What is a mirror will?

Mirror wills are two separate wills made by a couple (married, civil partnership, or unmarried) that 'mirror' each other - meaning they have matching or very similar terms.

Typical mirror will structure:

• Each partner leaves everything to the other
• If that partner has died, everything goes to their children
• Same executors named in both wills
• Same guardians for children

Example:
John's will: Everything to wife Mary, if Mary has died then split equally among their three children
Mary's will: Everything to husband John, if John has died then split equally among their three children

Advantages:

• Simple and clear
• Both partners protected
• Coordinated estate planning
• Fair to all children from the relationship

Important limitation:

Mirror wills are not binding on the survivor. After one partner dies, the surviving partner can change their will to anything they like. This can be a problem in second marriages or blended families.

If the first partner dies and leaves everything to their spouse, the spouse could then:

• Remarry and leave everything to new spouse
• Change will to exclude first partner's children
• Do anything they want with the inherited assets

When mirror wills work well:

• First marriage for both partners
• All children are from this relationship
• High level of trust
• Estate not complex

When to consider alternatives:

• Blended families
• Second marriages
• Children from previous relationships
• Significant wealth to protect