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

Emma had been meaning to write a will since her daughter was born three years ago. She'd bookmarked solicitor websites, started the government guide twice, and even printed out a form she found online. Each time, she felt paralyzed by the same questions: Should she use a solicitor? Was an online will safe? What if she missed something crucial? When her sister mentioned she'd completed her will online in 15 minutes, Emma couldn't believe it. But she was also skeptical. Could something this important really be that straightforward?

If you're reading this, you're probably where Emma was. You know you need a will. You might even feel guilty for not having one yet. But between solicitors, online services, DIY kits, and conflicting advice, the simple question "How do I make a will?" feels impossibly complicated.

Here's the truth: Making a will in the UK in 2025 is simpler, faster, and more affordable than ever before. But you need to understand your options, the legal requirements, and which approach is right for your situation. This guide will walk you through everything, step-by-step, so you can finally get your will done.

Why Making a Will Matters More Than You Think

59% of UK adults don't have a will, according to 2025 research from the Money and Pensions Service. That's over 31 million people with no legal plan for what happens to their assets, their children, or their wishes after they die.

The statistics are even more surprising when you look at the reasons. 54% of people cite "haven't got round to it" as their main reason for not having a will. It's not that they don't care—it's simple procrastination, often driven by overwhelm.

Without a will, intestacy rules decide everything. Your unmarried partner of 10 years inherits nothing. Courts decide who raises your children. Your parents might inherit assets you meant for your siblings. The distribution follows a rigid government formula that probably doesn't match your wishes at all.

Sarah thought she had time. At 34, with two young children and an unmarried partner, she kept meaning to write a will. When she died unexpectedly in a car accident, her £280,000 estate went entirely to her parents under intestacy rules. Her partner of eight years inherited nothing. Her children's financial security depended on her parents' goodwill.

Making a will isn't about dwelling on death—it's about protecting the people you love. Taking 15-30 minutes today prevents your family from months of confusion, delays, and conflict during an already difficult time. You can learn more about what happens if you die without a will to understand exactly what you're protecting them from.

The 3 Main Ways to Make a Will in the UK (And Which Is Right for You)

The good news? You have three clear options for making a will. The key is choosing the right one for your situation.

Option 1: Solicitor Will

This is the traditional route. You visit a solicitor's office, discuss your estate, and they draft your will professionally.

When to use a solicitor:

You have complex trust requirements for disabled dependents
Your estate includes business assets with succession planning needs
You own international property requiring cross-border legal expertise
You have complex family situations (multiple divorces, estranged children, significant disinheritance)
Your estate exceeds £1M with sophisticated inheritance tax planning needs

Pros: Expert legal review, personalized advice for complex situations, solicitor handles all technical aspects, face-to-face guidance, peace of mind for complicated estates.

Cons: Expensive (£300-£1,000+ depending on complexity), time-consuming process requiring multiple appointments, can feel intimidating or formal, requires scheduling around solicitor availability.

Cost range: £300-£500 for simple will, £600-£900 for mirror wills (couple), £800-£2,000+ for complex wills with trusts.

Option 2: Online Will Service

This is the modern approach. You complete a guided questionnaire online, preview your will, and sign it at home with witnesses.

When to use an online service:

You have a straightforward estate with UK-only assets
You want to name guardians, distribute assets to family, and appoint executors
Your distributions are relatively standard (percentages to spouse/children or specific gifts to family members)
You value affordability and speed
You're comfortable using online platforms

Pros: Affordable (£49-£160), fast completion (15 minutes), preview before paying, legally valid when signed properly, can do it at home on your schedule, no awkward appointments.

Cons: Not suitable for very complex situations requiring bespoke legal structures, requires basic technology literacy, no face-to-face consultation if you want that reassurance.

Cost range: £49.99-£160 depending on provider and whether single or mirror will.

Option 3: DIY Will Kit

This involves buying a template or form and filling it out yourself with no guidance.

When to use a DIY kit:

Honestly? Almost never. The risks usually outweigh the minimal cost savings.
Perhaps if you have an extremely simple estate, no children, no property, and significant budget constraints—but even then, a £49 online service is safer.

Pros: Cheapest upfront cost (£10-£30), no appointments or technology needed.

