will writing services uk

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• Births, deaths, marriages and care
• Death and bereavement

Making a will

Write your will.

Your will should set out:

• who you want to benefit from your will
• who should look after any children under 18
• who is going to sort out your estate and carry out your wishes after your death (your executor)
• what happens if the people you want to benefit die before you

You can also include a charity in your will .

When you need legal advice

You can get advice from a professional if your will is not straightforward, for example:

• you share a property with someone who is not your husband, wife or civil partner
• you want to leave money or property to a dependant who cannot care for themselves
• you have several family members who may make a claim on your will, such as a second spouse or children from another marriage
• your permanent home is outside the UK
• you have property overseas
• you have a business

Keep your will safe

You can keep your will at your home or store it with:

• your solicitor
• a company that offers the storage of wills - you can search online
• the national probate registry in Newcastle

Read full guidance on storing your will with the Probate Service .

You should tell your executor (the person you’ve chosen to carry out your will), a close friend or relative where your will is.

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• Wills, Trusts & Estates

Will Writing Services

A Will is a legal document that lets you decide what happens to your money, property, and possessions (your ‘estate’) after your death. It allows you to clearly set out your wishes and decide who’s responsible (executor) for dealing with your estate. It also sets out any procedures the executor may need to follow. With effective planning, a Will can also make sure that your loved ones are provided for in the most tax-efficient way.

If you don’t make a Will, the law will divide your estate according to what’s known as the rules of intestacy. These rules are very fixed and may not reflect what you’d like to happen to your wealth, or what’s most tax efficient.

More information about Wills can be found in our Wills Guide . You can also choose one of the options listed:

• Making A Will
• Our Online and Postal Will Service
• Our Bespoke Will Service
• Reviewing And/Or Changing Your Existing Will
• Accessing Your Documents
• Contesting Or Defending A Will
• Choosing Or Being Named As An Executor

Making a Will

Our friendly team of experts can help you prepare a Will to:

• Make sure your money and property go to the people you want them to go to
• Minimise inheritance tax
• Name trusted people as executors* to sort out your affairs when you die
• Appoint legal guardians for any children who are still minors
• Reflect changes in your life circumstances, such as marriage or divorce, or the birth of children or grandchildren
• Ensure gifts of personal items are left to the right people
• Set up trusts and make gifts to charity.

*We act as executors for many clients and have administered thousands of estates.

Choosing the right Will service for you

Our Will services are easy to use and can be tailored to your needs. We can help you decide what type of service would suit you best.

Our online and postal Will service

This fixed fee service may be perfect for you if:

• Your estate, personal circumstances and wishes are relatively straightforward
• You’re happy to complete a secure online questionnaire or complete and return a postal form
• You don’t want advice on inheritance tax planning, trusts or other aspects covered by our bespoke service.

And with this service, if you appoint Irwin Mitchell as your executor, you’ll also get access to our Wills Assured service.

Fees for our online will service are £175 for a single Will or £260 for ‘mirror’ Wills.

If you prefer to use our postal service, fees are £195 for a single Will or £295 for ‘mirror’ Wills and you can download the form  and send it back to us.

Our bespoke Will service

We know that life can sometimes be more complex, involving scenarios that are unique to you and your family. This means your Will may need to reflect this, with a more tailored and bespoke solution to give you and your loved ones the confidence and security you need.

You may prefer dedicated legal and tax advice tailored to your needs if:

• You prefer to discuss your wishes and options with an adviser at an in person or virtual meeting or on the phone
• You would like to talk about inheritance tax planning or trusts
• You need advice on how to provide for your beneficiaries, taking into account their particular circumstances
• You have business interests, agricultural assets, overseas assets, international connections or your estate is over £1m
• You are a beneficiary of a trust
• You have made gifts over £3,000 in any tax year
• You or your partner have children from a previous relationship.

Our fees for the Will drafting elements of this service start from £850 plus VAT for a single Will or from £1,050 plus VAT for ‘mirror’ Wills and depend on your particular requirements. We’ll be able to give you an indication of the likely cost after an initial chat and, once we know more, we’ll confirm fees in writing before we proceed. We’ll also highlight other services that may be of interest to you such as advice on estate planning, powers of attorney, trusts and tax.

Sharia-compliant Islamic Wills

A Sharia-compliant Islamic Will (Wasiyyah) can be suitable for Muslims who’d like their assets to pass in accordance with the principles of Sharia law. Our solicitors are experts in Sharia law compliance and can help you provide for your family in a way that follows your faith.

Wills Assured Service

As part of our online and postal Will Service, we also offer our Wills Assured Service. Once finalised, we can store your Will for you. If you appoint Irwin Mitchell Trustees Limited as the executor of your estate, you’ll also able to make free amendments as part of our Wills Assured Service .

This package of additional benefits is designed to make life simpler for you and your loved ones knowing:

• Your Will is kept safe and will be easy to access after your death
• You can update it at any time if your circumstances change
• All your important digital information is in one place.

Reviewing or changing your existing Will (Adding a Codicil)

An up-to-date Will is essential for making sure your wishes reflect your current situation and includes everyone you wish.

It’s good practice to recheck your Will every five years, especially to make sure it considers any changes in tax regulations that might affect you.

We suggest reviewing your Will following major life changes, for example if:

• You get married or divorced
• Any of your beneficiaries get married or die
• New children or grandchildren are born, and you want them to inherit
• There’s a significant change in your financial circumstances
• You come into any inheritance – this could change the value of your estate and the Inheritance Tax payable.

With our Wills Assured Service , standard updates are free. That means you don’t have to worry about paying extra fees to keep your Will fit for purpose.

Deciding whether to make changes to your existing Will (adding a codicil) or to write a new one will depend on the scale and number of changes you want to make. A codicil is an addition to a Will that can amend or revoke parts of it. This can be suitable if there are just one or two small changes.

If you need any large revisions, it’s often better to write a new Will to avoid confusion. We can explore these options with you and advise on what’s best for you and your loved ones.

Accessing your documents

Your Will belongs to you, and we’ll happily store it for you and provide you with a copy when you need one. If at any stage you’d like your original Will returned to you, just let us know and we’ll tell you what we need to send it to you. When you die, your executors will need the original Will. We can explain the terms of the Will to them and help them deal with the probate process .

Contesting or defending a Will

If you’ve been left out of a Will, haven’t been left as much as you expected, or think the Will is wrong in some way, you might be able to contest it.

Contesting a Will can be challenging and feel daunting. With the help of our Will Disputes Team, we can support and guide you through the process. We can also help if you are an executor defending against a Will dispute .

Lasting Power Of Attorney

At the same time as thinking about your Will, it makes sense to also consider making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) . These are useful if you’re worried about losing the ability to manage your own affairs in the future. We can discuss the options with you and help you appoint the right person to make decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity.

If you want to find out more,  contact the team today .

For general enquiries

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Will Writing Services - More Information

How do i make a will.

Making a Will is simple. There’s a few ways to do it:

• Online – the questionnaire  only takes ten minutes to complete
• By post – download the form  and send it back to us
• By phone – call and speak to us
• In person – come and speak to us in one of our national offices

We recommend our online or postal service if your estate is relatively straightforward. If you have more complex requirements, or you’d like to talk about tax-planning or asset protection options such as setting up a trust, we advise speaking to us on the phone or coming in to see one of our experts.

Call us today for an initial consultation on 0370 1500 100 – or use our online enquiry form  and we’ll give you a call back.

How Much Does It Cost?

This depends on your requirements and the complexity of your estate. Standard Wills offered through our online service cost:

• £175 (including VAT) for a single Will
• £260 (including VAT) for ‘mirror’ Wills (for couples - if your needs are very similar).

