Have you started to set up your 2026 estate planning calendar? Is “sort out my will” on your New Year’s resolution list again? You certainly aren’t alone. Estate planning often feels like a daunting mountain to climb, but the view from the top—total peace of mind for you and your family—is worth the effort.
In 2026, the landscape of estate planning is shifting. With frozen tax thresholds and potential changes to how pensions are taxed on the horizon, sitting tight is no longer the safest strategy. To help you tackle this, we’ve broken down the year into manageable chunks, guiding you through the seasons so that by December, your legacy is secure.
Get your 2026 Estate Planning Calendar Underway: January to March
The beginning of the year is naturally the time for a “Big Picture” review. January, with its “New Year, New Me” energy, is the ideal moment to dig out your current Will and ask a simple question: does this document still reflect my life? If you got married, divorced, or welcomed a grandchild in 2025, your old Will might already be invalid or hopelessly outdated.
As you move into February, shift your focus to the “Love & Legacy” check. Specifically, look at your beneficiary nominations on pensions and life insurance policies. Many people don’t realise that these payouts are rarely covered by your Will; they are distributed based on the forms you filled out when you opened the account. Around Valentine’s Day is a fitting time to ensure the people you love are actually the ones named to receive these funds. Finally, March is the time for a “Tax Year Tidy-Up.”
The tax year ends on April 5th, which means you have a limited window to utilise your annual gifting allowances. You can gift up to £3,000 per year tax-free, and if you don’t use it, you can only carry it forward for one year. Missing this deadline means missing a simple chance to lower the value of your estate for tax purposes.
Health & Capacity: April to June
Once Spring settles in, the focus shifts to protecting yourself while you are still alive. April marks the start of the new tax year, making it the perfect time for a financial reset. Calculate the total value of your estate; with house prices shifting and inheritance tax bands frozen until 2030, you might have drifted into the taxable zone without realising it. This baseline calculation is essential for the decisions you make later in the year.
May brings Dementia Action Week, a poignant reminder to tackle the “Voice” month. This is the time to create or register your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). Without an LPA, if you were to lose capacity due to illness or accident, your family would be unable to access your bank accounts or pay your bills without a costly and lengthy court battle.
Following this, use June for the “Family Roundtable.” Talk to the executors and guardians named in your Will. Do they know they have been appointed? Are they still willing to take on the responsibility? This conversation prevents you from leaving your loved ones a surprise burden they may not be equipped to handle.
The Details & Digital Assets: July to September
Summer is often a quieter time for admin, making it perfect for the devil in the detail. July should be dedicated to a “Digital Clean-Up.”
Create a Digital Legacy file that lists your online accounts, subscriptions, and crypto-assets. Without passwords or permission, your family may never recover photos or funds stored in the cloud. In August, write a “Letter of Wishes” to accompany your Will. This document covers personal items—who gets the cat, the jewellery, or the record collection. It’s a small step that prevents huge family feuds over sentimental items that have no monetary value but immense emotional worth.
As autumn approaches, September acts as a “Second New Year.” Use this time to review your Pension Death Benefits, especially as new regulations often come into discussion around this time. With potential changes to pension taxation looming on the horizon for 2027, getting your strategy in place now is vital.
Finalising & Storing: October to December
The final quarter of the year is about locking everything down. October is the time for a professional review. If your estate is complex—perhaps you own a business or have a blended family—use this month to see a specialist. Free Wills Month often runs a second leg in October, offering a final call to get professional drafts done before the holiday rush.
In November, during Talk Money Week, break the taboo and tell your family where your documents are stored. A Will hidden in a safety deposit box that no one can open is useless.
Finally, December is for the “Gift of Organization.” Consolidate everything into one “In Case of Emergency” folder. The greatest gift you can give your family is the ability to grieve without panic. Knowing everything is sorted allows you to enjoy the festive season truly worry-free
Your 2026 Action Checklist
Print this table and tick items off as you go.
