The coronavirus pandemic has led to a sharp increase in the number of younger people preparing wills, according to new research from Farewill.

The will writer and death specialist revealed that the number of under-35s making wills in April 2020 – in the midst of lockdown – was 12 times higher than it was in December 2019.

From April to July, a further 5,000 people under the age of 35 arranged a will with Farewill.

As part of the trend, increasing numbers of young people are also choosing to leave a charitable donation in their will, with under-35s leaving an average of almost £25,000 as a legacy gift. The total that under-35s have pledged in legacy income through the Farewill platform in 2020 is around £28m – almost a quarter of the yearly total.

“Young people have grown up online, and the internet gives them a platform to talk openly about every topic imaginable – including those that were previously taboo, like death,” said Farewill CEO and co-founder, Dan Garrett. 

“Traditionally, planning for it involved costly, face-to-face appointments with solicitors and funeral directors. It was long-winded and expensive – but customer expectations have changed. People want cheaper, beautifully designed, digital-first experiences – and that’s exactly what we provide at Farewill.

“It makes total sense that with these two things coming together, we see behaviour change. The pandemic is only accelerating the shift, and it’s encouraging that more young people are planning and thinking ahead. It’s not only responsible, it’s actually really healthy.”

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