Cons: High error rate (no statistics available, but anecdotal evidence from solicitors suggests 40%+ have errors), no guidance on legal requirements, easy to make invalidating mistakes, no review before you sign, often outdated forms.

Cost range: £10-£30 for templates or kits.

Decision Matrix: Which Option Is Right for You?

Factor	Solicitor	Online Service	DIY Kit
Cost	£300-£2,000+	£50-£160	£10-£30
Time	2-6 weeks	15-20 minutes	1-2 hours
Complexity Limit	Unlimited	Straightforward estates	Simple only
Support Level	High (personal advice)	Medium (guided process)	None
Error Risk	Very Low	Low	High
Best For	Complex estates, trusts, business assets	90% of UK adults	Almost no one

Our recommendation: For 90% of UK adults, an online will service offers the best balance of cost, speed, legal safety, and convenience. Use a solicitor only if your situation genuinely requires complex legal structures. Avoid DIY kits—the £40 you save isn't worth the risk of invalidation.

UK Will Requirements - What Makes a Will Legally Valid

Understanding what makes a will legally valid isn't complicated. The requirements are designed to be straightforward, but they must be followed exactly.

Age and Mental Capacity

You must be at least 18 years old to make a legally recognized will in the UK. There are very limited exceptions for armed forces personnel on active service, but for everyone else, 18 is the minimum age.

You must also have "testamentary capacity"—the legal term for being "of sound mind." This means you understand:

What a will is and what making one means
The extent of your estate (roughly what you own)
Who might have a claim on your estate (spouse, children, dependents)
The effect of including or excluding people from your will

David's father made a will at age 82 while suffering from early dementia. The family contested it later, arguing he lacked testamentary capacity. The court examined medical records from the time and found he had understood what he was doing. The will stood. The key lesson: capacity is assessed at the time you make the will, not years later.

Written Format and Signature

Your will must be in writing. It can be typed or handwritten, but it must be a permanent record that others can read and verify.

You must sign your will at the end. Your signature validates the document. If you're physically unable to sign, someone can sign on your behalf in your presence and at your direction—but this requires careful documentation.

Witness Requirements (Critical)

This is where many DIY wills fail. You must have two witnesses present when you sign your will, and they must also sign in your presence. All three people—you and both witnesses—should be together when each person signs.

Witness requirements:

Witnesses must be 18 years or older
Witnesses must be independent—not beneficiaries in the will
Witnesses cannot be married to or in civil partnership with beneficiaries
All three people must see each other sign

Critical rule: If a beneficiary witnesses your will, they lose their entire inheritance. The will remains valid, but that person's gift is void. Emma's sister witnessed her will. When Emma died, her sister inherited nothing, even though Emma had left her £50,000. One signature cost her sister £50,000.

Remote witnessing: Since the pandemic, you can watch each other sign remotely via video call if meeting in person isn't possible. This applies in England and Wales. The rules are slightly different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Common Mistakes That Invalidate Wills

Knowing these common errors helps you avoid them:

Beneficiary witnesses the will: They lose their gift, even if the will is otherwise valid.

Not all three people present together: If witnesses sign later or separately, the will isn't properly attested.

Handwritten amendments: Crossing out text or adding handwritten notes invalidates those sections. Changes require a formal codicil (amendment document) or a new will.

Unsigned will: It doesn't matter how perfect your will is—without your signature witnessed by two people, it's not legally binding.

Online services like WUHLD guide you through these requirements step-by-step, dramatically reducing the risk of technical errors.

What to Include in Your Will (The Essential Checklist)

Knowing what to put in your will removes one of the biggest barriers—the "what do I even write?" question.

Executor Appointments

Your executor is the person who administers your estate after you die. They gather your assets, pay debts and taxes, and distribute everything according to your will.

Choose someone organized, trustworthy, and younger than you. Many people choose their spouse, an adult child, or a trusted sibling. You can name two executors who must work together, and you should always name backups in case your first choice dies before you or is unwilling to serve.

James named his best friend as executor. When James died 15 years later, his friend had moved abroad and had no contact information. James's family spent months tracking him down to renounce the role so they could apply for letters of administration instead. Always tell your executor they're appointed and update your will if circumstances change.

Guardians for Children Under 18

If you have children under 18, naming guardians is arguably the most important reason to make a will. Without a legal guardian appointed, courts decide who raises your children if both parents die.

