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How to Make a Will in the UK (Complete 2025 Guide)

· 19 min

Note: The following scenario is fictional and used for illustration.

Emma sat at her kitchen table surrounded by papers—bank statements, property deeds, her children's birth certificates. At 42, with two teenagers and a mortgage, she'd finally decided to write her will. But as she stared at the blank document on her laptop, panic set in.

Which assets should she list? How specific should she be? What if she forgot something important?

Three hours later, she'd written nothing. The complexity paralysed her, and the will-writing was pushed to "next weekend" indefinitely.

Emma's experience is incredibly common. Despite more UK adults now having wills, 56% of adults aged 18 and over still don't have one. The majority who don't cite the same reason: "just haven't got round to it." The task feels overwhelming, complicated, and time-consuming—whether you're considering a £650+ solicitor appointment, a risky DIY template, or something in between.

The reality? Making a legally valid will in the UK involves just six clear steps, takes as little as 15 minutes with the right approach, and doesn't require legal expertise. This guide walks you through exactly what you need to know, step-by-step, to create a will that protects your family in 2025. Start with understanding what to include in your will for comprehensive family protection.

Table of Contents

Why You Need to Make a Will (And What Happens If You Don't)

Without a will, UK intestacy rules decide who inherits your estate. These rules follow a strict legal hierarchy that often doesn't reflect modern family structures or personal wishes. Learn about UK will requirements to ensure your will is legally valid.

For married couples, your spouse inherits the first £322,000 plus personal belongings. If your estate exceeds this and you have children, they share the remainder. But for unmarried couples? Your partner inherits absolutely nothing under intestacy rules—even after decades together.

Step-children aren't automatically included either. Without a will naming them explicitly, they have no inheritance rights. The same goes for close friends, chosen family, or charities you want to support.

Sarah discovered this too late. At 34, she owned a £280,000 flat in Bristol and had been with her partner Marcus for eight years. When she died unexpectedly, her entire estate went to her parents under intestacy rules. Marcus, who'd helped pay the mortgage for five years, inherited nothing. He had to move out within months. Learn more about why unmarried couples urgently need a will.

If you have children under 18, intestacy rules create another problem. Courts decide who raises them if both parents die. You have no say. The decision might align with your wishes—or it might not.

That's why making a will matters. Now you understand why, let's focus on how.

The 3 Main Ways to Make a Will in the UK

You have three main options for creating your will. Each has distinct advantages and limitations.

Traditional Solicitor:

A face-to-face appointment with a qualified solicitor costs £150-£650+ for a single will, with couples paying £250-£700. The process takes 2-6 weeks and typically requires 2-3 appointments. This option suits complex estates—multiple business interests, agricultural property, assets exceeding £2-3 million requiring inheritance tax planning, or foreign assets. Compare online will vs solicitor options to find the best value.

The advantage? Professional expertise for genuinely complicated situations. The drawbacks? Cost, time commitment, and inconvenience of appointments during work hours.

DIY Will Kits/Templates:

Basic templates cost £10-£50 and are available immediately online or from stationers. You complete them yourself without guidance.

Here's the critical issue: suppliers explicitly state they take no responsibility for errors or validity. If you misunderstand a legal requirement or phrase something ambiguously, your will could be challenged or declared invalid. There's no safety net.

Online Will Services:

Guided platforms cost £50-£150 and take 15-30 minutes to complete. You answer structured questions, and the service generates a legally valid will. These combine the affordability of DIY with professional guidance, making them suitable for straightforward estates—which accounts for 85-90% of UK adults. Learn more about how much a will costs across all options.

Here's how they compare:

Feature Solicitor Online Service DIY Template
Cost (single) £150-£650+ £50-£150 £10-£50
Cost (couples) £250-£700 £90-£290 £20-£100
Time to complete 2-6 weeks 15-30 minutes Immediate
Guidance provided Professional advice Structured questions None
Complex estates Yes Limited No
Legal protection Yes Yes No
Convenience Low (appointments) High (online, anytime) High (instant)

Most people need the middle option. WUHLD provides guided will creation for £99.99—less than a single solicitor appointment, with structured guidance that DIY templates lack.

Choose a solicitor if your estate involves complex business structures, significant inheritance tax concerns, or expected family disputes. Choose an online service like WUHLD for straightforward estates with standard assets. Avoid DIY templates unless your situation is extremely simple and you're confident in legal terminology.

