Lack of communication fuelling step-family inheritance disputes, as 80% of UK adults say their family don’t know their wishes for when they die

May 12, 2026

Lack of estate planning and communication within families is fuelling a significant rise in inheritance disputes, with blended families at most risk of conflict, according to research from STEP, the professional body for trust and estate practitioners.

Forty one per cent of practitioners surveyed by STEP have seen an increase in disputes within blended step families, with 71% agreeing that more complex blended families are the leading cause of legal or planning challenges to business succession or inheritance. Conflict between children or stepchildren and a surviving parent or stepparent is the most common source of friction in disputes according to 68% of practitioners, followed by unequal treatment of siblings (37%) and conflict between children and stepchildren (27%).

STEP’s research also found that trust and estate practitioners are increasingly providing mediation and other services alongside their legal advice, to help families resolve issues and avoid long and costly disputes that can permanently damage family relationships. More details can be found in the STEP Barometer 2026: Global trends in family wealth and succession planning.

In further independent research commissioned by STEP, 80% of UK adults surveyed say their family are not aware of their wishes for when they die. This suggests that as many as 44 million UK adults may not have communicated their wishes, while an estimated 35% – around 19 million people – do not currently have a will. Only 16% of UK adults have spoken to their loved ones about their will and wishes after their death, and where to find their will. Around 3.5 million people in the UK, 7% of respondents, say they will be seeking advice on will or inheritance disputes within the next 18 months.

One in ten people have already fallen out with family members over money and inheritance issues and 8%, an estimated 4 million people, say they would definitely dispute a will if they felt they had been unfairly excluded. Among those without a will, an estimated 600,000 people say they haven’t created a will as they are worried that having one will cause family arguments, so are leaving it to their family members to sort it out when they are dead.

Independent research from STEP also found:

35% of people in the UK do not have a will, with people aged 45-54 (50%) and 55-64 (41%) the least likely to have a will.
16% of people who do have a will have not updated it in more than five years.
Divorced people are least likely to have a will, with 44% saying they do not have a will compared to 28% of people who are married. And, an estimated 41% of people who are cohabiting/living with a partner do not have a will.

30% of parents with children who are 18 and under do not have a will – increasing to 39% among those with children aged 18 and over.
24% of people with step-children do not have a will^[1].
Only 15% of parents with children aged 18 and under have nominated guardians for their children in their will.
26% of homeowners^[2] do not have a will and 12% of people with assets £500,000 and above do not have a will, including 11% of people with assets worth £1 million and above.

Emily Deane TEP, Technical Counsel & Head of Government Affairs at STEP, said: ‘Many people are still under the assumption that their assets will go automatically to their loved ones, but this isn’t always the case, especially within blended families where there are children from different relationships. A cohabitating partner, children and stepchildren from a previous marriage or civil partnership may be excluded from inheritance even if it was your intention that they would be provided for. Unfortunately, people don’t always realise the unintended financial, emotional and legal consequences of not having a will, or one that is out-of-date until it is too late, and their family is left to pick up the pieces.’

Emily Deane TEP continues: ‘The best way to make sure your wishes are followed, and avoid future conflict and disputes, is to plan carefully and communicate. Having open, honest conversations even if they are difficult will help to manage inheritance expectations, and provide an opportunity to resolve issues and put in place the right planning to balance the needs of your surviving partner and all your children. Get your will and any trusts drafted by a qualified practitioner and keep them up-to-date. Under current intestacy rules in England and Wales, if a person remarries or enters a new civil partnership, an existing will is automatically revoked.’

Further research independently commissioned by STEP has found that 23% of people intend to pass on an inheritance, 14% of UK adults are already in receipt of an inheritance, and 10%, an estimated 5.5 million people, expect to receive a significant inheritance in their lifetime.

According to more than three quarters (77%) of practitioners surveyed by STEP, the Great Wealth Transfer of trillions of dollars among high-net-worth (HNW) families is happening, with wealth being passed on to younger generations, which is also having an impact on increasing disputes.

Nina Sperring TEP, STEP member and Partner at Price Slater Gawne: ‘Most of the difficult situations we encounter could have been prevented with careful legal planning and honest conversations. Avoiding discussions about death or money rarely offers families the protection they hope for and can instead create uncertainty, misunderstanding or dispute later on. Blended families can be particularly vulnerable, as they often involve informal assurances and assumptions formed many years earlier. Without clear planning and open communication, children from previous relationships may feel overlooked, while surviving partners or spouses may expect priority or security that conflicts with the expectations of other family members.’

People can find a qualified STEP member who is a TEP, through the STEP website https://advisingfamilies.org/uk Full STEP members, recognised by the letters ‘TEP’ (Trust and Estate Practitioner) after their name, are internationally recognised as experts in inheritance and succession planning, with proven qualifications and experience.

¹ Net of 18% (parents with step-children aged 18 and below) and 21% (parents with step-children aged 18 and above) combined (accounting for any potential double counting).

² 23% (own a house outright) and 30% (own with a mortgage) combined (accounting for any potential double counting).