When Liam Payne, much loved father, son and One Direction star, tragically passed away last year at just 31, he left behind an estate worth more than £24 million — but had no will.  Now, his legacy — money, property, and possessions — is tied up in a legal limbo.

Without a will, the rules get messy: kids usually inherit everything if there’s no legal spouse. In Liam’s case, his young son Bear (now 8 years old, with former partner Cheryl) is his heir. But until everything gets sorted, Cheryl and a music industry lawyer are left managing his estate with only limited power. Translation: they can’t properly distribute anything yet. 

On top of this, his long term partner Kate Cassidy also receives nothing, yet they shared a life together, including a home and their beloved dogs Nala and Stanley.

And all of this? Totally avoidable.

It’s a gut-punch reminder: no matter your age or status, you need a will.  Take the time to speak to a specialist solicitor, or alternatively check out Octopus Legacy*, who many of you did a will with in our March Legacy Week campaign.

Liam’s passing was a shock to the world — a superstar who seemed to have it all. But even he hadn’t locked down what would happen to his fortune.

It’s easy to think, “I’ll sort it later,” but life doesn’t wait. Accidents happen. The unexpected hits.

And it’s not just about wills.

Liam could have taken out life insurance for Bear or even Kate, which even if modest, could have helped her navigate this difficult time with a little less stress. 

Life insurance is another move that protects the people you love. It’s a simple way to make sure there’s no financial mess, no guessing games, and no added heartache if something happens to you.

At least in Liam’s case, his son will inherit his estate, although it is a messy situation with Cheryl having to manage it with lots of restrictions.

It’s a helpful, but heartbreaking reminder for us to make sure we do the life admin we’ve been putting off and protect our loved ones.  

✅ Get your will done.
✅ Get life insurance sorted

Financielle community members have amazing feedback for our partner organisation LifeSearch, where you can chat with an experienced, trusted advisor (female if you would like) to help you work out what’s best for you and your family.  Reach out to them here.

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