I kept my word and finally made a will Yet these are subjects that shouldn't be avoided, and although I might not have a landed estate to divide up as Nigel did (he made a will), I do have children, and naming a guardian for them should the unspeakable happen is a crucial decision. That's why I vowed to get my will done and it's a resolution I have seen through - albeit only just. I'll be honest with you: drawing up our will wasn't the cheeriest of hours Jane, my wife, and I have spent together. Sitting in the grand reading room of the Law Society, Jane Cassell of J C Independent Wills & Probate (jcwillsandprobate.co.uk) asked questions that hammered home mortality to parents of very young children. Uncomfortable subconscious thoughts lingered for a day or two. But the will is now all but drawn up and it is just a question of signing it this week. Why make a will? Making a will is crucial for anyone wanting to protect their family from a huge headache after they die. If you do not draw up a proper will, you risk depriving your spouse or partner of their home, increasing their inheritance tax burden and leaving parts of your estate in the wrong hands. When you die without a will - or "intestate" - the law sets out rules as to who can deal with your estate and what is to happen to the property. Regardless of your wishes, your spouse or registered civil partner will not automatically inherit your entire estate. In England and Wales, if a person is married or in a civil partnership then the surviving partner receives the entire estate, but only if it is worth less than £250,000 in total - and this includes the value of any property. If your estate is more than this, the spouse will get the first £250,000, plus a "life interest" in half of the remainder, and the rest will be shared by any children. If you are married but don't have children, any surviving parents or siblings may be entitled to a portion of your estate. In such cases a surviving spouse gets the first £450,000 plus half the remaining balance, the rest going to any parent or, if they are deceased, to any surviving siblings instead. If you don't have a spouse, your estate will be shared between your children. If there is no spouse and no children, the estate will go to the parents first, then any siblings, then grandparents, then uncles and aunts. If none of these relatives survives you and you haven't made a will, your entire estate will go to the Crown. There is no provision for unmarried partners, who do not have an automatic entitlement to any part of the estate even though you may have been cohabiting before your death. A partner can be disinherited by children or siblings unless you have made provision for him or her in a will. Ms Cassell said: "A will allows you to direct exactly where your estate goes, rather than the lottery of the intestacy rules. Would you prefer to leave your assets to people you care for, or leave it for the law to decide? If you care, you need a will. We have all known of people who did not make a will causing family hardships and additional heartache. If your financial affairs are simple and your estate small, a DIY will might suffice. You can pick up a do-it-yourself will from as little as £10 from supermarkets but some lawyers believe they can create more problems than they solve once probate has started. A will needs to be accurate, unambiguous and comprehensive. It also needs to be updated if there is any change in circumstances - for example, if you divorce or have more children, or if your financial situation changes. Perhaps not surprisingly, many people who opt for the DIY route make basic errors. For example, many name someone in their will but state their name in a way that does not match the intended beneficiary's birth certificate. Ms Cassell warned: "If the fee for your will is ridiculously low, there may be a reason. One reason might be that the company, such as your solicitor, bank or other professional, is expecting to be your executors, and therefore potentially make thousands of pounds on the probate work when you die, even if your family could have dealt with it for you.