But our survey also revealed that a significant minority have included gifts that can’t pass through their will.
If your will includes something it shouldn’t, it may not work as you intended and could lead to delays, disputes or challenges.
Here, we explore five things that can't pass through your will and explain what to do if your will contains something it shouldn’t.
1. Your pension
When we surveyed 991 Which? Connect members who currently have a will in October 2026, a quarter said they’ve included instructions for who should receive their pension.
But your pension provider or trustees ultimately decide who receives it, so including it in your will has no effect.
Instead, contact your pension provider and complete an expression of wishes form to let them know who you want to receive it.
While your pension provider has the final say, they will try to act in line with your interests. Having an up-to-date expression of wishes is the best way to ensure your pension is passed on in line with your wishes.
Find out more:2. Jointly owned assets
Four in ten Which? Members with a will said theirs includes jointly owned assets.
But assets that are jointly owned (or 'jointly owned with a survivorship' in Scotland) will automatically pass to the surviving owner via the right of survivorship, meaning they can’t be passed on via your will.
The only other exception is a clear, documented understanding that there was no intention to share the jointly owned assets.
Which? lawyer James Buchan says that trying to leave jointly owned assets to someone else in your will can cause a world of problems. It could raise the question of whether you intended to share the assets or open the door to disputes.
3. Passwords and sensitive information
You should also be careful about sharing passwords with your executor through other means.
The Law Society highlights that under the UK's Computer Misuse Act, it’s an offence to access an online account after someone’s death without authority from the service provider.
Instead, it recommends reviewing your accounts' terms of service to work out what you need to do to ensure your loved ones can access your account.
For example, Google, Apple and Meta all let you nominate people who can access your data after you’ve died.
Find out more:4. Gifts to pets
Only a handful of people in our survey said they left gifts to pets in their will (1%), but animals can’t legally own money or property, so any gifts to them will automatically fail.
However, you can make provisions for your pets' care in your will.
Domesticated pets are treated as property under English and Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish law, so you can include instructions for who you would like to look after them in your will.
It’s a good idea to discuss it with the person first and make sure they’re happy to take on the responsibility, as they won’t be legally obliged to look after your pet.
You can also gift that person a sum of money to help cover the costs, although you can’t mandate that it's used for the animal.
5. Gifts with complicated conditions attached
It’s quite common to make a gift dependent on, say, your beneficiary reaching the age of 18.
But giving gifts with more complex strings attached can cause problems.
Buchan also cautions against including gifts of £0 or making statements as to why someone’s not been included in a will – for example, if there’s been a fallout:
‘Remember, a will is intended to deal with what you want to happen to your assets, not what you don't.
‘If your will is proved, or if there is a challenge, your will becomes a public document. It’s best to make a note of your wishes in a separate letter of wishes, keeping it factual and free from emotion.’
What to do if your will contains something it shouldn't
Which? lawyer, James Buchan, says:'Check your will, and make sure anything specific that you have included can legally pass via your will. I would always say if an asset can't be dealt with via the will, it shouldn't be included.
'You should then ideally make a new will to remove any defective gifts, or at the very least make a note and place it alongside (but not attached to) the will explaining what you have done.'
Find out more: Our research:source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/5-things-not-to-put-in-your-will-and-what-to-do-if-you-have-aMOHo6Z8tloq