You can name different guardians for different children if appropriate, and you should name backup guardians in case your first choice is unable or unwilling. Courts respect your wishes but aren't absolutely bound by them—they consider the child's best interests—so choosing appropriate guardians is important.

Choosing guardians for your children is a complex emotional decision that deserves careful thought. Consider their parenting style, financial stability, location, and relationship with your children.

Beneficiaries and Distributions

This is where you specify who gets what. You have several options:

Percentage distributions: "60% to my spouse, 40% to my children equally." This adapts if your estate value changes.

Specific gifts: "My diamond ring to my daughter Sarah, my car to my son David." Good for sentimental items.

Residuary estate: "Everything else after specific gifts to my spouse." This is critical—it ensures nothing is left out.

Sarah left £10,000 to each of her three children and forgot to specify what happened to the remaining £260,000 in her estate. Without a residuary clause, that £260,000 fell into partial intestacy and was distributed by default rules rather than her wishes. Always include a residuary clause for "everything else."

You can also include:

Charitable donations
Trusts for young children (money held until they reach a certain age)
Contingent beneficiaries (if your first choice dies before you)

Funeral Wishes

Your will can include preferences for burial or cremation, ceremony type, or specific requests. These aren't legally binding—your executor isn't required to follow them—but they provide helpful guidance during an emotional time.

Keep these simple and flexible. Detailed funeral plans are often better handled in a separate letter of wishes or with a funeral plan provider.

What NOT to Include

Some things don't belong in your will or don't pass through it:

Jointly owned property: If you own your home as "joint tenants" with someone, it automatically passes to them regardless of your will. Only "tenants in common" property passes through your will.

Pensions: Most pensions don't form part of your estate. Instead, you complete an "expression of wish" form with your pension provider naming who should receive benefits.

Life insurance: If you've named beneficiaries on your policy, it pays directly to them, not through your will.

Conditional gifts: "£50,000 to my daughter if she marries John" or "My house to my son only if he quits his job" are often unenforceable and cause legal disputes. Keep distributions straightforward.

Step-by-Step: How to Make a Will Online (Modern Method)

If you've decided an online service is right for you—and for 90% of people, it is—here's exactly what to expect.

Step 1: Choose a Reputable Online Service

Look for these quality indicators:

Legally valid wills (check that they meet UK requirements)
Created by legal professionals or lawyer-reviewed
Clear, transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Strong customer reviews (4.5+ stars on Trustpilot)
Preview-before-you-pay option
Data security and privacy protections

WUHLD, Farewill, Co-op Legal Services, and Which? all offer legitimate online will services. They vary in pricing (£49.99-£160) and features, but all produce legally valid wills when signed correctly.

Step 2: Gather Your Information

Before you start, have this information ready. It'll make the process smoother:

Full legal names and addresses of your executors, guardians, and main beneficiaries
National Insurance numbers (optional but helpful for identification)
List of significant assets you want to specifically mention (jewelry, cars, collections)
Approximate value of your estate (helpful for context, but not required for the will itself)
Backup choices for executors and guardians

Emma spent 10 minutes gathering addresses before she started. The actual will-writing took her 17 minutes. Without preparation, she estimated it would have taken 30-40 minutes of stopping and looking things up.

Step 3: Answer the Guided Questions

Online services walk you through a series of questions in a logical order:

Personal details: Your name, address, and basic information.

Executors: Who will administer your estate? You'll name one or two people and ideally backups.

Guardians: If you have children under 18, who should raise them? Include backup guardians.

Distributions: Who gets what? You can choose percentage splits, specific gifts, or a combination. Most services handle this with simple dropdowns and input fields.

Special instructions: Funeral wishes, any specific guidance for your executors, or particular items you want to go to specific people.

The questionnaire takes 15-20 minutes for most people with straightforward estates. If you have everything prepared, it can be even faster.

Step 4: Preview Your Will

This is a critical feature. Before you pay anything, you should be able to preview your complete will to check:

All names are spelled correctly with accurate addresses
Distributions are exactly as you intended
Executors and guardians are correctly named
Nothing important is missing

If something isn't right, go back and correct it. Don't proceed to payment until you're completely satisfied.

Step 5: Pay (Only If Satisfied)

Once you're happy with your preview, you pay for the service. Prices range from £49.99 (WUHLD) to £160 (Farewill mirror wills).