Activity | Deadline | Why is this critical? |
Review Existing Will | Jan 31st | Life changes (marriage, births) can auto-revoke or outdated Wills. |
Check Pension Nominations | Feb 28th | Pensions fall outside your Will; providers need up-to-date names. |
Use Annual Gift Allowance | Apr 5th | Use your £3,000 tax-free gifting allowance or lose it. |
Calculate Estate Value | Apr 30th | Know if you are liable for Inheritance Tax (frozen thresholds affect more people now). |
Register LPAs | May 31st | Dementia Action Week: Protects you if you lose mental capacity. |
Confirm Guardians/Executors | Jun 30th | Ensure your chosen people are still willing and able to act. |
Digital Legacy Plan | Jul 31st | Ensures access to online banking, photos, and social media. |
Letter of Wishes | Aug 31st | Prevents arguments over sentimental items (jewellery, pets). |
Pension IHT Strategy | Sep 30th | Prepare for upcoming government changes to pension taxation. |
Locate & Store Documents | Nov 30th | Talk Money Week: Ensure family knows where the Will is. |
The "What If I Don't?" (Risks of Inaction)
It is easy to push estate planning to the bottom of the pile—it’s administrative, it’s emotional, and it feels like something that can wait. But the reality of 2026 is that the risks of inaction are higher than ever.
- The State Decides (Intestacy Rules)
If you die without a Will, you die “intestate.” This means the law, not you, decides who gets your assets. The rules are rigid and often unfair by modern standards. Unmarried partners, no matter how long they have been together, often get absolutely nothing. Step-children, who you may have raised as your own, also get nothing. This can lead to heartbreaking scenarios where a grieving partner is forced to sell the family home to pay off distant relatives.
- Frozen Assets & The Court of Protection
Many people assume their spouse can automatically access their bank accounts if they fall ill. This is a dangerous myth. If you have a stroke, an accident, or develop dementia and lose mental capacity without a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA), your assets are frozen. Your partner cannot access joint accounts, refinance the mortgage, or pay for your care. They must apply to the Court of Protection to be appointed as your deputy. This process is stressful, invasive, can take many months, and costs thousands of pounds in legal fees—money that should be used for your care.
- The Tax Trap
The government has frozen Inheritance Tax thresholds until 2030. In plain English, this means as your house price rises and your savings grow with inflation, you are silently drifting into a tax bracket where the government takes 40% of everything above the threshold. Without active planning—such as utilising gifting allowances or setting up trusts—you are voluntarily handing over a significant portion of your children’s inheritance to HMRC.
- Family Conflict & Broken Relationships
Ambiguity breeds resentment. The majority of contested probates arise not because of malice, but because wishes were not written down or were ambiguous. A simple “Letter of Wishes” can prevent a lifelong feud between siblings over who gets Mum’s wedding ring or Dad’s vintage car. By failing to plan, you are inadvertently leaving behind a legacy of conflict rather than care.
The Benefits: Why Action Matters
Taking action isn’t just about avoiding disaster; it’s about creating a positive legacy.
- For YOU: You get to live the rest of 2026 with a profound “weight off your shoulders.” You can travel, work, and live knowing that whatever happens, you have had the final say. You remain in control of your destiny, even if you lose your voice.
- For YOUR PARTNER: You provide them with immediate access to funds and security in the family home. Instead of fighting legal battles while grieving, they are protected and supported.
- For YOUR CHILDREN: You gift them a smoother, faster probate process. Instead of spending months chasing paperwork, arguing with banks, and fighting courts, they can focus on supporting each other and celebrating your life.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. If you have any assets (like a car or savings), a partner, or children, you need a Will. Unexpected events happen, and a Will is the only way to appoint guardians for your children. Without one, the courts will decide who raises them.
You can, but it is risky. “DIY Wills” are frequently rejected by the courts due to incorrect wording or witnessing errors. A tiny mistake can render the whole document invalid, leaving your estate to be treated as if you never wrote a Will at all.
A Will protects your assets and wishes after you die. An LPA (Lasting Power of Attorney) protects you while you are alive but unable to make decisions (due to coma, dementia, or illness). You need both for complete protection.
Likely not. Marriage automatically revokes a Will in England and Wales (unless drafted specifically in contemplation of that marriage). Divorce doesn’t revoke a Will, but it treats the ex-spouse as if they had died. Changes in tax law and family circumstances (grandchildren, deaths, new assets) usually mean a 10-year-old Will requires a serious update.
Currently, the standard rate is 40% on anything above your tax-free threshold (usually £325,000, or up to £500,000 if leaving a home to children/grandchildren). However, there are many reliefs and allowances available that can reduce this bill to zero if you plan correctly.