The 6 Essential Steps to Make a Legally Valid Will

Every valid UK will follows the same fundamental process, regardless of how it's created. Here are the six essential steps:

Step 1: Take Stock of Your Estate List everything you own: property, savings accounts, investments, vehicles, valuable possessions, life insurance policies, and pensions. Note which assets are jointly owned—these typically pass automatically to the surviving owner outside your will.

Estimate the total value. You don't need exact figures, but understanding your estate's size helps with planning and determines whether inheritance tax might apply (currently £325,000 threshold).

Gather account numbers, policy details, and property deeds. This information helps your executors locate assets later.

Step 2: Decide Who Inherits What Name specific beneficiaries—the people or organisations who'll receive your estate. You can make specific gifts ("£5,000 to my sister Claire") or percentage-based distributions ("30% of my estate to each of my three children").

Most wills include a "residuary clause" covering everything not specifically mentioned. This prevents assets from accidentally falling into intestacy.

Consider backup beneficiaries. If your primary beneficiary dies before you, who inherits instead? Without this, that portion might go to unintended recipients.

Important: step-children must be named explicitly. The phrase "my children" doesn't automatically include them under UK law.

Step 3: Choose Your Executors Executors administer your estate—gathering assets, paying debts, distributing inheritances. Choose 1-4 trusted people who are organised and responsible. Family members, close friends, or professionals can serve.

Ask them first. Being an executor involves significant responsibility and time commitment during an already difficult period.

Appointing two provides redundancy. If one can't serve, the other handles everything without requiring legal changes.

Executors can also be beneficiaries—there's no legal conflict.

Step 4: Appoint Guardians (If You Have Children Under 18) If you're the only surviving parent when you die, guardians raise your children. Courts decide if you haven't named anyone. This is too important to leave to chance.

Discuss your decision with the people you're choosing. Consider their values, parenting style, financial stability, location, and relationship with your children.

Name backup guardians in case your first choice can't serve.

Step 5: Write Your Will Structure your will with these elements:

  • Opening declaration (your name, address, statement that this is your will)
  • Revocation clause (cancels all previous wills)
  • Executor appointments
  • Guardian appointments (if applicable)
  • Specific gifts to named beneficiaries
  • Residuary clause (distributes remaining estate)
  • Signature section with date
  • Witness signature section

Be clear and specific. Use full legal names, not nicknames. Avoid overly specific descriptions that become outdated—"my motor vehicle" works better than "my 2023 silver Ford Focus, registration XX23 ABC."

Step 6: Sign and Witness Properly This is the most critical step for legal validity. Improper witnessing is the number one reason wills are challenged in court.

The exact witnessing process is so important that we'll cover it in detail in the next section.

These six steps apply whether you use a solicitor, online service, or write your own will. The difference is the level of guidance and legal protection you receive during the process.

The Wills Act 1837 (as amended by the Administration of Justice Act 1982) establishes non-negotiable requirements for will validity in England and Wales.

Age Requirement:

You must be at least 18 years old to make a valid will. The only exception is members of the armed forces on active service, who can make wills at any age.

Mental Capacity:

You must be "of sound mind" when signing your will. This means understanding what a will is, knowing what property you own, and being aware of who your beneficiaries are. You must make the decision freely, without pressure or undue influence from others.

Written Form:

Your will must be in writing. This includes handwritten, typed, or printed documents. Electronic documents are acceptable if properly signed and witnessed.

Signature Requirement:

You must sign your will yourself, or someone can sign on your behalf in your presence and at your direction if you're physically unable.

Witnessing Requirement:

This is where most problems occur. Your signature must be witnessed by two people who are present at the same time. Both witnesses must also sign the will in your presence. All three people must be in the same room together during the signing process.

Witness Eligibility:

Witnesses must be at least 18 years old. Here's the critical rule: witnesses cannot be beneficiaries or spouses of beneficiaries. If a beneficiary witnesses your will, they lose their entire inheritance—even though the rest of the will remains valid.

Remote Witnessing:

Since 2020, video conferencing is permitted for witnessing in England and Wales, provided specific procedures are followed. Each person must be able to see the others signing.

Getting the witnessing wrong is the most common mistake. If your witnesses are beneficiaries or if all three people aren't present during signing, your will is invalid. That's why this next section provides step-by-step witnessing guidance.

How to Properly Sign and Witness Your Will

Follow this exact process to ensure your will is legally valid:

The Witnessing Process:

  1. Gather your completed will and two eligible witnesses in one room. They must be present simultaneously—signing on different days invalidates the will.

  2. Tell your witnesses they're witnessing your will. They don't need to read its contents or know what it says. Their role is simply to confirm they watched you sign.

