Will Aid’s poll, which surveyed more than 2,000 people across the country, found 59% of people in Scotland have not made a will, and 10% admitted theirs did not reflect their current wishes.

Nationally, the figures showed 56% of people have not made a will, with a further 11% whose will is out of date.

Financial pressures seem to be holding people back – with 21% citing the cost of instructing a solicitor as the reason for not having a will.

Other reasons included believing they had nothing worth leaving (27%), never finding the time (18.5%), feeling uncomfortable talking about death (16%) and concerns about the process being too complicated (16%).

Nationally, the average time since people last updated their wills is six years, with nearly 20% admitting they’ve never updated theirs.

Only a third (34%) of those surveyed have updated their will in the past three years.

Parents with children over 18 last updated their wills an average of seven and a half years ago, while those with under 18s averaged four-and-a-half years.

Peter de Vena Franks, Will Aid campaign director, said: “Making a will is a final loving act for those you care about. It provides a clear plan and guidance for your family after you’re gone.

“We know thinking about death is uncomfortable and considering your final wishes can be daunting, but not having one can lead to confusion and distress among family members and beneficiaries, at an already upsetting time.

“The statistics on outdated wills are worrying, because circumstances change, and it’s crucial to keep your documents up to date to ensure they reflect your current situation.”

Iain Haywood, of Rollos Law LLP in Glenrothes, said: “Having a will is essential for ensuring your wishes are respected and providing peace of mind for you and your loved ones and keeping that document up to date is vital, especially when circumstances in your life change.

“Common reasons for updating your will might include the death of a relative, divorce or separation, having children or gaining stepchildren. We advise you to regularly review your will to make sure it still outlines your wishes.

“Will Aid is the perfect opportunity to have your will professionally drawn up or to have it updated, while supporting charities that help some of the most vulnerable people in the UK and abroad.”