A total of 40,873 wills were drawn up in the first six months of this year, with the majority (28,305) registered in Flanders, according to figures from Fednot, the Federation of Notaries.
This figure is almost unchanged compared to the same period last year, when 41,347 wills were made nationwide, including 28,468 in Flanders. However, the average age of individuals drafting wills has declined slightly, from 65 to 63 years.
A will allows individuals to decide in advance how their estate will be handled after death, within the legal framework. While the number of wills has been on the rise in recent years, this trend has stabilised, with even a slight decline in the first half of 2025. It remains to be seen what the second half of the year will bring.
Unmarried and/or childless couples are the most likely to draft a will, as inheritance laws leave such individuals with little or no claim to each other’s estate. A will provides better protection in these cases. For partners without children, it also enables them to designate a specific heir. Stepparents, or “bonus parents,” may also benefit from using a will as an inheritance planning tool, Fednot explains.
The average age for drafting a will was 63 years in the first half of 2025, down slightly from the previous average of 65. In Flanders, people typically make a will at the age of 62, compared to 63 to 64 in prior years. In Brussels, however, the average age is significantly higher, at 69.
Wills registered with a notary have the advantage of being logged in the Central Register of Wills (CRT), making it easy for heirs to verify the existence of a will and locate the notary after the testator’s passing. By contrast, a handwritten will risks being challenged, potentially leading to legal disputes, warns Fednot.