  3. Sign and date your will in their presence. Use your full legal signature. Both witnesses must watch you sign.

  4. Each witness signs in your presence, one after the other. You must watch them sign. They should also print their names and addresses below their signatures.

  5. Ensure all signatures appear in the designated signature sections of the will.

Who CAN be a witness:

  • Anyone aged 18 or over
  • Your executor (being a witness doesn't disqualify them from serving)
  • Family members who aren't beneficiaries
  • Friends, neighbours, or colleagues
  • People who can see and understand what they're witnessing

Who CANNOT be a witness:

  • Beneficiaries (anyone inheriting from your will)
  • Spouses or civil partners of beneficiaries
  • People under 18

James learned this rule the hard way. His will left everything equally to his three adult children. When he signed it at home, his daughter Sarah witnessed it along with a family friend. The will was later declared partially invalid—Sarah's signature disqualified her entire inheritance, even though James clearly intended her to inherit. The resulting dispute cost the estate £34,000 in legal fees.

Even if a beneficiary is merely in the room during signing (though not serving as a witness), some solicitors advise caution. The safest approach? Ask beneficiaries to leave entirely during the witnessing process.

Professional tip:

Choose witnesses who are younger than you and easy to locate. During probate, they may need to confirm their signatures or provide affidavits, which becomes difficult if they've died or moved abroad.

Remote witnessing via video call is legally permitted, but requires careful adherence to specific procedures. If using this method, consult official guidance to ensure compliance. For more detailed information, read our complete guide on who can witness a will in the UK.

What to Include in Your Will (And What to Leave Out)

A complete will contains essential elements plus optional provisions based on your circumstances.

Essential Elements: Every valid will includes your full legal name and address, a declaration that this document is your will and revokes all previous wills, executor appointments with their full names and addresses, beneficiaries with full names, a residuary clause distributing anything not specifically mentioned, your signature with date, and witness signatures with addresses.

If you have children under 18, guardian appointments are also essential.

Recommended Inclusions: Specific gifts add clarity. You might leave particular amounts of money, property, or possessions to named individuals. For charities, include registered charity numbers to prevent confusion with similarly named organisations.

Backup beneficiaries protect against unintended distributions if your primary beneficiary dies before you. Funeral wishes can be included, though they're not legally binding—wills typically aren't read until after funerals. Still, executors often appreciate knowing your preferences.

What NOT to Include: Avoid funeral plans requiring immediate action. Your will won't be located and read quickly enough to influence the funeral itself. Handle these separately with your family or executor.

Don't include illegal requests or conditions violating public policy (such as requiring someone to divorce to inherit). Courts won't enforce them.

Business instructions belong in a separate business succession plan, not your will. Wills become public documents during probate—not ideal for confidential business matters.

Never include passwords, PINs, or online account credentials. These need regular updating and should be stored securely in a separate document your executor can access.

How Specific Should You Be? Balance clarity with flexibility. Overly specific descriptions become outdated quickly.

Poor example: "My silver Ford Focus, registration XX54 ABC, purchased in 2023 from Bristol Car Centre."

Better example: "My motor vehicle."

The second version remains accurate whether you still own that Ford, have replaced it with a Tesla, or own multiple vehicles.

Emma made this mistake. She left "£5,000 to each grandchild" and named them individually: Oliver, Charlotte, and Amelia. When two more grandchildren were born after she signed her will, they were accidentally excluded. Better wording: "£5,000 to each of my grandchildren living at the date of my death." This automatically includes future grandchildren.

Addressing Step-Children: Under UK law, "my children" doesn't automatically include step-children. You must name them explicitly if you want them to inherit.

State: "I leave my estate equally to my children Emma and James and my step-children Sarah and Michael." This removes any ambiguity.

For more comprehensive guidance on will contents, see our detailed article on what to include in your will.

How Much Does It Cost to Make a Will in the UK?

Will costs vary dramatically depending on your chosen method and estate complexity.

Solicitor Costs: Basic single wills cost £150-£260, while couples typically pay £250-£700 for mirror wills (matching wills for partners). Complex estates involving trusts, multiple properties, or business interests cost £650-£1,000 or more.

But that's just the drafting fee. You'll also invest time: 2-3 appointments over 2-6 weeks, often during work hours. Some solicitors charge hourly rates (£150-£300 per hour) for consultations beyond basic will drafting. Storage fees add another £20-£100 annually if you store your will with the solicitor.

Online Will Services: Most online services charge £50-£150 for single wills, with couples paying £90-£290. Farewill charges £100 for single wills and £160 for couples. Co-op Legal Services charges £129 and £199 respectively. Which? Wills starts at £84 plus membership costs.