If your estate is fairly straightforward we recommend this option. Get started with our online wills service  today.

You can also use our postal service by downloading the form and sending it in to us. The fees for this service are:

• £195 (including VAT) for a single Will
• £295 (including VAT) for ‘mirror’ Wills.

For both these services there may be additional costs if you need more complex advice. We would let you know about these before drafting your Will.

More complex and high value estates require more dedicated legal advice tailored to your needs, to ensure you and your loved ones are provided for in the most tax-efficient way .

For this service we recommend contacting the team to arrange an appointment with one of our experts who can let you know the options available to you.

What Should I Think About When Making My Will?

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but some of the things to consider when making a Will are:

• The value of your estate – inheritance tax (IHT) is generally due on anything over the £325,000 threshold (£650,000 for married couples and civil partners) once mortgage and other debts are deducted
• A new IHT allowance of £125,000 may apply if you own a property and leave some of your estate to relatives like children and grandchildren.
• How you own your assets – if you co-own property with your spouse, the type of tenancy you have will affect whether or not they can continue to live there after your death
• Who you want to leave your assets to (i.e. your beneficiaries)
• Who you would like to be the  executors of your estate
• Whether some assets would be best placed in a trust for asset protection purposes.

These are important decisions to make and you should seek legal advice to make sure your estate is structured in the best way for you and your beneficiaries.

Read through our Wills Checklist  to see if you’ve got everything covered.

Can You Store My Will?

Yes we can. Our specialist storage facility ensures your Will is kept secure from the risk of theft, fire or water damage. It also means it’s easily accessed after your death, giving you peace of mind and making things easier for your loved ones.

This service is free for our standard, bespoke and Wills Assured  clients.

Meet The Team

Our team has decades of experience helping people prepare, amend and execute Wills. We’re regularly appointed as executors and are very experienced in estate administration.

We also have experts in trust administration and tax compliance, which means we have everything you need to plan effectively.

We have considerable experience in complex estates and frequently work with international and high net worth clients.

Irwin Mitchell are a very professional, trustworthy and straightforward company to deal with. I would recommend them to anyone."

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This upcoming crisis means that planning ahead is more important then ever - find out more about how our Later Life Planning experts can help you prepare

"It’s never too late to start but the earlier you do the easier it is." - Richard Potts, CEO of IM Asset Management

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you need to review your will.

Having an up-to-date Will is essential to make sure your plans for your estate reflect your current situation and include everyone you want to include.

Its good practice to recheck your Will every five years, especially to make sure it takes into account any changes in tax regulations that might affect you.

You should also review your Will following major life changes, for example if:

• New children or grandchildren are born who you want to inherit
• You come into any inheritance – this could change the value of your estate and the Inheritance Tax payable

With our Wills Assured service, standard updates are free – so you don’t have to worry about paying extra fees to keep your Will fit for purpose.  Find out more.

Why Choose Irwin Mitchell?

Irwin Mitchell is a leading law firm with considerable expertise in the area of wills and estates. We’ve helped thousands of clients prepare for the future with strategic estate planning.

The team frequently receives five star reviews from our customers on Trustpilot, and we’re recognised in the leading UK legal guide, including the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners.

We’re adept at dealing with complex estates and also handling international probate issues for clients who have assets in different countries. We also have the benefit of acting as executor for many of our clients, which allows us to bring our detailed knowledge of the probate process into our will writing services.

We pride ourselves on providing clear advice in plain English, free from jargon, and our team is always on hand to discuss any questions you have.

Can You Help Me Change My Will?

Yes – we can help you write a new will or add a codicil to your existing will. A codicil is an addition to a Will that can amend or revoke parts of it. It can be enough if there are just one or two small changes, but if you need any substantial revisions it’s better to write a new Will to avoid confusion.

Our probate and tax experts can also check that your Will is structured in the best way for your estate and be able to advise on any amends where necessary.

Standard updates are free with our Wills Assured  service.

Related Information - Will Writing Services

About irwin mitchell.

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Helping you make the most out of your money

Searching Money Mentor . . .

Best online will writers.

| Editor-at-large

Updated December 13, 2023

In this guide

If you have relatively simple financial affairs, then an online will could be a cheap and convenient option for you.

This guide looks what an online will writer is, who the service might be suitable for and lists our top picks.

In this article, we explain:

• What is an online will service?
• Who is it suitable for?
• What are the top online will writers?
• How are our ratings calculated?

Read more: Guide to wills

This article contains affiliate links that can earn us revenue *

What is an online will writing service?

Online will writing services allows those with simple financial affairs to write a legal will, quickly and simply, without the need for face-to-face meetings and expensive solicitors fees. It can offer greater peace of mind than a DIY will.

A number, such as Farewill use in-house legal experts to check over your will to ensure it’s written correctly and your wishes are clear.

Below, we cover in more detail what else the services offer, along with other online will writers that we rate highly, including Bequest, Bequeathed and Guardian Angel. Many services will also offer lasting power of attorney services.

Word of warning: an online will writer is not for everyone

An online will writing service is unlikely to be suitable if you have complicated affairs and inheritance tax issues, own your own business or you have remarried.

Online will writing services also aren’t authorised and regulated in England and Wales in the same way as solicitors.

Remember, once you have your written will, it will need to be signed and witnessed to make it legally binding.

Read more: Do I need a lawyer to make a will?

Want to watch rather than read? Tips for drawing up a will

This video lists the top tips on how to create your own will. Or alternatively, read how to write a will .

Top online will writers

Makeawillonline.co.uk

Best for: Legal advice

Best for: free service (no legal check)

Best for price

Farewill Online Will

Best for customer experience

Guardian Angel

Best for transparency

*All products, brands or properties mentioned in this article are selected by our writers and editors based on first-hand experience or customer feedback, and are of a standard that we believe our readers expect. This article contains links from which we can earn revenue. This revenue helps us to support the content of this website and to continue to invest in our award-winning journalism. For more, see How we make our money and Editorial promise

Important information

Some of the products promoted are from our affiliate partners from whom we receive compensation. While we aim to feature some of the best products available, we cannot review every product on the market.

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What is Free Wills Month?

If you haven’t got round to writing your Will yet, now might be the time to do it because March is Free Wills Month. Instead of paying a solicitor fee, those over the age of 55 are invited to donate to charity. Here we explain how it works and who is eligible. Free Wills Month […]

What happens to debts when you die?

Debts aren’t inherited but are paid off out of your estate when you die. This means that your loved ones are off the hook, unless they had a joint loan with you or provided a loan guarantee for you. If your estate doesn’t have sufficient funds to pay for the debts, then they are likely […]

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The uk's best online will writing service.

• Solicitor-approved online service
• The most comprehensive service on the market
• Follow the simple step-by-step instructions
• Everything written in plain language
• Help is available every step of the way
• Save hundreds of pounds in solicitor's fees
• Make unlimited updates free of charge
• 30-day money back guarantee

START NOW! HAVE YOUR WILL IN YOUR HANDS IN 20 MINUTES

Trusted by over 2 million people.

For over 24 years, the #1 provider of online wills and living wills for england & wales..

Popular Packages

Last will and testament.

• Create a perfect, solicitor-approved legal Will from the comfort of your home

Premium Last Will and Testament

Last Will and Testament, plus:

• Document your funeral wishes
• Organ donation preferences
• Write final messages
• Assign Keyholders®

MOST POPULAR

Complete estate plan.

Premium Last Will and Testament, plus:

• Living Will (Power of Attorney for Health Care)

Premium Estate Plan

Complete Estate Plan, plus:

• Life Locker for storing critical information for your family and executor
• Digital Vault for uploading important files and documents

Build Your Own

Create a perfect, solicitor-approved legal Will from the comfort of your home.