What you should get:

Your complete, legally binding will document
Clear signing instructions
Guidance documents (testator guide, witness guide)
Often an asset inventory or additional documents

Step 6: Print and Sign Your Will

This is the most important step—the step that makes your will legally valid.

Print one original copy. Print on good quality white paper. Don't use photocopies for the original.

Sign at the end in presence of two witnesses. All three of you should be in the same room (or on a video call if remote witnessing).

Order matters: You sign first, then both witnesses sign immediately after while you're still there.

Witnesses sign attestation: They're confirming they saw you sign, not that they agree with the contents.

Make absolutely certain your witnesses aren't beneficiaries and aren't married to beneficiaries. This single mistake invalidates their inheritance.

Step 7: Store Safely

Once signed, store your will somewhere safe but accessible:

Fireproof safe at home
With your solicitor (many offer storage)
Professional will storage service
Not in a bank safe deposit box (executors can't access these easily)

Tell your executor where to find your will. You can also register it with the National Will Register (£25-£40 one-time fee) so it can be found after your death.

Step-by-Step: How to Make a Will With a Solicitor (Traditional Method)

If your situation requires a solicitor—complex trusts, business assets, significant inheritance tax planning—here's what to expect.

Step 1: Find a Qualified Solicitor

Use the Law Society's Find a Solicitor tool to locate qualified will-writing solicitors in your area. Look for specialists in wills and probate, not general practitioners.

Ask friends or family for recommendations. Personal experience matters, especially for something this important.

Step 2: Initial Consultation

Most solicitors offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Come prepared with:

Overview of your assets and their approximate values
Family structure (spouse, children, dependents, previous marriages)
What you want to achieve (asset distribution, guardianship, specific goals)
Any concerns or complex elements

The solicitor will assess your situation and provide a quote. Don't be afraid to ask about total costs, what's included, and whether there might be additional fees.

Step 3: Provide Detailed Information

The solicitor will ask you to complete forms or provide detailed information about:

Complete asset list with values (property, investments, savings, business interests)
Full details of beneficiaries
Executor and guardian choices
Any specific legacies or charitable donations
Family relationships and any complications

Be thorough and honest. The more information you provide, the better your solicitor can advise you.

Step 4: Solicitor Drafts Your Will

This typically takes 1-2 weeks. The solicitor will:

Draft your will according to your instructions
Ensure it meets all legal requirements
Include appropriate clauses for your situation
Flag any issues or recommendations

Step 5: Review the Draft

When you receive the draft, read it carefully. Check:

All names, addresses, and amounts are correct
The distributions match your intentions
Nothing is ambiguous or unclear
You understand every clause

Don't be embarrassed to ask questions. If something doesn't make sense, ask for clarification or simpler language.

Step 6: Final Appointment and Signing

You'll attend a final appointment to sign your will. The solicitor often arranges for staff members to act as witnesses, ensuring proper execution.

This appointment usually takes 30-60 minutes. The solicitor will:

Explain each section one final time
Confirm you understand and approve everything
Oversee the signing process with proper witnesses
Provide you with your original will and usually a copy

Step 7: Storage

Most solicitors offer free or low-cost will storage. This ensures:

Your will is safe from fire, flood, or loss
It can be easily located after your death
It's stored in a professional, secure environment

The entire process from first contact to signed will typically takes 2-6 weeks and costs £300-£2,000+ depending on complexity.

How Much Does It Cost to Make a Will in 2025?

Cost is a major factor for many people. Here's a transparent breakdown of what you can expect to pay. For a detailed cost comparison of all UK will services, see our comprehensive guide.

Solicitor Costs

Simple will: £300-£500 for a single person with a straightforward estate.

Mirror wills: £600-£900 for a couple making matching wills.

Complex will: £800-£2,000+ for estates involving trusts, business succession, international assets, or sophisticated tax planning.

Updates: £100-£300 each time you want to make changes or create a new will.

Regional variation matters. London solicitors typically charge more than those in smaller towns.

Online Will Service Costs

Farewill: £100 for a single will, £160 for mirror wills. Annual update service available for £10/year.

Co-op Legal Services: £149 for a single will, £249 for mirror wills. Includes telephone support and legal review.

