Money Talk: 'Is it wrong to ask my parents what's in their will?'

If there's one thing Brits are still bad at talking about, it's death - particularly wills.

In fact, research by insurer Royal London previously found that 54% of adults have no will at all.

While some people are happy to hint at what is in their will, for the most part these are kept secret up until after death.

This can lead to arguments and even the extreme case last week when Ashley Sumner was jailed for three years for manslaughter after killing his grandfather, John Bathers, in a row over his will.

One Mirror Money reader emailed in to ask: "I have struggled in a series of low-paid jobs. My parents are fairly well-off but have never given me or my sister any financial help as adults, believing that we should make our own way in life.

"They have always been grafters and I appreciate how they managed to work hard and make a life for themselves.

"But knowing if I am due any money when they pass away would be a big help in planning for my financial future. Am I allowed to ask them about this, or do I have to wait?"

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Wills are legally binding, and can almost never be altered (Getty Images)

You can't make them - but they might agree to

In short, the answer is you cannot force anyone to reveal their will - but they may choose to let you see the contents before they pass away.

Amish Patel, an associate at law firm Royds Withy King, said: "A will is a private document and an adult child does not therefore have any right to see their parent’s will whilst that parent is still alive.

"The will becomes a public document, available for download by anyone, once it is admitted to probate after death."

The only way to know what is in the will is if the will-maker chooses to tell you.

Adam Scott, partner at law firm Trethowans, said: "However, there is nothing stopping somebody talking to their children about their will, if they want to. This may in fact be prudent to ensure there are no surprises and is quite common.”

Patel also said no-one can force their parents to change their will.

In England and Wales, the law says anyone can leave their estate to whoever they want when they die - even if it means leaving nothing to their spouse or family.

But there are exceptions

The only exception is if they do not have the proper ability to make that decision, such as if the will-maker loses their mental capacity with age.

Patel added: "Disappointed beneficiaries can make a claim against the estate after death, and recently there has been a claim even before death,” although there are strict criteria for being able to bring a claim."

One way you can find out the contents of a will while someone is still alive is through a system called 'lasting power of attorney'.

This is a clunky phrase, but it refers to something quite sensible - an agreement, before death, between the will-maker and their 'attorneys', normally their children.

The will-maker, formally known as a testator if male and a testatrix if female. can agree that their attorneys can request a copy of the will before their death.

Patel said: "A testator/testatrix often does this to ensure his/her attorneys can continue succession planning.

"Even if the attorneys are entitled to see a copy of the will, they cannot change or update the will. Only the Court of Protection make a new will once someone has lost capacity.”