---
title: "What does a will not cover?"
description: "Check joint property, pensions, life cover, digital accounts and powers of attorney alongside your will. England and Wales guide."
url: "https://swiftwill.co.uk/what-a-will-does-not-cover/"
author: "Marcus Kaiser"
date_modified: "2026-09-08"
---

# What does a will not cover?

A will does not control every asset or decision. Jointly owned property, pension death benefits and life insurance can follow separate arrangements. A will also does not appoint someone to make decisions for you while you are alive.

> SwiftWill provides legal information and software for England & Wales under Section 9 of the Wills Act 1837. Figures are taken from gov.uk, legislation.gov.uk and HMCTS, checked 12 August 2026. We have not given you legal advice — this is general information.

## Does a will control a jointly owned home?

For beneficial joint tenants, the interest normally passes to the surviving owner automatically. Tenants in common own a share that can be left in a will. Check your ownership before making promises about the home. Do not change ownership simply to fit an online template. [GOV.UK: joint property ownership](https://www.gov.uk/joint-property-ownership).

## What about pensions and life cover?

Ask each pension provider who decides how death benefits are distributed, whether an expression of wish is current and what its rules allow. Life cover may be payable to your estate or under a separate trust or nomination. Read the policy and ask the provider; do not assume wording in a will overrides it. These arrangements also have tax consequences, so get advice where needed.

## Can a will help if you lose capacity?

A will deals with your estate after death. A [lasting power of attorney](/lasting-power-of-attorney/) is separate and can appoint people to make certain decisions during your lifetime. For England and Wales, use [GOV.UK’s lasting power of attorney service and guidance](https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney).

## Will digital accounts and funeral wishes follow automatically?

Online providers have their own account-access and legacy-contact processes. A will is not a password vault or permission to ignore those terms. Keep secure instructions separately. Tell your family about funeral wishes directly because they may need them before the will is read.

## What should you check alongside your will?

| Item | Practical next step | Keep a separate record of |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Joint home | Confirm the form of ownership and get advice if your wishes depend on leaving a share. | Where the title information and any ownership advice are kept. |
| Pension | Ask the scheme to explain death benefits and update the expression of wish where appropriate. | Provider contact details and when you last checked the nomination. |
| Life cover | Ask who receives the policy proceeds and whether a trust or nomination applies. | Where the policy and any trust documents can be found. |
| Lifetime decisions | Consider whether a separate lasting power of attorney fits your needs. | The location of any registered LPA and the appointed people’s contact details. |
| Digital accounts | Use the provider’s legacy or account-access process. | The location of secure instructions, without putting passwords in this checklist. |

## Why can an asset list and a will give different answers?

An asset list records what you own or use. A will records instructions for the estate it can control. For example, someone might list their home and pension together for their executor, while the joint ownership and pension scheme rules determine how those particular assets pass. Keeping all three records consistent means checking the will, ownership arrangements and provider instructions separately.

Use the [free executor handover](/executor-handover/) to record where information is kept, and the [will planner](/tools/will-planner/) to organise your next steps. This page is general information for England and Wales.

## Frequently asked questions

### Can my will leave my share of a jointly owned home?

It depends on ownership. A joint tenant’s interest normally passes to the survivor. A tenant in common can leave their share in a will. Check the title and obtain advice before changing ownership.

### Does naming someone in my will update my pension nomination?

No. Ask the pension provider how death benefits are paid and how to update your expression of wish. The scheme rules determine the effect of a nomination.

### Does my executor have authority while I am alive?

No. An executor acts after death. A lasting power of attorney is a separate arrangement for decisions during your lifetime.

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Markdown: https://swiftwill.co.uk/what-a-will-does-not-cover.md
Last modified: 2026-09-08
Author: Marcus Kaiser (https://swiftwill.co.uk/author/marcus-kaiser/)