Wills

A will is a legal document that sets out how you want your money, property, and possessions to be distributed after you die. It also allows you to name guardians for any children under 18, specify funeral wishes, and appoint executors to carry out your instructions.

Without a will, you die "intestate", and the rules of intestacy decide who inherits your estate. In England and Wales, this means your assets pass to your closest relatives in a fixed order. If you are unmarried, your partner receives nothing, regardless of how long you have lived together. If you have no surviving relatives, your entire estate goes to the Crown.

According to Royal London, around 54% of UK adults do not have a will. This leaves millions of families at risk of their wishes being ignored. Writing a will is especially important if you own property, have children, run a business, or want to leave money to people outside your immediate family.

If you die without a will, the consequences can be significant. Read our guide on what happens if you die without a will to understand the intestacy rules in detail.

There are several types of wills available in the UK, and the right one depends on your circumstances. Understanding the differences helps you choose the option that best protects your family and assets.

A single will is the most common type. It covers one person and sets out how their estate should be distributed. If you are married or in a civil partnership, you and your partner can each make a single will, or you can opt for mirror wills, which are two separate wills with matching terms.

A trust will places some or all of your assets into a trust on your death. This can protect your estate from care home fees, sideways disinheritance if your partner remarries, or inheritance tax liabilities. Trust wills are more complex and typically cost more than standard wills.

A living will (also called an advance decision) is not the same as a standard will. It records your wishes about medical treatment if you lose the capacity to make decisions. It does not cover how your assets are distributed.

You have three main options for writing a will in the UK: doing it yourself, using an online will writing service, or instructing a solicitor or professional will writer.

Writing a will yourself is the cheapest option. You can buy a DIY will kit from a stationery shop or download a template online. However, mistakes in a DIY will can make it invalid or lead to disputes. If your estate is straightforward, a simple will may be all you need.

Online will writing services guide you through a series of questions and produce a legally valid will. They typically cost between £30 and £90 for a single will and take around 15 to 30 minutes to complete.

Using a solicitor gives you face-to-face advice and is recommended for complex estates, blended families, or business owners. A solicitor can advise on appointing guardians, setting up trusts, and making tax-efficient plans. For a full step-by-step walkthrough, read our guide on how to write a will in the UK.

The cost of writing a will in the UK varies depending on whether you use a DIY kit, an online service, or a solicitor. Prices range from under £30 for the simplest options to over £500 for complex estates.

A basic single will through a solicitor typically costs £150 to £300. Mirror wills for couples usually cost £200 to £400. Online will writing services charge between £30 and £90 for a single will, making them a popular choice for straightforward estates.

More complex wills involving trusts, business assets, or overseas property can cost £500 to £1,000 or more. Some solicitors charge a fixed fee, while others bill by the hour at around £200 to £300 per hour.

If you want a detailed breakdown, read our guide on how much a will costs in the UK. You can also compare your options in our will writing service vs solicitor guide to decide which route suits your needs.

For a will to be legally valid in England and Wales, it must meet specific requirements set out in the Wills Act 1837. If any of these requirements are not met, the will can be challenged or declared invalid.

You must be 18 years or older to make a valid will (or be a member of the armed forces on active service). You must have testamentary capacity, meaning you understand what a will is, the extent of your estate, and the claims people may have on it.

The will must be in writing and signed by you (or by someone in your presence and on your direction). Your signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two witnesses, both present at the same time. The witnesses must also sign the will.

Crucially, your witnesses cannot be beneficiaries of the will or their spouses or civil partners. If a witness is a beneficiary, their gift under the will becomes void.

Using a solicitor or professional will writer reduces the risk of errors. Our guide explains whether you need a solicitor to write a will and when professional help is worth the cost.

You should review your will regularly and update it whenever your circumstances change. A will that does not reflect your current situation can lead to unintended consequences for your family.

Marriage automatically revokes your existing will in England and Wales, unless the will was made in contemplation of that specific marriage. If you get married and do not make a new will, intestacy rules apply.

Divorce does not revoke your will, but it does remove your former spouse as a beneficiary or executor. The rest of the will remains valid, which may not reflect your updated wishes.

You should also update your will if you have children, buy or sell property, receive a significant inheritance, or if a beneficiary or executor dies. Changes in tax law, such as adjustments to the inheritance tax threshold, may also affect your estate planning.

Making changes to your will is straightforward. For minor updates, a solicitor can add a codicil. For significant changes, it is better to write a new will entirely. You can use an online will writing service to update your will quickly and affordably.