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Wills
Write a simple will online in around 15 minutes, and understand exactly what makes it legally valid, what it should include, and when you might need more support.
Yes, a simple will made online is legally valid in England and Wales, provided it meets the same requirements as a will drawn up by a solicitor.
These rules come from the Wills Act 1837 and apply whether you use a solicitor, an online service, or write the will by hand. Scotland has separate legislation, so different rules apply if you live there. A simple will online works well for straightforward estates, but if you have a business, overseas assets, or a blended family, it's worth getting advice from a solicitor instead.
Making a simple will online UK-wide takes most people under 15 minutes, and it's completely legal as long as you get a few basic things right. Every year, millions of UK adults put off writing a will, which means when they die, the law - not their wishes - decides who inherits what. A simple will covers the essentials: your executor, your beneficiaries, and clear instructions for a straightforward estate.
A simple will suits someone with a single home (or none), savings, and a short, clear list of beneficiaries. A complex will is needed where there are business assets, trusts, overseas property, or family arrangements that could be contested. Before you start, it's worth checking which one applies to you.
Quick check
A simple will usually isn't enough if you have a blended family, business or partnership assets, property overseas, or wishes that a family member might contest. We cover each of these later in this guide, under when a simple will isn't enough.
Yes - a simple will made online is legally valid in England and Wales, provided it meets the same signing and witnessing rules as a will drawn up by a solicitor. The law that sets these rules is the Wills Act 1837, and the core requirements haven't changed in the way that matters here for well over a century.
To be valid, your will must meet these requirements:
Miss any of these steps and the will can be challenged, or treated as invalid altogether.
The most common mistake we see is a witness who's also a beneficiary. Under the Wills Act 1837, the gift to them becomes void, even though the rest of the will stays valid. Always choose two independent adults who won't inherit anything from your estate.
This applies to England and Wales. Scotland has its own rules under separate legislation, so if you live north of the border, check the specific requirements before relying on an England and Wales template.
If you're unsure whether your will meets the legal requirements, or you're worried about affording legal advice, Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper (0800 138 7777) both offer free, independent guidance.
Get it right first time
Speak to an advisor about how a simple will fits into your wider financial and estate planning.
Making your will online follows the same logic a solicitor would use, just without the appointment. Here's what the process usually looks like from start to finish.
How it works
List your assets
Property, savings, investments, and any personal possessions you want to leave to someone specific.
Name your executor
The person (or people) responsible for carrying out your wishes. Many people choose a partner, adult child, or close friend.
Choose your beneficiaries
Decide who inherits what, and in what proportions if you're splitting your estate between more than one person.
Appoint a guardian
If you have children under 18, name who would care for them if both parents or guardians died.
Add your funeral wishes
Optional, but it saves your family having to guess what you'd have wanted.
Complete the online form
Work through a guided questionnaire that turns your answers into a legally worded document.
Print, sign, and witness it
Your will only becomes valid once it's printed, signed, and witnessed correctly - see the legal requirements above.
A simple will online typically costs less than a solicitor, though prices and the level of protection vary between providers. DIY will kits are cheaper still, but they carry the most risk of a mistake that could invalidate the whole document.
Charities also run free-will schemes at certain times of year, such as Will Aid in November and Free Wills Month in March and October, in exchange for a voluntary donation. These are worth considering if cost is the main barrier, though appointment slots fill up quickly.
Whichever route you choose, a valid simple will needs to cover the same core elements. Missing one of these is one of the most common reasons a will gets challenged or misinterpreted after someone dies.
Checklist
Your full legal name and address
So there's no doubt about whose will it is.
A revocation clause
A statement cancelling any wills you made previously.
Your executor(s)
The person or people responsible for administering your estate.
Specific gifts
Named items or amounts left to particular people, such as jewellery or a sum of money.
Residuary estate instructions
What happens to everything left over once specific gifts and debts are settled.
A guardian for minor children
If applicable, naming who'd care for them.
Funeral wishes
Optional, but helpful for the people carrying them out.
Your signature, date, and witness details
Without this, none of the rest of the document is legally enforceable.
A simple will works well for uncomplicated estates, but it isn't designed to handle every situation. If any of the following apply to you, it's worth getting legal advice rather than relying on a template.
When to get advice
Blended families
Step-children, an ex-spouse, or a second marriage can all create competing claims that a simple template isn't built to handle.
Business or partnership assets
Passing on a share of a business usually needs specific legal wording to avoid disrupting the business itself.
Overseas assets or property
Different countries have their own inheritance laws, which can conflict with a UK will.
Estates near or above the inheritance tax threshold
Estates over £325,000 (or up to £500,000 with the residence nil-rate band) may benefit from specialist tax planning.
Trusts for a disabled or vulnerable beneficiary
These need careful legal structuring to protect means-tested benefits.
If you recognise your situation here, our wills and estate planning guide covers the next steps for more complex cases.
A will only takes effect after you die - it says nothing about what happens if you lose the mental capacity to manage your own affairs while you're still alive. That's where a Lasting Power of Attorney comes in, letting someone you trust make financial or health decisions on your behalf if you're ever unable to.
Many people also use the process of writing a will as a natural moment to review their wider finances, including whether a remortgage to release equity for estate planning makes sense, or how equity release and inheritance planning might fit together. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it, so any decision to release equity from your property should be considered carefully and discussed with an advisor first.
Speaking to an advisor about your will and your Lasting Power of Attorney at the same time means you only have to explain your circumstances once.
Common questions
Yes, you can make a legally valid will online without a solicitor if your estate is straightforward. It just needs to meet the same rules as a solicitor-drafted will: you must be 18 or over, of sound mind, and your signature must be made and acknowledged in front of two adult witnesses who both then sign the will themselves. If your circumstances are more complex, such as a business, overseas property, or a blended family, it's worth speaking to a solicitor instead.
Most people complete a simple will online in 15 to 30 minutes. The exact time depends on how many assets and beneficiaries you need to list, and whether you're also naming a guardian for children or including funeral wishes.
Yes. You can update a will at any time by making a new one that revokes the old version, or by adding a formal codicil for small changes. It's worth reviewing your will after any major life event, such as marriage, divorce, having a child, or buying a property.
No, there's no legal requirement to register a will in the UK. However, it's worth storing it somewhere safe and telling your executor where to find it. Many people also register their will's location with the National Will Register, so it can be found more easily after they die.
If you die without a will, your estate is distributed according to the rules of intestacy, which follow a fixed legal order of relatives rather than your personal wishes. Unmarried partners have no automatic right to inherit under intestacy, and if you have children, the courts - not you - decide who becomes their guardian.
A handwritten will can be legally valid in England and Wales, as long as it meets the same requirements as a typed one: it must be signed by you and witnessed by two adults who are present at the same time and who aren't beneficiaries. Handwritten wills are more likely to be challenged if the wording is unclear, so it's worth having someone check the document before you sign it.
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Wills & Estate Planning
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