Specify your health care wishes in case you are ever unable to communicate.

If you live outside of the U.K., or have assets in Canada or U.S.

Store personal information critical to be passed on to your family and executor.

40% off for your spouse/partner

"to make a will online at legalwills.co.uk, you answer a series of questions about your wishes, spanning 9 different sections.".

"Online services, like the one provided by LegalWills.co.uk are becoming more sophisticated, but are built from the same software used by estate planning solicitors."

Online Wills Made Easy

Click. print. sign. it's really that easy..

Frequently Asked Questions

There are no other payments required to prepare your legal Will. You can have a legal Will in your hands for £49.95 with nothing else to pay, ever.

What other options are there? If you wish, you can have your Will reviewed by one of our solicitors for £69.00 . Most people do not need this, and would not benefit from it, but if you have selected an option such as "None of the above. Let me describe in detail how to distribute my estate.", then you may want to consider this.

Your Will must first be printed, and then signed in the presence of two witnesses. If you do not have access to a printer, we can print it for you and mail it out. The cost for this is £9.95 , but again, most people do not need this option.

We also offer other services like MyLifeLocker™ and a Living Will. They are not required, but they may be useful to you depending on your situation.

What about document storage? We do not store physical documents, but we allow you to maintain an account with us if you want to update your document in the future.

The Will service costs £49.95 . With this payment, you are able to prepare your Will. It also gives you one year of unlimited updates to the document. You are able to print the document as often as you wish during that first year. You can download it as a PDF or Word file, but to make your document a legal Will, it must first be printed, and then signed in the presence of two witnesses. The online version is there for your convenience only.

If you choose not to maintain an account with us after the first year, your initial payment is all you will ever pay. We do not keep credit card details on file and cannot automatically charge beyond this initial payment.

If you wish, you can choose to store your documents online for longer than a year, which will make it easier to make updates in the future to reflect any changes in your personal or financial situation (rather than returning to a solicitor each time). This is of course optional, but it does make the process of maintaining your document more convenient. £11.95 will give you one additional year of updates, or you can purchase multiple years: 5 years at £29.95 , 10 years at £39.95 , 25 years at £79.95 ( £3.20 per year).

Every time you make an update to your Will, it must first be printed, and then signed in the presence of two witnesses again. If you choose not to maintain an account with us, you will always have your printed, signed document. If you don't need to make changes to that document, it will last you for the rest of your life, whether or not you have an account with us.

What happens if I don't maintain an account, and then in a few years I need to update it? If your account has not been touched in years, and it is inactive, we reserve the right to remove the account. You will receive an email notification that your account might be removed. However, in practice, we have never actually removed any accounts in our over 24 years of operation.

So, in all likelihood, you will be able to simply login to your account and pay £11.95 to reactivate it. This will give you one year of unlimited updates from the date of payment. (You will not have to pay for your inactive years.)

• Help text every step of the way.    Every page of our service has additional help text to answer your questions. If you get stuck, send us an email and we can help.
• Create your Will from anywhere at any time.    Our service works on any computer, phone or tablet. Which means you can create or update your Will in the middle of the night in Timbuktu if you need to.
• Unlimited updates.    If you write your Will with a solicitor, it could be out of date by the time you get home. You don't face that issue with LegalWills.co.uk. If your circumstances change, simply login to your account, update your document, and sign your new Will. There is no charge for updates as long as you maintain a membership.
• Professional reviews by a solicitor.    Our service works for the vast majority of situations, but on occasion people have unusual circumstances and need the reassurance of a legal professional's eye. We offer this as an option.
• Our other services.    We don't just do Will writing. We offer a complete portfolio of services that will help you to plan your estate. We have the LifeLocker® executor tool, that allows you to document all of your personal details and assets, and MyVault™ that lets you upload important files. Together with our Keyholder® mechanism, you can be assured that the right information gets into the right hands at the right time (and not before).
• Privacy and security.    We do not store any information as plain text. We do not store Wills in our database. All of your information is encrypted on our servers. Nobody can access it except you and your designated Keyholders® at the appropriate time. Furthermore, we do not share, trade or sell any of your data with third parties whatsoever.

U.K. Legal Wills is proud to have been seen in / partnered with:

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Will writing service – what to look for in a will writing company., testimonials, what they say about us.

Write yours online with a name you can trust. It’s easy, and we can review your document to make sure it’s good to go.

Our specialist lawyers and paralegals have thought of everything to make it quick and easy for you.

Use our online tools to get started, take a break and come back when you want

Create legally binding documents without paying expensive solicitors’ fees

We’ve got a team on hand if you get stuck

What’s special about your service?

We’re a paid-for service from Which? Ltd, part of the Which? group, which is wholly owned by the Consumers' Association, a not-for-profit organisation. Profits from our service go towards improving the service, and towards our wider mission as the UK’s consumer champion to make life simpler, fairer and safer for everyone.

Which? is 100% independent. With no owners, shareholders, government departments or advertisers to answer to, we work entirely on behalf of you, the consumer, and nobody else. We’re on your side.

How can I trust your service?

Which? Ltd is a reputable organisation. Our wills and powers of attorney team is staffed by specialist paralegals who’ve undergone professional training in wills and powers of attorney. The team is supervised by a solicitor regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

How do I know my document is legally binding?

With our review service, specialist paralegals go through your document with a fine-tooth comb to iron out errors and to make sure it’s legally compliant. When they’re 100% satisfied that it is, and once it’s been printed, signed and witnessed correctly, it will be legally binding.

Once I pay for the wills forms do I have to complete them by a certain date?

No, there isn't a time limit, you are very much in control of when you complete your will. So you can start, then pause and come back when you are ready. But, now you have purchased the wills, we suggest you complete them sooner rather than later.

How do I see all of the documents I have purchased?

Once logged in click 'My documents'. A list of all your purchased documents are here. If your document is not showing you may need to give us a call.

What’s my username and/or password?

If you've forgotten your username,  click here  and we'll email your username to you.

If you've forgotten your password, you can reset it  here

How can I contact you?

Log in to your account and message us via 'Contact us'.

Will Writing Firm of The Year (online) 2023

• Terms & conditions

Request a free consultation or quote today to explore your options in terms of Wills and other Estate Planning services.

Will Writing

Your Will is one of the most important legal documents that you will ever write. Request a free consultation today with one of our Senior Consultants to discuss your options.

Making a Will is the only way to ensure that your wishes are carried out after your death. If you die without a valid Will, you have died “intestate” and your Estate shall be distributed in accordance with the Law of Intestacy. This means:

• The Law states who will administer your estate and they may not someone that you trust to deal with your family´s inheritance. The administrator is also the person legally allowed to organise your funeral.
• The Law also states who will benefit from your estate and in some instances, how much they will receive.
• An unmarried partner who would have benefitted if you had written a Will is not legally entitled to any of your estate should you die without a Will. This means that they will inherit nothing and could also be left without a home.
• Your minor children could be placed into foster care until such time as a family member applies to the Courts for Guardianship.
• There is a higher risk of family arguments and also unnecessary stress for your loved ones.

Benefits of Well-Drafted Will

But there is an easy solution. A well drafted Legal Will is the best thing you can do for yourself and for you loved ones. A professional Will allows you to:

• Choose who will act as your Executors. They will arrange your funeral, apply for the Grant of Probate, deal with your Estate and carry out your wishes .
• Ensure that your children are looked after once you have passed away by appointing Guardians. This will also prevent them from being placed in temporary care.
• Make use of trusts to protect your assets and your loved one´s inheritance.
• Leave small gifts of personal items and money to love one´s and charities.
• Reduce the time and money that could be spent on Probate costs.
• Exclude persons from benefitting from your estate.
• Ensure that the document you are creating is legally binding and valid which, sadly, is not always the case with DIY Wills.