Which? Wills: £120-£195 depending on service tier (self-service, review, or premium).

WUHLD: £49.99 for a single will including will, testator guide, witness guide, and asset inventory. Mirror wills available.

DIY Will Kit Costs

Will forms: £10-£30 for printed forms or downloadable templates.

Hidden cost: Potential invalidation or legal disputes if completed incorrectly. The cheapest option isn't the best value if it doesn't work.

Free Options

Free Wills Month: Runs in March and October for people over 55 in selected locations across the UK. Solicitors provide free wills in exchange for consideration of a charitable bequest (not required).

Will Aid: Each November, participating solicitors offer free will writing in exchange for a donation to charity.

Limited availability: These schemes are valuable but limited by location and eligibility. If you qualify and they're available in your area, they're excellent options.

Value Analysis

Think about it this way: A £49.99 will that's legally valid protects assets potentially worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. It names guardians for your children and ensures your wishes are followed.

A £650 solicitor bill might be completely unnecessary if your estate is straightforward. But it might be essential if you need complex trust structures.

The key isn't finding the cheapest option—it's finding the appropriate option for your situation. For most people, that's an online service offering professional guidance at a reasonable price.

Hidden Costs to Consider

Storage fees: Some services charge annual storage fees (£50-£100/year). WUHLD and most online services don't charge ongoing storage fees.

Update fees: If you need to change your will later, solicitors typically charge £100-£300. Some online services offer free or low-cost updates.

Executor fees: Your executor can claim fees from your estate (usually a percentage of the estate value). Family members often waive this, but professional executors charge.

Remember: Will-writing costs are separate from probate costs. Creating a will costs £50-£2,000. Administering the estate after death (probate) is a separate process with different costs.

Common Mistakes When Making a Will (And How to Avoid Them)

Learning from others' mistakes is much less expensive than making them yourself.

Mistake 1: Beneficiary Witnesses the Will

This is the most costly single error. If someone who benefits from your will witnesses it, they automatically lose their entire inheritance. The will remains valid, but their gift is void.

Rachel left her sister £75,000 in her will. Her sister and brother-in-law witnessed the signing. When Rachel died, her sister inherited nothing. The £75,000 went into the residuary estate and was distributed to other beneficiaries instead.

How to avoid: Never have beneficiaries or their spouses witness your will. Choose neighbors, friends, colleagues, or anyone else not mentioned in the document.

Mistake 2: Not Updating After Major Life Events

Marriage automatically revokes your will in England and Wales. If you marry, any will you made before marriage becomes invalid unless it was made "in contemplation of marriage" to that specific person. This means you're effectively dying without a valid will, leaving your estate subject to intestacy rules.

Divorce doesn't automatically revoke your will, but it treats your ex-spouse as if they died before you. They can't inherit or act as executor—but you should still update your will to reflect your new wishes.

How to avoid: Review your will every 5 years and after major life events: marriage, divorce, birth of children, death of beneficiaries or executors, significant asset changes, or moving abroad.

Mistake 3: Vague or Ambiguous Language

"My jewelry to my daughters" - which pieces to which daughters? "Fairly distributed" - what does that mean exactly? "My estate to my children" - equally, or can the executor decide?

Vague language leads to disputes, delays, and sometimes court intervention to interpret your intentions.

How to avoid: Be specific. "My engagement ring to my daughter Sarah, my pearl necklace to my daughter Emma." If you want equal distribution, say "in equal shares." Online services typically use precise legal language that prevents ambiguity.

Mistake 4: Not Naming Backup Executors

David named his brother as executor. His brother died two years before David did. When David died, there was no executor, so the family had to apply for letters of administration—a more complex and expensive process.

How to avoid: Always name at least one backup executor. If your first choice can't or won't serve, your backup takes over automatically.

Mistake 5: Forgetting Digital Assets

Your crypto wallets, domain names, photo libraries, social media accounts, and online businesses all have value—financial or sentimental. Without access information, these can be lost forever.

How to avoid: Include digital assets in your will. More importantly, maintain a separate secure document with account details and passwords that your executor can access. Your will is public after probate, so don't include passwords in it.

Mistake 6: DIY Amendments

Mark crossed out a beneficiary's name in his will and handwrote a replacement name. When he died, that entire gift was invalid because the alteration wasn't properly witnessed.

