Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used for all aspects of everyday life. From information gathering to shopping, enhancing efficiency in the workplace to streaming your favourite shows, AI is playing a greater role in our lives.
Small surprise then, that MoneySuperMarket revealed research that found 72% of people in their thirties have considered using AI to write their wills. Furthermore, just over half (52%) of wills in the UK have been drafted by a legal professional.
While creating a DIY will, or using AI to write one, may seem quicker and more cost-effective, it could cause serious complications for your loved ones when you die. As such, you need to be extremely careful if you’re thinking about creating a DIY or AI generated will.
Read on to discover why this is, and why using a legal professional is often the better option. Before we do, however, let’s look at what could happen to your estate if your will is deemed invalid.
Your estate becomes subject to the intestacy rules
If your will has a mistake, it’s highly likely that your estate will be administered under the ‘rules of intestacy’. This means your assets will be distributed among living relatives using a set order of priority, regardless of whether you would want your wealth to go to them or not.
This might mean, for example, your money goes to an estranged relative instead of someone you’re close to. Worse still, if you live with someone but are not married to them or in a civil partnership, they won’t receive anything as they’ll be classed as ‘non-family’ under intestacy rules.
In addition to this, the person who is authorised to deal with your estate will be appointed by a court of law, meaning they may not be the person you would have chosen.
Dealing with an estate that’s intestate can also take longer and be more expensive, meaning more stress for your loved ones at an already difficult time.
As you can see, ensuring your will is fit for purpose is extremely important, which is why creating one by yourself or using AI could be dangerous. Let’s now look at three reasons a DIY or AI generated will could cost your loved ones dearly later on.
1. Your wishes may not be carried out if a mistake is made
While AI has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years, it’s still not foolproof. Even if your AI generated will is correctly witnessed and considered legally binding, it could contain mistakes which would invalidate your will.
This is also true with DIY wills, which could also contain mistakes or errors, meaning your wishes may not be followed when the time comes. The risk of this happening could be increased if you have a complicated estate or are in a blended family.
The latter is where two people and their children from previous relationships live together, whether married, in a civil partnership, or unmarried.
2. Unclear language could spark a dispute
If you unintentionally use ambiguous or poor wording when drafting your DIY or AI generated will, it could cause confusion and challenges for your executors and beneficiaries. This could happen if, for instance, you’re divorced and remarried and have children from both spouses. In this situation it’s essential to state clearly whether children from your previous marriage are to be included and how much you want to leave for each child.
While you may assume AI would use clear language, this may not be the case. Consequently, it may be left to the courts to decide how your will should be distributed, which may not be in keeping with your wishes.
Using ambiguous or unclear wording increases the chances of disputes between loved ones, and means your will is more likely to be challenged.
3. Important tax considerations could be missed
Mitigating the amount of Inheritance Tax (IHT) your estate could be liable to is an important part of estate planning. When you consider the tax is usually charged at 40%, reducing your exposure to IHT may mean you can leave significantly more to your loved ones.
However, IHT is complex and there are many rules that are easy to fall foul of with a DIY will. Similarly, AI created wills could overlook IHT planning considerations or use general information that might not be suitable to your circumstances.
As a result, your beneficiaries could face an unexpected tax charge, that could be substantial.
Working with a professional is often the better strategy
As AI and DIY wills are typically ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions, there’s a very good chance they may not be suitable if your estate is complex, or if you live in a blended family. Creating your own will may result in oversights or errors that could create added stress and anxiety for your loved ones when they’re already dealing with loss and grief.
Additionally, it may mean that they receive significantly reduced amounts from your estate, or even worse, nothing at all. Working with a professional who can create a legally accurate, robust and clear will, provides peace of mind that your estate will go to the people you want it to as smoothly and tax efficiently as possible.
Perhaps more importantly, a will that’s produced by a professional is less likely to be challenged, and easier to defend if it is.
Get in touch
As one of the UK’s largest independent financial advice companies, we understand why a good will is key to a good intergenerational wealth plan. This is why our Independent Financial Advisers are qualified estate planners with a deep working knowledge around:
will writing
dealing with probate
mitigating an IHT liability
using trusts to protect wealth.
If you would like to discuss how we may be able to help you, please call us on 0333 010 0008 to arrange a no obligation initial meeting with one of our independent financial advisers.
Join us for our next webinar
As part of our commitment to help make the world of finance more understandable, we’ll be explaining how you could prepare your estate for the ‘Great Wealth Transfer’. Former BBC presenter Mark Foster will join AFH’s Chief Investment Officer, Austin Broad, as well as trusts and estate specialist David Magee.
In what promises to be an informative and engaging conversation, the three will discuss how to:
ensure your assets go to the people you would want them to
provide you with greater control over how your assets are used
protect your wealth for future generations
help reduce your loved ones’ future exposure to Inheritance Tax.
To register for The Great Wealth Transfer: using wills and trusts to protect your assets for your loved ones, taking place at 6pm on Thursday 4 June, simply follow the link.
2 June 2026