Whether it is a Will for a single person, a married or unmarried couple, a simple Will or a complicated Will, we can help!

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Government figures indicate that almost 30 million adults in the UK – 60% of our adult population – have not made a Will. A further breakdown shows that at present:

• 35% OF OVER 65’S IN ENGLAND AND WALES HAVE NO WILL
• ONLY 17% OF PEOPLE AGED 45-65 HAVE WILLS
• LESS THAN 13% OF UNDER 45’S HAVE WILLS
• 52% OF WILLS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ARE OUT OF DATE

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10 of The Best Online Will Writing Services

Making a Will using an online Will-writing service is an excellent and simple way of securing the future of your estate. Online Will-writing services are affordable, easy to use, and can enable you to  write your Will  in as little as 10 minutes.

Age Space has compiled this helpful guide to some of the best online Will-writing services in the UK. This includes information about how each online Will-writing service works, how long the process takes, and how much you can expect to pay. We have also secured some exclusive discounts for Age Space users. 

• Which? Wills
• ActiveWills
• Properwills
• LegalWills.co.uk
• MakeAWillOnline
• Will Drafters Ltd
• Co-Op Legal Services

If you have a simple estate, then you can create a Will with Which? in as little as half an hour. Which? provide you with a simple guide to their Will-writing forms and process. You can fill these out in your own time and their dedicated support team are available by phone or email with any questions you have during the Will-writing process. 

Which? also operate a Review Service, ensuring that your Will is looked-over by one of their dedicated Will experts before you sign it to provide peace of mind that everything makes sense and is in order.

Prices start at £84 for a single Will, and £156 for a mirror Will. 

With our 15% discount you can also get your Will written and reviewed by an expert from only £72.00 

2. ActiveWills

Making an online Will through ActiveWills’ Will-writing service involves completing a simple online template devised by their expert estate-planning solicitors. You fill in each section, print the Will yourself, and then just need to get it signed and witnessed. There is a friendly chat facility if you need support whilst writing it. 

The process of writing an online Will through ActiveWills takes very little time, and you can have a simple Will put together in just 10 minutes! ActiveWills score 4.9 out of 5 on TrustPilot and with a Single Will costing £19.99 and a Mirror Will costing £29.99 they are one of the most affordable online Will-writing services. Plus you receive free lifetime storage of your legal documents.

The process of writing an online Will through ActiveWills takes very little time, and you can have a simple Will put together in just 10 minutes! ActiveWills score 4.9 out of 5 on TrustPilot and with a Single Will costing £19.99 and a Mirror Will costing £29.99  they are one of the most affordable online Will-writing services. Plus you receive free lifetime storage of your legal documents.

The process of writing an online Will through ActiveWills takes very little time, and you can have a simple Will put together in just 10 minutes! ActiveWills score 4.9 out of 5 on TrustPilot and with a Single Will costing £19.99  £9.99 and a Mirror Will costing £29.99 £14.99 they are one of the most affordable online Will-writing services. Plus you receive free lifetime storage of your legal documents.

50% Spring Discount for Age Space readers! Until 18th April Active Wills are offering Age Space readers Will writing at £9.99 for Single Wills and £14.99 for Mirror Wills. Click the link below to get this deal!

3. Properwills

Their step-by-step online questionnaire is sleek, easy to use and takes less than 15 minutes to complete. Each Will is checked by a legal expert and usually ready to sign in less than 48 hours, making them one of the fastest services in the UK. And if you can’t print your Will, Properwills offer to deliver it for free. 

We like that the process is very intuitive and easy to follow and that their support team is responsive and always happy to help. Included in the price is 5 years of free, unlimited updates to the Will. 

Their Wills cost £99 (or £149 for couples) and includes everything to get your Will(s) sorted, checked and sent to you. It’s a fixed fee service so you only pay this – no surprise fees down the line.

Age Space Exclusive : Get 12% off online when you use our discount code – “ AGESP12 ″

4. Farewill

Writing your Will with Farewill is a quick and easy process, taking as little as 15 minutes. You can choose to create your Will either by answering some questions online, or with one of their friendly team of experts over the phone. Whichever method you choose, their helpful support team are available to you every step of the way. Farewill then finalise your Will in under 5 working days, and send it to you to sign in front of witnesses. 

Farewill are rated 4.9 out of 5 by over 13,000 happy customers on Trustpilot, and were awarded the National Will Writing Firm of the Year award at the British Wills and Probate Awards 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The price for making an online Will with Farewill costs £100 (£160 for couples) and making a Will over the phone costs £240 (£380 for couples). Farewill also have an optional £10 a year update service, meaning you can make unlimited updates to your Will throughout the rest of your life.

Age Space Exclusive:  Get 15% off your Will when you use our discount code – “agespace15”

5. LegalWills.co.uk

To make a Will online at LegalWills.co.uk, you answer a series of questions about your wishes, spanning 9 different sections. Their Will experts can offer help at each step of the online Will-making process, to make sure your wishes are being met.   LegalWills.co.uk can produce a Last Will and Testament from £39.95. You also have the option to request that your Will is looked over by one of their expert solicitors for an additional cost of £50.00 

An advantage of using the LegalWills.co.uk service is that they allow you to make unlimited updates to your Will, free of charge. Age Space Exclusive : Save 10% when you buy a Will using the link below

6. Make A Will Online

The process for producing a Will with Make A Will Online will only take between 5-10 minutes with one simple form. At the end of doing a single Will you are also able to add an additional Will for half the price of the first. 

Their website is simple, quick and easy to use and is perfect for busy people who would prefer to avoid expensive solicitor fees. What makes Make A Will Online extra special is that every Will has a qualified solicitor check it over after it has been created.

A single Will costs £60 and a pair of Wills costs £90. 

Beyond’s online Will-writing service can take as little as 15 minutes to answer a series of key questions. Beyond then puts together your fully-legal Will for you. Their online support team provide live support throughout the Will-writing process, ensuring you get everything right. Every Will that is created with Beyond is checked over by their in-house legal expert. Once you are happy with the Will all you need to do is print and sign it in front of two witnesses.

Making an online single Will with Beyond costs £90, and you pay only when you print and sign. Wills for couples cost £135, meaning you save money compared to purchasing two separate Wills.

The process of writing a Will online with Kwil takes just 30 minutes, and you don’t have to pay anything until you’re happy to print and sign. All you need to do is answer some qualifying questions and work your way through their step-by-step process for putting the Will together. Kwil has a very helpful Online Lockbox Service in which you can securely store all of the information your executor may need once you die,

including details about your bank accounts, credit cards, pensions etc. The Kwil will-writing service costs £90 for individuals, and £120 for couples. Any amendments in the first year are free, and there is an optional £10 annual fee per person to be able to update the Will anytime after that.

9. Will Drafters Ltd.

Will Drafters Ltd’s Will writing service is conducted over the phone and a good choice for those who prefer communicating in person rather than using online forms. Following an initial conversation, their specialist legal team will prepare and mail you your Will to sign. Will Drafters Ltd have helped over 100,000 customers to write their Will online since 1990. 

Their prices start at £43 for a single, simple Will, and they also offer a WillPlus service which includes free lifetime storage and the ability to make unlimited updates to your Will.

10. Co-Op Legal Services

With Co-Op Legal Services you just need to answer some quick questions online, and then speak on the phone to one of their Will-writers who will help you to put together the final document. Once the Will is ready, they will post you a copy to sign in front of your witnesses. Co-op Legal Services was named as the National Will Writing Firm of the Year in 2018. 