How to avoid: Never handwrite changes on your original will. Instead, either:

Create a formal codicil (amendment document with the same witnessing requirements as a will)
Make a new will that expressly revokes all previous wills (often simpler)

Many online services make updates easy and affordable, so there's little reason to risk handwritten changes.

Mistake 7: Assuming Joint Property Passes Through Your Will

If you own your home as "joint tenants" with someone, it automatically passes to them when you die, regardless of your will. Your will only controls property you own as "tenants in common."

How to avoid: Understand how your property is owned. If you want it to pass through your will, you may need to "sever the tenancy" and become tenants in common. This is especially important for unmarried couples and second marriages.

Mistake 8: Not Telling Anyone Where It Is

Creating a perfect will doesn't help if no one can find it after you die. Families sometimes discover wills years later after estates have already been distributed under intestacy rules.

How to avoid:

Tell your executor where your will is stored
Consider registering with the National Will Register (£25-£40)
Store it somewhere logical and secure
Give a sealed copy to your executor or solicitor

Mistake 9: Leaving Out Residuary Clause

Your "residuary estate" is everything not specifically mentioned—often the bulk of your estate. Without a residuary clause, these assets fall into partial intestacy.

How to avoid: Every will should include "I give the rest of my estate to..." This catches everything you haven't specifically mentioned. Online services include this automatically.

After You've Made Your Will - Next Steps

Congratulations—you've done something 59% of UK adults haven't done. But your job isn't quite finished yet.

Store It Safely

Your will needs to be somewhere secure but accessible:

Fireproof safe at home: Effective, but tell someone where it is and how to access it.

With your solicitor: Many solicitors offer free storage. Your will is registered in their system and can be easily located.

Professional storage service: The National Will Register and other services offer secure storage for an annual fee.

Not in a safe deposit box: After your death, banks often won't let anyone access these without going through probate, creating a catch-22.

Tell Your Executor

Your executor needs to know:

That they've been appointed
Where to find your will
Roughly what's involved in the role (though they don't need all details)
Who your solicitor is (if you used one)

Don't assume they'll figure it out. An explicit conversation prevents confusion later.

Register It (Optional)

The National Will Register is a searchable database of wills. For a one-time fee of £25-£40, your will's location is registered. After your death, executors and solicitors can search the database to find your will.

This is optional but helpful, especially if:

You move house frequently
You don't have close family members
You're concerned your will might not be found

Keep a Copy for Reference

Store a copy separately from your original. Mark it clearly as "COPY" so no one thinks it's the original. This copy is for your reference if you're reviewing your will or updating it.

Never sign multiple originals. This can create confusion about which version is correct.

Review Regularly

Set a reminder to review your will:

Every 5 years as a baseline
After any major life event (marriage, divorce, birth, death, house purchase, significant asset changes, business start/sale)
If laws change significantly (rare but possible)

You don't necessarily need to change your will at each review. But you should confirm it still reflects your wishes.

Know When to Update

Some life events absolutely require a will update:

Marriage: Your existing will is automatically revoked. Make a new will after marriage.

Divorce: While not automatically revoked, you should update to remove your ex-spouse and name new executors/guardians/beneficiaries.

Children: If you have or adopt children, update to name guardians and include them as beneficiaries. Our guide on choosing guardians for your children provides comprehensive advice on making this crucial decision.

Deaths: If beneficiaries, executors, or guardians die, update your will with new choices.

Significant assets: Buying a house, inheriting money, starting a business—these might change how you want to distribute your estate.

Moving abroad: Different countries have different rules. Your UK will might not cover foreign assets.

Consider Related Documents

Your will is the foundation, but other documents complete your protection:

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA): Allows someone to make decisions for you if you lose mental capacity while alive. A will only takes effect after death. An LPA covers incapacity during life.

Funeral plan: Covers funeral costs in advance and specifies your exact wishes. Separate from your will.

Letter of wishes: A non-binding document giving guidance to your executors about your values, relationships, and hopes for your family. More personal and flexible than your will.

Tell Key People

Without revealing specific distributions or amounts, tell key people:

Your spouse/partner that you have a will
Your executor that they're appointed
Your adult children (if appropriate) that you've made arrangements

You don't need to tell them the contents, just that you've done it. This prevents "I didn't know you had a will" confusion after your death.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I really need a will if I don't own much?

