The NCC has issued a warning to the Government and UK consumers about a looming wills time bomb, after its research revealed that more than 27 million people in England and Wales do not have a will. It also found that 83 per cent of cohabiting couples have not made a will. Such couples are at most risk of losing property, personal belongings and cash if their partner dies without leaving a will, as current inheritance laws do little to protect new family structures, according to the NCC.

NCC spokesperson Steve Brooker said, ‘Dying without leaving a will can leave all sorts of headaches for those left behind. It can create family feuds and leave relatives short of their inheritance.

‘One million people have already fallen through the safety net provided by the inheritance laws, or know someone who has. With family structures changing, Government and business must act now before millions more suffer.’