High-profile stories featuring estates, inheritance disputes, or the consequences of dying without a Will often make the headlines. However, these can also serve as a powerful reminder that proper estate planning is not just for the famous or very wealthy, or something that can be left until later. Putting your affairs in order, correctly, is something that matters for all of us, regardless of the size of your estate.
In this blog, our private client team looks at two very different cases that highlight just how much can go wrong when a Will is either absent or not professionally drafted. Both cases are worth understanding, not only because they generated significant public interest, but because they illustrate very real legal risks that affect the average family every day.
Sean Hughes – A Handwritten Will That Created a Decade of Uncertainty
The case of comedian Sean Hughes highlights the importance of using an experienced, professional Will writer, regardless of who you are leaving your estate to. Sean sadly died in 2017 at the age of 51, having left a homemade Will expressing his intention to leave his three North London properties, valued at approximately £4 million, to the homelessness charity Shelter, a cause he was extremely passionate about during his lifetime.
Although his intentions were seemingly clear, the way his Will was written was not legally precise. His use of an online platform to draft it without legal assistance included vague wording, one of the main reasons it ended up before the High Court. His Will referred to a specific bequest of “my three houses to Shelter”, but only one of those properties was actually held in his own name. The other two were through a company of which he was the only shareholder, a different legal structure entirely, and one that the Will’s wording did not address.
Despite Sean’s family agreeing that the company’s shares, and therefore the properties, should go to Shelter, the result was nearly a decade of legal proceedings, with the High Court having to determine the correct interpretation of the Will’s wording. Ultimately, it was recently concluded that “the correct construction of the will” was that the shares pass to Shelter, but only after years of uncertainty and delay for the intended beneficiaries. Something that could otherwise have been avoided by using a qualified, experienced professional to draft the Will. Sean’s charitable intentions were eventually honoured, but the journey to get there was far more complicated and protracted than it should ever have been.
Source – Read the full story published by The Independent here: Comedian Sean Hughes’ £4m estate given to charity after decade-long will saga.
For related information, read our previous blog, ‘Five Reasons Why You Should Use a Solicitor to Write Your Will’
Liam Payne – Dying Without a Will
When the news broke that Liam Payne, the former One Direction singer, tragically died in October 2024, it was also reported that he did not have a Will. His estate was estimated to be worth over £28 million, and after debts and expenses were deducted, the net value was just over £24 million. However, with no Will in place, the distribution of the estate was not distributed according to Liam’s known wishes, because, legally, there were no wishes on record. Instead, the estate was distributed according to the rules of intestacy.
In England and Wales, the rules of intestacy set out a strict order of priority for who inherits when someone dies without a Will. Under those rules, the estate of an unmarried person with a surviving child passes entirely to that child. In the case of Liam Payne, that means his young son, Bear, is the primary beneficiary. Bear’s mother (Liam’s former partner) and a lawyer have been named as administrators of the estate to manage the money on Bear’s behalf until he is old enough to inherit.
Source: BBC News – Liam Payne left £24m fortune.
At first glance, that may seem like the right outcome and may well have been what Liam would have wanted. But intestacy offers no nuance. It cannot reflect a more complex set of personal wishes, make provision for close friends, other family members, or charitable causes that may have been meaningful to the person who has died. Furthermore, intestacy rules cannot account for timing, age, or the practicalities of how and when assets should be passed on. It simply applies a fixed legal formula, regardless of individual circumstances or suitability.
For many families, the result of intestacy is not straightforward at all; it can lead to outcomes that the deceased would never have intended, and that cause real distress, delays, and financial difficulty for those left behind.
Read our previous blog, ‘What Happens if You Die Without a Will?’, for further information.
What You Can Learn from These Cases
These two stories sit at opposite ends of the same spectrum. One person left no Will, while the other left a Will but did not have it professionally drafted with legal precision. In both cases, the consequences were significant, either for the person’s ability to control what happened to their estate or for the time, cost, and uncertainty faced by those tasked with dealing with it.
The lesson is not simply “make a Will”, but “make a Will properly, with the help of a qualified, regulated, professional”.
A professionally drafted Will does far more than simply record who you want to receive what. It takes into account how your assets are actually held, whether in your own name, jointly with another person, or through a company or trust structure. A correctly drafted Will uses clear, legally tested language that reduces the risk of ambiguity, and comes with the advice of a regulated professional who can help you understand the implications of your gifts. It considers inheritance tax planning, the needs of vulnerable beneficiaries, and what should happen in a range of circumstances. A Will is then witnessed and executed correctly, so it is valid from the moment it is signed.
A homemade Will, one that is made using DIY services, or no Will at all, leaves all of that to chance.
How Bookers & Bolton Can Help
Our private client team, led by Emma Bell, Solicitor and Head of Private Client, works with individuals and families across Hampshire to help them put in place the right legal arrangements for their future. We offer straightforward advice and take the time to understand your personal circumstances before making any recommendations. Whether you need to make a Will for the first time, review an existing one, or explore broader estate planning options, including Lasting Powers of Attorney and Trusts, we are here to help. You can find more useful information in our Life Planning brochure.
For legal advice from our experienced Wills team, please contact us on 01420 558335, email us at enquiries@bookersandbolton.co.uk or make an online enquiry here.
Free Wills in May – Supporting St Michael’s Hospice
During May 2026, Bookers & Bolton are taking part in a Wills Month campaign in support of St Michael’s Hospice.
For the whole of May 2026, we are offering a limited number of standard single and mirror Wills to new and existing clients. We waive our fee entirely. In return, clients make a donation directly to St Michael’s Hospice for the equivalent amount. We donate our time; you donate to a charity that makes a real difference to people across North Hampshire.
Appointments are available now, so there is no need to wait until May to get in touch.
Find out more about this offer, by reading our previous blog, ‘Free Wills in May: How Bookers & Bolton Are Supporting St Michael’s Hospice’.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you require advice tailored to your individual circumstances, please contact our solicitors directly.