A: Yes. Even if you only have £10,000 in savings, a car, and personal belongings, that adds up quickly. More importantly, intestacy rules are rigid and might not match your wishes—your unmarried partner gets nothing, for example. If you have children, naming guardians is impossible without a will. And "not much" often turns out to be more than you think when you add up everything.

Q: Can I write my own will without help?

A: Legally, yes. Practically, it's risky. DIY wills have high error rates—incorrect witnessing, ambiguous language, missing critical clauses, and technical mistakes that invalidate the document. For £49, an online service guides you through every requirement and reduces error risk dramatically. The small cost is worth the security.

Q: Is an online will legally valid?

A: Absolutely. Courts don't distinguish between solicitor wills, online wills, or DIY wills. They only care whether the will meets legal requirements: over 18, written, signed by you, witnessed by two independent people, all present together. An online service that guides you through these steps produces a completely valid will.

Q: How long does it take to make a will?

A: Online services: 15-20 minutes if you have your information ready (executor names, guardian choices, rough distribution plan). Solicitor route: 2-6 weeks from first appointment to signed will, including waiting time for drafts and appointments. DIY approach: 1-2 hours to complete, but high risk of errors that can take years to resolve.

Q: What happens if I die without a will?

A: Intestacy rules distribute your estate by a government formula. Your spouse gets the first £322,000 plus half of anything above that. Your children share the rest. Unmarried partners inherit nothing. Parents might inherit instead of siblings. Courts decide who raises your children. The process takes longer and costs more than if you had a valid will. Learn exactly what happens without a will to understand the full implications.

Q: Can I change my will after I make it?

A: Yes, absolutely. You can make a formal amendment (called a codicil) or create a completely new will that revokes previous versions. Never handwrite changes directly on your original will—this invalidates those sections. Most online services make updates simple and affordable. Many people create a new will rather than amending the old one because it's clearer.

Q: Do I need a solicitor or can I use an online service?

A: About 90% of UK adults can safely use online services. Your estate is probably straightforward enough if you're naming family members as beneficiaries, making standard percentage distributions, and don't have complex assets. Use a solicitor only if you need: trusts for disabled dependents, business succession planning, international property expertise, or sophisticated inheritance tax structures. If you're unsure, start with an online service's eligibility check—most will tell you if your situation is too complex.

Q: How much does it cost to make a will?

A: Online services: £49.99-£160. Solicitors: £300-£500 for simple wills, £600-£900 for couples' mirror wills, £800-£2,000+ for complex estates. DIY kits: £10-£30 (but high risk). Free options exist during Free Wills Month (March/October, over-55s) and Will Aid (November, participating solicitors, donation to charity). For most people, £50-£150 online represents the best value. See our complete cost breakdown for all options.

Take Action Today: Protect Your Family's Future

You now understand everything you need to know about making a will in the UK. The options are clear, the costs are transparent, and the process is straightforward.

Key takeaways:

59% of UK adults don't have a will, leaving their families vulnerable to intestacy rules
You have three main options: solicitor (£300-£2,000+), online service (£49-£160), or DIY (risky and not recommended)
Online services are suitable for 90% of UK adults with straightforward estates
Legal requirements are simple: be 18+, written format, your signature, two independent witnesses, all present together
After making your will, store it safely, tell your executor, and review every 5 years or after major life events

Emma finally made her will. It took her 18 minutes online while her daughter napped. She named guardians for her children, distributed her estate between her partner and daughters, and appointed her sister as executor. The relief was immediate—she'd protected her family and checked a major item off her mental list that had been weighing on her for three years.

You can have that same relief today.

Create your will and protect your loved ones with WUHLD. Our step-by-step platform ensures you meet all UK legal requirements and makes the entire process simple.

For just £49.99 (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 ensuring proper signing
A Complete Asset Inventory document to organize your affairs

You can preview your entire will free before paying anything—no credit card required. If it's not exactly what you want, adjust it until it's perfect. Only pay when you're completely satisfied.

Stop procrastinating. Your family deserves this protection.

Preview Your Will Free – No Payment Required

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information about making a will in the UK and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your individual situation, please consult a qualified solicitor. WUHLD's online will service is suitable for straightforward UK estates; complex situations may require professional legal advice.

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