Money stat showing 53% of Brits don't have 1 key document - how to get it for free

If you've ever thought, "I'll get around to writing my will one day", this is a nudge to make that day soon. Britons are being urged to take one "powerful" inheritance step to protect their family legacies after a Government crackdown on fraudsters targeting unclaimed estates. The so-called 'Bona Vacantia' list - a public record of estates belonging to people who died without a will - has been pulled offline. The move follows a BBC investigation during the summer, which revealed that scammers were making bogus claims to nab money that wasn't theirs.

For years, the list has helped councils and professional "heir hunters" trace relatives of those who die intestate - the legal term for dying without a will. But with the database gone, experts warn that some estates could now sit in limbo, possibly forever, instead of reaching the rightful families. Simonne Llewellyn, chief executive of probate firm Finders International, described will writing as the most "powerful" way to sidestep this problem.

She said: "The message is clear: don't give fraudsters the chance. Make a will, protect your inheritance, and make sure your loved ones - not conmen - benefit when the time comes."

More than half of UK adults (53%) don't have a will, according to the Money and Pensions Service. That's a startling statistic, considering the financial and emotional headaches that can follow an intestate death - from delays and legal wrangling to unexpected tax bills and family fallouts.

The good news is that writing a will doesn't have to cost the earth. Every March and October, "Free Wills Month" offers over 55s the chance to draw up a will for free through charities like Age UK and Macmillan Cancer Support. You're not obliged to leave a gift to charity, but many do as a way of giving back.

There's also a "Will Aid Month", which runs in November. This scheme gives people of all ages another opportunity to have a will written by a solicitor in exchange for a voluntary donation. Visit willaid.org.uk and follow the steps to book some time with a solicitor. They'll write a basic will, waive their usual fee, and then invite you to make an upfront donation to Will Aid.

Outside of these schemes, solicitors typically charge between £100 to £300 for a simple will, which is still a small price to pay for a piece of mind. DIY kits may seem tempting, but one badly worded clause could cause confusion, disputes, or even render the will invalid.

So, whether you're newly married, divorced, widowed, or you've just bought a new home, take half an hour to get your finances in order and secure that piece of mind.

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DEAL OF THE WEEK

Morrisons is selling one-litre bottles of Baileys for a bargain £11 until Sunday [November 2]. Usually going for around £22.50, you can bag the half price festive favourite in store or online. Just one can be purchased at this price per customer.

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If there are any empty or derelict residential properties in your area, report it and you could earn up to £10,000. The website YouSpotProperty.com rewards people for flagging abandoned or rundown homes in England and parts of Wales.

It offers a £20 voucher for qualifying properties and, if the property is later bought, you get 1% of the purchase price (capped at £10,000). Better still, the company donates £500 to a local charity in the same borough as the property. The scheme, which is part community project, part cash incentive, can really help to transform neglected corners of Britain.

Laura O'Connor, 47, from Birmingham who had some success with the website, said: "It was actually my partner who spotted [the house]. He was out walking the dog when he passed a mid-terrace house that looked incredibly unloved - overgrown garden, completely unkept."

The couple sent in the details and were soon rewarded with a £20 M&S voucher. Then, three years later came a very welcome call. YouSpotProperty had completed the purchase of the house for £190,000, earning Ms O'Connor a nice £1,900 windfall.

The home had been vacant for years. The owner was a woman who was struggling with her mental health and had been unable to return. Over time, it became a magnet for vandalism and even squatters. But cases like this show how local eyes can spark a positive change. Derelict houses drag down neighbourhoods and more people than ever need places to live.

To date, YouSpotProperty says it's paid out more than £1million in rewards. So if there's a forgotten house on your street, don't just walk past it. Head to YouSpotProperty.com, fill in the "report a property" form, and let them take it from there.