The process of making a will could be brought into the digital age after a legal organisation launched a consultation on how the documents are composed.

Describing the current legal system as 'outdated' and 'unclear', the Law Commission for England and Wales is calling for the law on will-writing to be relaxed to permit notes, emails and even voice messages to be used as an alternative to a written will.

Under the proposals new powers would be granted to county and high court judges to decide, on the balance of probabilities, whether a recording or note accurately reflects the wishes of the person making the will.

Tom Lawrence, partner at Norwich law firm Howes Percival, said: 'Making a will and passing on your estate to loved ones should be an easily accessible process for people.

'I think the current law relating to wills has not kept pace with modern living for a large section of the general public.'