They operate a fixed fee service, meaning that once they’ve quoted you a price there are no nasty surprises later down the line. The price for a single Will from Co-Op Legal Services starts at £150, and Mirror Wills cost from £245.

FAQs on How to Make a Will Online

How long does it take to make a will online.

In most cases, writing a Will online does not take very long. If you have a simple estate then making the will can take as little as 10 minutes, but it will take longer the more complicated your Will is. Some online Will-writing services require a few days for their legal experts to look over the online Will before you are able to sign it.

How much does an online Will cost?

The cost of writing a Will online varies from provider to provider, and on the type of Will you are looking to buy. The starting cost for a simple Single Will can be as little as £19.99 as from Active Wills, but with other providers costs can start from over £100. Mirror Wills cost more than single Wills, but tend to be cheaper than the cost of 2 Single Wills.

Are online Wills legal in the UK?

Online Wills are legal in the UK, as long as they have been correctly signed and witnessed in line with UK law. Two witnesses, who are not beneficiaries of the Will, must sign and date it also. This can now be done  online .

Can I update a Will made online?

You can update a Will made online. Some providers allow you to opt-in to pay a small annual fee in order to make unlimited updates to your Will in the future. If you choose not to opt-in, you can still be able to make updates to your Will, but there will usually be a one-off cost on each occasion you make an update.

To enable Age Space to keep providing content for our readers, for some of the links on this page we receive a small commission if you decide to buy a Will with a provider. 

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Peace of mind in minutes

• Every document is checked by a fully qualified solicitor
• Trusted since 2008
• Single will £60 | Pair of wills £90
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A Digital Will for Life

Updating your will

Log in and make changes to your will for 28 days for free or choose lifetime updates for just £10 a year..

Once you have started making a will online, you can sign in and continue at a time that suits you. You will find full guidance throughout the process, explaining all of the important legal terms relating to wills and probate.

When you have finished making your will online, you can login and make free changes to the document for 28 days. For even more peace of mind, our optional lifetime updates service (just £10 per year) allows you to keep your will up-to-date forever.

Why choose our will writing service?

With Make A Will Online, you get the peace of mind of knowing a solicitor has checked your will. Anyone can call themselves a “will writer” or offer a “legal check”. A solicitor, on the other hand, is a qualified legal professional. We believe that this offers you the best possible peace of mind for the best price.

We are the only online wills provider to offer this service and were granted an Innovation Space Waiver by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to do so. The success of services like ours led to a rule-change in 2019 allowing the public wider access to solicitors.

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We work with dozens of charities on their gifts in wills campaigns. If your charity is interested, find out more about a Fundraising Regulator compliant legacies campaign.

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Make your will online today… On the bus, at home or on your lunch break!

Frequently asked questions.

• How does the will-writing process work?
• Has the Solicitors Regulation Authority approved this service?
• Wills for UK Expats

Before you start the will writing process you should have the name and address of anyone you intend to name in the document. Postcodes are useful too, but not essential. You will be sent a link by email in case you need to come back at a later date to complete the will.

We are the only specialist provider of online wills to be given consent by the Solicitors Regulation Authority ( SRA ) to provide the services of solicitors to the public under their Innovation Scheme. We are not regulated by the SRA but our solicitors are bound by the SRA Standards and Regulations including the Code of Conduct.

Our wills are fully legal in England and Wales, but the situation becomes more complicated if you are resident abroad, or own property overseas.

Different countries deal with inheritance law differently and you should consult an expert on local law in the country in which you live.

From the Blog

05 / 02 / 24 • Written by Oliver

Shining a Light on Excellence: Make A Will Online's Journey to the Smee & Ford Legacy Giving Awards

31 / 07 / 23 • Written by Oliver

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01 / 05 / 23 • Written by Alex

Winner - Making a Difference in Legacy Giving 2023 Award

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Making a will

This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice for Northern Ireland , See advice for Scotland , See advice for Wales

Why it is important to make a will

It is important for you to make a will whether or not you consider you have many possessions or much money. It is important to make a will because:

if you die without a will, there are certain rules which dictate how the money, property or possessions should be allocated. This may not be the way that you would have wished your money and possessions to be distributed

unmarried partners and partners who have not registered a civil partnership cannot inherit from each other unless there is a will, so the death of one partner may create serious financial problems for the remaining partner

if you have children, you will need to make a will so that arrangements for the children can be made if either one or both parents die

it may be possible to reduce the amount of tax payable on the inheritance if advice is taken in advance and a will is made

if your circumstances have changed, it is important that you make a will to ensure that your money and possessions are distributed according to your wishes. For example, if you have separated and your ex-partner now lives with someone else, you may want to change your will. If you are married or enter into a registered civil partnership, this will make any previous will you have made invalid

If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you should make a will, you should consult a solicitor - find out how to get legal advice .

For more information about what happens if someone dies without making a will, see Who can inherit if there is no will – the rules of intestacy .

Whether you should use a solicitor

There is no need for a will to be drawn up or witnessed by a solicitor. If you wish to make a will yourself, you can do so. However, you should only consider doing this if the will is going to be straightforward.

It is generally advisable to use a solicitor or to have a solicitor check a will you have drawn up to make sure it will have the effect you want. This is because it is easy to make mistakes and, if there are errors in the will, this can cause problems after your death. Sorting out misunderstandings and disputes after your death may result in considerable legal costs, which will reduce the amount of money in the estate.

You should remember that a solicitor will charge for their services in drawing up or checking a will. They should give you the best possible information about the cost of their services. They should give you this at the beginning of their work with you.

Some common mistakes in making a will are:

not being aware of the formal requirements needed to make a will legally valid

failing to take account of all the money and property available

failing to take account of the possibility that a beneficiary may die before the person making the will

changing the will. If these alterations are not signed and witnessed, they are invalid

being unaware of the effect of marriage, a registered civil partnership, divorce or dissolution of a civil partnership on a will

being unaware of the rules which exist to enable dependants to claim from the estate if they believe they are not adequately provided for. These rules mean that the provisions in the will could be overturned

When it is particularly advisable to use a solicitor

There are some circumstances when it is particularly advisable to use a solicitor. These are where:

you share a property with someone who is not your husband, wife or civil partner

you wish to make provision for a dependant who is unable to care for themselves

there are several family members who may make a claim on the will, for example, a second wife or children from a first marriage

your permanent home is not in the United Kingdom

you are resident here but there is overseas property involved

there is a business involved

Other help with writing a will

If you are a member of a trade union, you may find that the union offers a free will writing service. A union will often use its own solicitors to undertake this work.

There are books which provide guidance on how to draw up a will. These can help you decide if you should draw up your own will and also help you decide if any of the pre-printed will forms available from stationers and charities are suitable. It is also possible to find help on the internet.

Will-writing services are available. However, will-writing firms are not regulated by the Law Society so there are few safeguards if things go wrong.

If you decide to use a will-writing firm, consider using one that belongs to The Institute of Professional Willwriters which has a code of practice approved by the Trading Standards Institute Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS).

Traders in this scheme display the TSI approved code logo.

When you see the logo, it means that the trader has agreed to provide good standards of service including clear information before a contract is signed, a clear complaints procedure and access to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme for settling out of court.

You can search for a will-writing firm belonging to The Institute of Professional Willwriters  on their website.

How much does a solicitor cost

The charges for drawing up a will vary between solicitors and also depend on the complexity of the will.

Before making a decision on who to use, it's always advisable to check with a few local solicitors to find out how much they charge.

You might have access to legal advice through an addition to an insurance policy that covers the costs of a solicitor preparing or checking a will. If you're a member of a trade union you might find that the union offers a free wills service to members.

The charity Will Aid has set up a partnership between certain solicitors and nine well-known charities.

Every November, participating solicitors will write a basic will free of charge in return for a donation to Will Aid.