DIY Templates: Basic templates cost £10-£50 as one-time purchases. But remember: suppliers take no responsibility for errors or validity. Any mistakes are entirely your risk.

Free Will Options: Free Wills Month (March and October) offers free will writing for people aged 55 and over through participating solicitors. Will Aid (November) provides will writing in exchange for suggested charitable donations—£120 for singles, £200 for couples, though you can give less.

The Hidden Costs of Errors: An invalid or poorly drafted will can cost your estate dramatically more than any drafting fee. Contested wills typically cost £10,000-£50,000 or more in legal fees. If your will is declared invalid, intestacy rules apply—potentially costing beneficiaries hundreds of thousands of pounds in lost inheritances.

WUHLD Pricing: WUHLD charges £99.99 as a one-time payment with no subscriptions. This includes four documents: your legally valid will, a 12-page Testator Guide explaining how to execute your will, a Witness Guide to give to your witnesses, and a Complete Asset Inventory document.## Frequently Asked Questions

Can I write my own will without a solicitor?

Yes, you can write your own will in the UK without a solicitor. However, this is only advisable if your estate is very simple and you're confident in legal terminology. DIY will templates cost £10-£50 but offer no legal guidance—meaning errors could invalidate your will. For most people, guided online services (£50-£150) or solicitors (£150-£650) provide better protection.

How much does it cost to make a will in the UK?

Will costs in the UK range from £10 (DIY templates) to £650+ (solicitors). Online will services typically cost £50-£150 for single wills. WUHLD charges £99.99 for a complete will with no subscriptions or hidden fees. Solicitors charge £150-£260 for basic wills and £250-£700 for couples, with complex estates costing £650-£1,000 or more.

Do I need a solicitor to make a will in the UK?

No, you don't legally need a solicitor to make a will in the UK. Wills are valid as long as they meet the requirements of the Wills Act 1837—regardless of how they're created. However, solicitors are advisable for complex estates involving business ownership, foreign assets, estates over £2-3 million, or expected family disputes. For straightforward estates (85-90% of UK cases), online will services provide the same legal validity at a fraction of the cost.

Who can witness a will in the UK?

Anyone aged 18 or over can witness a will in the UK, with one critical exception: beneficiaries (people inheriting from the will) and their spouses cannot act as witnesses. If a beneficiary witnesses a will, they lose their right to inherit. Your executor, family members who aren't beneficiaries, friends, neighbours, or colleagues can all serve as witnesses.

How do I make my will legally valid in the UK?

To make a legally valid will in the UK under the Wills Act 1837, you must: (1) be at least 18 years old, (2) be of sound mind, (3) create a written document, (4) sign the will in the presence of two independent witnesses who are present at the same time, and (5) have both witnesses sign the will in your presence. All three people must be in the room together during signing.

Key Takeaways

Making a will in the UK is simpler than most people think:

  • Follow six clear steps: take stock of assets, decide beneficiaries, choose executors, appoint guardians, write your will, and sign with proper witnesses
  • Choose the right method for your situation: solicitors for complex estates, online services for straightforward estates (85-90% of people), avoid DIY templates unless extremely confident
  • Witness properly: two independent people aged 18+ who aren't beneficiaries must watch you sign and sign in your presence—this is the most critical requirement
  • Update regularly: review every five years and after major life events like marriage, divorce, births, or significant asset changes
  • Don't delay: 56% of UK adults still don't have wills, leaving their families vulnerable to intestacy rules that may not reflect their wishes

Without a will, your partner inherits nothing if you're unmarried. Courts decide who raises your children. Your estate distribution follows rigid legal rules, not your personal wishes.

You can change this today in just 15 minutes.

Create your legally valid will with WUHLD now. Our step-by-step platform ensures you meet all UK legal requirements without expensive solicitor fees.

For just £99.99 (vs £650+ for a solicitor), you'll get:

  • Your complete, legally binding will
  • A 12-page Testator Guide explaining how to execute your will properly
  • A Witness Guide to give to your witnesses
  • A Complete Asset Inventory document

Ready to Create Your Will?

WUHLD makes it simple to create a legally valid will online in just 15 minutes. Our guided process ensures your wishes are properly documented and your loved ones are protected.

Start creating your will now — it's quick, affordable, and backed by legal experts.

Legal Disclaimer:

This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. WUHLD is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Laws and guidance change and their application depends on your circumstances. For advice about your situation, consult a qualified solicitor or regulated professional. Unless stated otherwise, information relates to England and Wales.

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