The tragic case of One Direction’s Liam Payne demonstrates that inheritance planning is imperative, for any estate.
Liam Payne’s sudden death at just thirty-one years old has left fans stunned—and his £24 million estate has been left without a will. The former One Direction superstar, who died in Buenos Aires last October after falling from a hotel balcony, had not made legal arrangements for his inheritance. As a result, his eight-year-old son Bear will inherit everything under the UK’s intestacy rules. The absence of a will has placed a heavy administrative burden on those left behind, and it has reignited a national conversation about why so many people delay this vital task.
Payne’s former partner Cheryl, with whom he shared his son, is one of the named administrators of the estate.
She will oversee the process alongside music industry lawyer Richard Bray. Together, they have been granted limited authority to preserve the estate until a full grant of probate is issued. This allows them to manage Payne’s finances, property, and possessions, but not to distribute them – at least until Bear reaches the age of majority. The process may take months, given the size and complexity of the Payne estate.
Payne’s financial affairs were extensive. Beyond his music career, he had investments in property, fashion, and tech. Without a will, there is no clear instruction on how these should be handled.
Under English law, when someone dies without a will, their estate is normally distributed according to a fixed hierarchy, following the issue of Letters of Administration. If there is no spouse or civil partner, but there are children, the entire estate passes to them. In Payne’s case, this means Bear will inherit everything. Since he is a minor, the money must be held in trust until he turns eighteen. Payne’s girlfriend at the time of his death, Kate Cassidy, receives nothing. On the whole, the law does not recognise unmarried partners, regardless of the seriousness or duration of the relationship.
The scale of Bear’s inheritance is staggering.
At 18, he will gain access to a fortune that most people could never imagine; £24 million is a truly life-changing sum. A will might have introduced safeguards: staggered payments, financial oversight, or even mentorship. Instead, the estate delivers the full amount on his 18th birthday, ready or not. Personally, I am not sure I would have had the financial tact or maturity at 18, to be trusted with such an extraordinary sum.
Research, conducted by pollster Opinium in 2021 among 1,043 UK retired and semi-retired adults aged fifty-five and above, found that 12 per cent of over-75s had not made a will. Meanwhile 22 per cent of those aged 65 to 74 have not made a will. According a 2024 article by The Institute of Professional Will Writers, recent surveys and studies indicate that approximately 60% of British adults do not have a will.
Without a will, there is no way for one to specify who should manage one’s estate long-term, how funds should be protected for children, or at what age one would like one’s children to inherit. Had Payne written a will, he could have delayed access to the money, appointed guardians, or left specific gifts to friends, charities, or business partners. Instead, the courts now oversee the process, and the administrators must work within the confines of the law.
The case has renewed the national conversation about will writing, particularly among younger adults.
Young people like me often assume that wills are only necessary later in life, or when one reaches a certain level of wealth. But Payne’s death shows that tragedy doesn’t wait for the right moment, and that the absence of a will leaves families in legal and emotional limbo.
It is not just about wealth. A will allows someone to express their wishes clearly—who should care for their children, who should receive sentimental items, and how their legacy should be preserved. Without one, those decisions fall to the courts, often at great cost and delay.
The UK government’s guidance on inheritance tax and estate planning makes clear that having a valid will in place is essential. It’s not just a document for the wealthy; it’s a safeguarding measure for anyone with dependents, property, or personal wishes they want respected after death.
Payne’s story is not unique.
Other high-profile figures, including Amy Winehouse and Prince, also died intestate, leaving behind contentious property rights and uncertainty for family members and partners. Still, the public nature of Payne’s case, his cause of death, and the youth of his heir, has struck a particular chord.
The story is a painful reminder that life is unpredictable. Writing a will may not be a comfortable task, but it is a necessary one. It offers peace of mind, not just for the person making it, but for loved ones they leave behind. In Payne’s case, his son will inherit a fortune—but the absence of a will means the process will be slower, more expensive, and far more difficult than it needed to be.
For anyone with pets, children, property, or even a modest savings account, the message is clear: do not wait. A will isn’t solely a legal formality—it is a final act of care.
by William Audritt, IDR Paralegal.