You can find out about the suggested minimum donation amount, and details of solicitors who can help on the Will Aid website . 

It's also worth you giving some thought to what you want to say in the will before seeing a solicitor. This should help reduce the costs involved.

What should be included in a will

To save time and reduce costs when going to a solicitor, you should give some thought to the major points which you want included in your will. You should consider such things as:

how much money and what property and possessions you have, for example, property, savings, occupational and personal pensions, insurance policies, bank and building society accounts, shares

who you want to benefit from your will. You should make a list of all the people to whom you wish to leave money or possessions. These people are known as beneficiaries. You also need to consider whether you wish to leave any money to charity

who should look after any children under 18

who is going to sort out the estate and carry out your wishes as set out in the will. These people are known as the executors

Who are executors

Executors are the people who will be responsible for carrying out your wishes and for sorting out the estate.

They will have to collect together all the assets of the estate, deal with all the paperwork and pay all the debts, taxes, funeral and administration costs out of money in the estate.

They will need to pay out the gifts and transfer any property to beneficiaries.

Who to choose as executors

It is not necessary to appoint more than 1 executor although it is advisable to do so - for example, in case one of them dies.

It is common to appoint 2, but up to 4 executors can take on responsibility for administering the will after a death.

The people most commonly appointed as executors are:

relatives or friends

solicitors or accountants

the Public Trustee or in some cases the Official Solicitor if there is no one else willing and able to act

It is important to choose executors with considerable care since their job involves a great deal of work and responsibility.

You should always approach anyone you are thinking of appointing as an executor to see if they will agree to take on the responsibility. If someone is appointed who is not willing to be an executor, they have a right to refuse.

If an executor dies, any other surviving executor(s) can deal with the estate. If there are no surviving executors, legal advice should be sought.

For more information about what executors have to do, see Dealing with the financial affairs of someone who has died .

Requirements for a valid will

In order for a will to be valid, it must be:

made by a person who is 18 years old or over and

made voluntarily and without pressure from any other person and

made by a person who is of sound mind. This means the person must be fully aware of the nature of the document being written or signed and aware of the property and the identify of the people who may inherit and

in writing and

signed by the person making the will in the presence of two witnesses and

signed by the two witnesses, in the presence of the person making the will, after it has been signed.

A witness or the married partner of a witness cannot benefit from a will. If a witness is a beneficiary (or the married partner or civil partner of a beneficiary), the will is still valid but the beneficiary will not be able to inherit under the will.

Although it will be legally valid even if it is not dated, it is advisable to ensure that the will also includes the date on which it is signed.

As soon as the will is signed and witnessed, it is complete.

If someone makes a will but it is not legally valid, on their death their estate will be shared out under certain rules, not according to the wishes expressed in the will.

For more information about the rules if someone dies without leaving a valid will, see Who can inherit if there is no will – the rules of intestacy .

Wills of service personnel on active service

The requirements for a valid will are less stringent for service personnel on active service. Such wills are known as privileged wills.

If you need further help about privileged wills, you can contact your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau or seek legal advice.

Where to keep a will

Once a will has been made, it should be kept in a safe place and other documents should not be attached to it. There are a number of places where you can keep a will:-

with a solicitor or accountant

at the Principal Registry of the Family Division of the High Court, a District Registry or Probate Sub-Registry for safe keeping. If you wish to deposit a will in this way you should visit the District Registry or Probate Sub-Registry or write to:

Probate Department (England and Wales)

Principal Registry of the Family Division

First Avenue House

42-49 High Holborn

Tel: 020 7947 7022 (safe custody enquiries); 020 7947 6983 (how to obtain a will - recorded message); 020 7947 6043/6939 (personal application enquiries)

Probate Helpline: 0300 123 1072

Fax: 020 7947 6946

Looking for copies of a will after someone dies

Someone close to you may have died and you think they made a will but you can't find one in their home.

Check to see if you can find a certificate of deposit, which will have been sent to them if they arranged for the will to be kept by the Principal Registry of the Family Division.

Even if you can't find a certificate of deposit, you can still check with the Registry to see if they hold the will. If the person died in a care home or a hospital you could check to see if the will was left with them.

You should also contact the person's solicitor, accountant or bank to see if they hold the will.

The person who has died, or their solicitor, may have registered their will with a commercial organisation such as Certainty ( www.certainty.co.uk ) and, after the person's death, you can pay for a search of the wills registered on the company's database.

You can also ask the company to contact solicitors in the area where the person lived to ask if they hold a will.

If you can't find a will, you will usually have to deal with the estate of the person who has died as if they died without leaving a will.

For more information, see Who can inherit if there is no will – the rules of intestacy .

Getting a copy of the will when probate has been granted

When someone dies, the person who is dealing with their estate (for example, money and property) must usually get authorisation to do so from the Probate Service.

If there is a will, this authorisation is called a grant of probate.

When probate is granted, the will is kept by the Probate Service and any member of the public can get a copy.

If you want to search for the will of a person who died recently, you can apply to the Probate Service for a standing search to be made.

They will check their records to see if a grant of probate has been made in the twelve months before your application, and they will continue to check for six months afterwards.

If a grant has been made, they will send you a copy of the grant and a copy of the will, if any. A fee is payable.

You can renew your search at the end of 6 months for a further fee. It may  be advisable to wait 2 or 3 months after the death before you apply for a search.

You can find out how to apply for a standing search and how much it costs on GOV.UK.

If you want to do your own search, or if you want to search for the will of someone who died more than twelve months ago, you can do a general search.

A general search by the Probate Registry will cover a four year period and a fee is payable. If you go to the Probate Registry to do the search yourself, no charge is made, but you still have to pay to get a copy of the grant of probate and the will, if any.

You can find out how to apply for a general search and how much it costs on GOV.UK.

Personal application

You can make a personal search free of charge by going to the Principal Registry of the Family Division (see under heading Where to keep a will ). If you want to inspect or take a copy of the will, there is a fee of £5.

Local application

You can order a copy of a will or grant of probate at any district probate registry.

You will need to give the full name of the person who died, the date probate was granted and the name of the registry office where it was issued. The fee is £5.

To find a district probate registry, search on GOV.UK at  https://courttribunalfinder.service.gov.uk/search/postcode .

Change of circumstances

When a will has been made, it is important to keep it up to date to take account of changes in circumstances.

It is advisable for you to reconsider the contents of a will regularly to make sure that it still reflects your wishes. The most common changes of circumstances which affect a will are:

getting married, remarried or registering a civil partnership

getting divorced, dissolving a civil partnership or separating

the birth or adoption of children, if you wish to add these as beneficiaries in a will

How to change a will

You may want to change your will because there has been a change of circumstances.

You must not do this by amending the original will after it has been signed and witnessed.

Any obvious alterations on the face of the will are assumed to have been made at a later date and so do not form part of the original legally valid will.

The only way you can change a will is by making:

a codicil to the will or

A codicil is a supplement to a will which makes some alterations but leaves the rest of it intact. This might be done, for example, to increase a cash legacy, change an executor or guardian named in a will, or to add beneficiaries.

A codicil must be signed by the person who made the will and be witnessed in the same way. However, the witnesses do not have to be the same as for the original will.

There is no limit on how many codicils can be added to a will, but they are only suitable for very straightforward changes. If a complicated change is involved, it is usually advisable to make a new will.

If you wish to make major changes to a will, it is advisable to make a new one.

The new will should begin with a clause stating that it revokes all previous wills and codicils. The old will should be destroyed. Revoking a will means that the will is no longer legally valid.

Destroying a will

If you want to destroy a will, you must burn it, tear it up or otherwise destroy it with the clear intention that it is revoked.

