Be like Ozzy Osbourne – make sure your blended family is fairly provided for in your Will

The importance of setting out exactly what you want to happen to your estate when you die in a professionally drawn Will has been highlighted by rock star Ozzy Osbourne’s apparently meticulous estate planning.

Leaving an estate valued at more than £1.6 million, his Will reportedly provides clarity and certainty for his grieving wife, Sharon, their children together, his children from his first marriage and a stepchild he adopted.

Whatever the size and value of your estate, a correctly drawn up Will is an inexpensive way of avoiding difficulties in the future for your family, blended or otherwise, and your friends after your death.

At a time when inheritance disputes are rising – making your Will as robust as possible is important just in case it is challenged in the future.

It means you have the final, definitive say on what happens to your estate and also gives you the chance to take wealth preservation steps to structure your affairs, not only to minimise your liability for inheritance tax, but to maximise tax relief too.

How does Ozzy Osbourne’s Will provide clarity for his grieving family?

With second marriages on the rise, particularly in those over 60, and more blended families as a result, estate planning can be complex.

In these circumstances, leaving a valid Will which spells out exactly who gets what and in what proportions minimises the chance of upset for your family after you’ve gone as well as the potential for conflict.

Ozzy Osbourne’s Will, reports say, does just that:

• He leaves the majority of his estate to his wife, Sharon.
• When she dies, the remaining assets will be divided equally between their three children.
• Specific assets have also been designated to their three children.
• All six of his children, including two from his first marriage and a stepchild who he adopted from that marriage, have all been equally provided for.
• He has made specific bequests to charity including research into Parkinson’s disease which he was diagnosed with in 2019.

If Ozzy had died without a valid Will in place, as the One Direction singer Liam Payne reportedly did recently, the rules of intestacy would have applied.

This means the estate would have been divided up in a strict order, with stepchildren having no automatic right to inherit, and not necessarily according to his plans and wishes.

Why should I make my Will with a qualified solicitor?

A correctly drawn up Will is an inexpensive way of avoiding difficulties in the future for your family and friends after your death.

At a time when the number of disputes over Wills is growing, making your Will as robust as possible is important just in case it is challenged in the future.

Using a solicitor to make or update your Will protects against errors, ensures everything is done correctly to ensure validity and dramatically reduces the risk of a family member being able to exert undue influence over a vulnerable relative for example.

Solicitors, unlike Will Writers, have professional legal qualifications, are regulated by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority and must have professional indemnity insurance. This means if something goes wrong, you have somewhere to go for redress and to claim compensation.

Get in touch.

Wards Solicitors wins high praise in the 2025 edition of the independent Legal 500 guide of outstanding legal professionals for its exceptional professional service standards and high levels of technical expertise.

We are also Bristol Law Society’s Regional Firm of the Year and our Wills, Probate and Mental Capacity Team has been chosen as Devon and Somerset Law Society’s Private Client Team of the Year.

Our specialist Wills and Mental Capacity solicitors are all highly experienced. Many are members of The Association of Lifetime Lawyers (formerly Solicitors for the Elderly) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Both organisations require the highest standards from its members with proven qualifications and experience.

We offer a free initial appointment, can meet you in one of our offices or come to your home and always ensure the strict protocol for Will signings is followed to the letter.

• If you want to make or update your Will, please contact our Wills and Mental Capacity Team.