onto an executed will. Use a properly executed codicil or, for major changes, make a new will.
Verbal promises are difficult to prove and may contradict the final will.
Direct gifts may be inappropriate for young, vulnerable or financially inexperienced beneficiaries.
Trustees, tax, reporting and costs require proper consideration.
Executors need to know that a valid original exists and where it is held securely.
This is not legal advice. It highlights common gaps to discuss with a solicitor.
Answer the questions and select “Show my planning result”.
No special legal category of lottery will exists. The winner needs a properly drafted will suited to the value, assets, beneficiaries and complexity of the new estate.
Arrange a review promptly after the prize is confirmed, but do not sign a rushed document without understanding it. The will should coordinate with the wider financial and tax plan.
Yes. A solicitor is not required for every will, but the document still has to meet the legal requirements for capacity, signing and witnessing. A multimillion-pound estate, trusts, a blended family, a business or overseas assets are strong reasons to obtain specialist drafting advice.
Marriage or civil partnership generally revokes an existing will in England and Wales unless it was validly made in contemplation of that specific marriage or partnership.
No. Divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership does not usually revoke the whole will in England and Wales. Broadly, provisions appointing or benefiting the former spouse or civil partner are treated as if that person had died, unless the will provides otherwise. The remaining document can therefore operate in a way you did not expect, so review it promptly.
Yes, when the will provides for them or another legal route applies. They do not inherit automatically under intestacy law merely because they lived with the winner.
Yes. A valid will can leave specific gifts or a share of the estate to friends, provided the wording identifies them clearly.
Under intestacy, a child’s entitlement is generally held until 18. A professionally drafted will or trust can use different arrangements where legally appropriate.
Not automatically. A professional executor can help with complexity and neutrality but will charge. Some winners use a trusted individual alongside a professional.
Yes. An executor can also be a beneficiary, although conflicts and family dynamics should be considered.
Not permanently. When probate is required, the original will is submitted to the Probate Registry and becomes a public record. Copies can then be ordered through the probate-records service. Highly personal guidance may therefore be better placed in a separate letter of wishes where suitable.
Yes. Qualifying charitable gifts are generally exempt from Inheritance Tax. Where the statutory charitable-giving test is met, leaving at least 10% of the relevant net estate component to charity can reduce the Inheritance Tax rate on that component from 40% to 36%.
You can record funeral wishes, but practical arrangements may begin before the will is located or read. If the wishes matter to you, tell the people who are likely to arrange the funeral and consider recording the details separately as well.
GOV.UK recommends reviewing a will every five years and after major life changes such as marriage, separation or divorce, having a child, moving house or the death of an executor. A major lottery win is also an obvious point to review whether the document still fits.
Keep it secure with a solicitor, professional storage service or another safe arrangement. Executors should know where the original can be found without being able to alter it.
Potentially. A probate dispute may challenge whether the will was properly executed, whether the will-maker had testamentary capacity, knew and approved its contents, or whether undue influence or fraud was involved. Separately, certain eligible people may be able to make a claim for reasonable financial provision from the estate. Those are different legal issues, so specialist advice is important if a dispute is likely.
No. A will takes effect after death. Lasting powers of attorney are the main documents used in England and Wales to appoint trusted people for specified decisions during life.
Legal and tax wording reviewed: 12 August 2026. This page covers England and Wales.
Government guidance on writing, signing, witnessing, updating and storing a will.
Read GOV.UK guidanceOfficial guidance on codicils, new wills and reviewing a will after major life changes.
Read update guidanceSee who may inherit when somebody dies without a valid will in England and Wales.
Check the official rulesCurrent official information about rates, thresholds, exemptions and estate reporting.
Read HMRC guidanceHMRC guidance on the legislated change bringing most unused pension funds and pension death benefits into the estate for Inheritance Tax from 6 April 2027.
Read the 2027 pension guidanceLearn about property and financial affairs and health and welfare LPAs.
View LPA guidanceOfficial service for searching probate records and ordering copies of wills after probate.
Search probate recordsThe Law Society directory can help locate solicitors by location and area of practice.
Open the directoryA good will is not about expecting the worst. It is about removing uncertainty, protecting the people you care about and ensuring that life-changing wealth follows your decisions rather than default rules.
General information for England and Wales only, reviewed against current law and published tax guidance on 12 August 2026. Wills, trusts, tax and succession outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Obtain advice from an appropriately qualified solicitor and, where appropriate, a tax professional.