There is a risk that if a copy subsequently reappears (or bits of the will are reassembled), it might be thought that the destruction was accidental.

You must destroy the will yourself or it must be destroyed in your presence.

A simple instruction alone to an executor to destroy a will has no effect. If the will is destroyed accidentally, it is not revoked and can still be declared valid.

Although a will can be revoked by destruction, it is always advisable that a new will should contain a clause revoking all previous wills and codicils.

Revoking a will means that the will is no longer legally valid.

If a person who made a will takes their own life

If a person who made a will takes their own life, the will is still valid.

Challenging a will

A person may want to challenge a will because:

they believe that the will is invalid or

they believe that they have not been adequately provided for in the will

There are strict time limits for challenging a will and if you want to challenge a will, you should seek legal advice as soon as possible.

If you want to challenge the will because you believe you haven't been adequately provided for, the time limit is 6 months from the grant of probate. Your local Citizens Advice can give you lists of solicitors. You can  search for your nearest Citizens Advice .

If you are named in someone else's will as an executor, you may have to apply for probate so that you can deal with their estate.

For more information about probate, see  Dealing with the financial affairs of someone who has died .

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Professional Will Writing Services

Specialist will writing.

Welcome to Redstone Wills, one of the largest Will writing organisations in the UK.

At Redstone, we’re specialists in our field and have the ability to offer our customers a wide variety of Will writing services, from making a simple or complex Will to Lasting and General Power of Attorney, we always provide our customers with the highest levels of customer service. Redstone Wills provides trusted Will writing services throughout the UK. As part of the Connells Group with its ultimate ownership being Skipton Building Society, we are the only Will writing company in the UK to be owned by a Building Society and therefore we reflect the values and high standards you would expect.

Wills and Power of Attorney

A Will is one of the most important documents you will ever create; ensure your belongings are distributed as you wish. We offer Power of Attorney documents which can prevent serious problems and delays if you were to become physically or mentally unable to take decisions.

Bereavement Services

We have a specialist and dedicated bereavement team who can provide support and advice during a very difficult time.

Corporate Benefits

We offer a specialist Will writing service to Companies who wish to offer a Will writing service as part of their employee benefits package.

Get in touch, we’re here to help

© Redstone Wills Ltd • Redstone Wills is a remote service providing legal forms and information. Redstone Wills is not a law firm or a substitute for a lawyer’s advice about complex estate planning issues. Website by Creative Pod

How to make a will for free

In this article

How much should a will cost?

Charity-backed will-writing schemes, when are offers available, leaving a gift to charity, what if i'm not eligible, can i make my own will for free.

This depends on how complicated your estate is.

If your affairs are complex, you could spend more than £500 creating a specialist will.

However, most people only need a simple will. These normally cost £100 or more to make, whether you're using a solicitor, will writer or bank. But it doesn't have to cost you anything.

Use this guide to find out how to get a simple will written for free, as well as other options for cutting costs.

Save 20% on wills bundles

Use our affordable online will writing service and save when you buy your will & power of attorney together, or will and letter of wishes together. Offer ends 31 May 2024.

Many charities provide free will-writing services. Through these schemes, a solicitor will write or update your will and the charity will cover their fees. In exchange, it's recommended you leave a gift to the charity in your will - although you don't have to.

Below are some of the charities that will help you make a free will.

Cancer Research UK

Who's eligible?  Anyone over the age of 18.

When is it?  All year.

Who writes the will?  One of Cancer Research UK's partnered solicitors. If you're a supporter based in England or Wales, you can also choose to create the will online with Farewill or over the phone with Co-op Legal Services.

How do I contact them?  You can check out the service online or give their team a call on 0300 123 7733.

What does the charity do?  Researches the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of cancer.

The Stroke Association

Who's eligible?  People over the age of 60 or stroke survivors over 18.

Who writes the will?  Participating solicitors across the UK and in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland.

How do I contact them? You can request a free will pack online or call their legacies team on 020 7566 1505.

What does the charity do?  Funds research into the prevention and treatment of strokes.

Marie Curie

When is it? All year.

Who writes the will?  Participating solicitors across the UK. If you live in England or Wales, you can write your will online with Farewill, or with Bequeathed if you live in Northern Ireland.

How do I contact them?  You can find out more about the scheme and fill in their online form here .

What does the charity do?  Provides care and support to people living with a terminal illness.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Who will write the will?  You choose from a list of solicitors who will write your will online, through the post, over the phone, face-to-face at home or in branch. Not all options are available in all parts of the UK.

How do I contact them?  You can sign up for the service through the form on their website or by calling 0300 1000 200.

What does the charity do?  Supports people living with cancer.

These are just a few examples. More than 100 charities are part of the National Free Wills Network offering free wills. So if there's a charity close to your heart, it's worth checking online to see whether they're a member.

Remember these schemes only cover simple wills. If you use one of these schemes and your will is more complicated than expected, you may need to pay extra.

In addition to these will-writing schemes, there are some that run every year but for a limited time.

• March and October:  Free Wills Month runs twice a year. During March and October, anyone aged 55 or over can have a free will drawn up by a solicitor in exchange for a charitable donation. If making mirror wills, just one of you needs to be 55 or over. Appointments with solicitors are limited and served on a first-come, first-served basis.
• September:  Will Relief Scotland is a partnership between Scottish solicitors and four charities: Blythswood Care, EMMS International, MAF and Signpost International.
• November:  Will Aid is a partnership between solicitors and nine UK charities. The list of participating solicitors goes live on 1 September. It's recommended you book an appointment early to secure a place.

Leaving a charitable legacy is a great way to support a cause you care about. And there are other benefits as well.

The standard inheritance tax rate is 40% for an estate worth more than £325,000. By donating 10% or more of your estate to a UK-registered charity, you can reduce this to 36%.

You may not feel comfortable leaving a donation this large. In that case, consider leaving a pecuniary gift - a sum of money - or a specific legacy gift, which is a named item such as a painting.

If you'd like to cover the cost of the will-writing service but you're unsure how much to donate, bear in mind that the solicitors' fees are likely cost at least £100.

• Find out more:  how to cut your inheritance tax bill

If you're not eligible for the scheme you're interested in, you may want to consider some of your other options for getting a free or low-cost will.

Trade union membership

If you're a member of a trade union, you could get your will written for free.

Unison, the National Education Union and the Public and Commercial Services Union are among those that partner with solicitors to provide members with a free will-writing service.

Wills from Which?

Online will-writing services tend to be cheaper than hiring a solicitor. You can create your will and have it reviewed by Which? . Our easy to use service is full of guidance and support, make yours today.

With our Review Service, you can also get it checked for errors by one of our wills specialists. 

• Are you making a will? Write your will easily online with Which? and save 20% on wills bundles this May. You can even get your documents reviewed by our specialists so you know they are legally binding. Offer ends 31 May 2024. 

Another way to cut costs is to make a DIY will. Templates for DIY wills can be downloaded online or found in most stationery shops. They usually cost between £10 and £30.

You should only write your own will if your estate is simple. Even then, it's very easy to make technical mistakes that can invalidate your will.

Here are a few things to remember when writing your own will:

• The language has to be clear so that your instructions can be followed properly.
• You must remember all the assets you have.
• However some assets - such as jointly owned assets or certain types of pensions - can't be included in the will.
• Your will has to be witnessed. In England and Wales, you must have two witnesses over 18. In Scotland, you need one over 16.
• You should review your will after a significant life event, such as the birth of a child or a divorce.

For more information, read our guide on how to make a will .

Your free wills planner

Knowing what to include in your will & remembering all the details you'll need can be complicated, our wills planner aims to make it quicker and easier.

Write your will online with Which?

Use our affordable online will writing service and save 20% on wills bundles this May. Guidance and support comes as standard. Offer ends 31 May 2024.

