Only two in five people have split will evenly

Fewer than half of people who have drawn up a will plan to share out their assets equally between beneficiaries such as family members and friends, a survey has found.

Only two-fifths (39 per cent) of those who have drafted a will plan to split their assets equally between beneficiaries, Direct Line Life Insurance found.

Settling old scores after death and evening up differences in wealth between loved ones could be behind people’s decisions to divide assets.

Looking at why some people stand to receive more than others and how well liked they are may have an influence on how much they will get from a will, the research found.

Only 30 per cent of people in Edinburgh who have drawn up a will are likely to have split assets evenly.