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Act Today for a Secure Tomorrow – Think, Plan, Safeguard.

Welcome to The Will Writing Company, a cherished family-owned venture that has stood the test of time, flourishing under the guidance of our founder, Mr. Russ C. Kerry, since 1993. With roots deeply embedded in the heart of Milton Keynes, our journey began with a mission to offer unrivaled expertise in estate planning. Today, we're proud to be recognized as one of Milton Keynes' most esteemed and enduring establishments, specializing in Will Writing, Property Trusts, and Lasting Power of Attorney.

For over three decades, we've been the trusted partner to more than 20,000 clients, guiding them with care, integrity, and professionalism. Our dedication to personalized service is mirrored in our growth and the expansion of our presence, with our head office nestled in Newport Pagnell and a vibrant branch in Bedford's bustling town centre.

At The Will Writing Company, we believe in making the complex simple. Our team of experts is committed to providing you with peace of mind, ensuring your wishes are honored and your legacy is preserved for the generations to come. We're not just in the business of will writing; we're here to secure your family's future, one thoughtful decision at a time.

Join us, and let's embark on this important journey together, ensuring your peace of mind is forever in safe hands.

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While the thought of creating a will has crossed the minds of many, only about 30% of people have actually completed this important task.

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To create wills with protective property trusts, it's necessary to own your property as tenants in common.

Our services include a range of trust options such as Discretionary Trust, Business Relief Trust, and Protective Property Trusts.

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Creating a Lasting Power of Attorney ensures that decision-making remains in the hands of those you trust most.

Professionally written wills simplify the process of obtaining a grant of probate, typically without any complications.

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Making a will is the only way to make sure your money, property, possessions and investments (known as your estate) go to the people and causes you care about.

How do I value my estate?

How do i divide my estate, how do i write my will, how do i make sure my will is valid, where should i store my will, how do i update my will, what happens if i don’t make a will.

Paul Lewis, financial expert and presenter of BBC Radio 4's Moneybox, explains why it's important to make a will.

Your will should cover your whole estate, so it's a good idea to draw up a list of your assets and debts. Then you have a clear idea of how much it's worth, which can help you decide how to distribute it.

Assets that typically make up an estate include:

• any property you own (in the UK or abroad)
• savings in banks, building societies or elsewhere (Premium Bonds, for instance)
• insurance such as life assurance or an endowment policy
• pension funds that include a lump sum payment on death
• investments such as stocks and shares or investment trusts
• jewellery, antiques and other valuable personal belongings
• furniture and other house contents.

Debts might include:

• a mortgage or equity release
• a credit card balance
• a bank overdraft

It's a good idea to get assets valued regularly. The price of your house, for instance, might have changed substantially since you last checked.

Your will needs to state clearly how you want your estate to be distributed, and who should be responsible for distributing it. Think about:

• who you want to benefit from your will
• whether you want to give any specific gifts to particular people
• where the 'residue' of the estate is to go (any property or money left over after paying funeral and administrative expenses, legacies and taxes)
• what you want to happen if any of your beneficiaries should die before you
• whether you want to leave any money to charity. 

Executors are legally responsible for dealing with someone's estate after their death. It can involve a lot of work and responsibility, so it's important to choose your executor (or executors) carefully.

When you're choosing who to appoint, you should talk to them to check they understand what's involved and that they're happy to do it.

Find out more about being an executor

Leaving a donation to charity

If you want to leave a gift to a charity in your will, include the charity’s full name, address and registered charity number to make sure they receive it.

• Leaving a legacy to Age UK

There are a few different ways you can write your will:

• It’s usually best to get advice from a lawyer (such as a solicitor or chartered legal executive). You might want to choose one who specialises in wills and probate. Check they're licensed with the relevant professional body, such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
• Some charities and campaigns offer free will-writing services to encourage people to make wills and leave charitable legacies. For more information, visit Will Aid or Free Wills Month – Age UK takes part in both schemes.
• Some banks offer will-writing services and advice about estate planning. An adviser at your local branch can explain what's on offer. Some banks charge high fees for these services – so it's important to read any small print carefully.

It's possible to use a professional will writer  to make your will, but they aren't qualified solicitors and may not be regulated – so if you decide to use one, first check whether they're a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters or the Society of Will Writers.

You can also  make your own will , but it's easy to make mistakes or miss out important details. While it might seem like the best option now, it could cause costly legal problems for your executors and beneficiaries further down the line, so it's normally better to get professional advice.

For a will to be valid:

• it must be signed by you and witnessed by 2 people
• you must have mental capacity to make the will and understand the consequences of making it
• you must have made the will voluntarily and without pressure from anyone else.

The beginning of the will should state that it revokes all others. If you have an earlier will, you should destroy it. The government advises burning it safely or tearing it up.

Signing and witnessing the will

You must sign your will in the presence of 2 independent witnesses, who must also sign it in your presence – so all 3 people should be in the room together when each one signs. If the will is signed incorrectly, it isn't valid.

No one listed in the will as a beneficiary should act as a witness – they'll lose their right to their inheritance. They shouldn't even be in the room when the will is signed. It’s also best not to ask an executor to act as a witness.

If you can’t sign your will, it can be signed on your behalf as long as you’re in the room and it's signed at your direction. Any will signed on your behalf must contain a clause saying you understood the contents of the will before it was signed.

If you have a serious illness or dementia diagnosis, you can still make a will – but you need to have mental capacity for it to be valid. Your solicitor should make sure of this, and you may need a medical practitioner’s statement at the time the will is signed, certifying that you understand what you're signing.

You can leave your will with a solicitor or bank or with the Probate Service. Alternatively, you can store it safely at home.

Find your local Probate Service using the directory on GOV.UK

You must let your executors know where your will is kept. It's important not to attach any documents to the will with paperclips or staples – if they detach and leave marks it'll raise questions about whether the will is missing any parts or amendments.

You should review your will every 5 years or after a major change in your life – such as the birth of a new grandchild or moving house. But it's important you never make alterations to the original document.

If you want to make a minor change to your will, you can add a supplement, known as a codicil . This must be signed and witnessed in the same way as the will – although the witnesses don’t have to be the same as the original ones.

If you want to make a major change, you should make a new will and cancel your old one.

Do I need to change my will if I get remarried or divorced?

If you marry, remarry or enter a civil partnership, this cancels a previously existing will. Divorce doesn’t automatically invalidate a will made during the marriage – but it does exclude your ex-spouse or ex-civil partner from benefitting if they're mentioned.

You should arrange to make a new will if you marry, separate or divorce.

If you don’t make a will, you're said to have died  intestate – and your estate may not go to the people you want.

If you have a partner and you aren't married or in a civil partnership, they have no automatic right to inherit from you if you haven't made a will – even if you've lived together for a long time or have children.

Intestacy rules state that:

• If you're survived by a spouse or civil partner and children,  your spouse or civil partner will inherit all your personal possessions and at least the first £270,000 of your estate, plus half of anything above this amount. Your children are then entitled to the other half of this balance.
• If you're survived by a spouse or civil partner but don’t have children, your spouse or civil partner will inherit your whole estate, including any personal possessions.
• If you're survived by children but not a spouse or civil partner,  your children will inherit everything, divided equally between them.
• If you don't have a spouse, civil partner or children,  then other relatives inherit in a set order.
• If you have no surviving relatives who can inherit,  your estate will pass to the Crown.

Find out more about intestacy rules on GOV.UK

Want more information?

Wills and estate planning information guide (PDF, 3MB)

How to be an executor information guide (PDF, 2 MB)

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Last updated: Apr 08 2024

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Wasteful Whitehall diversity and inclusion spending will end

The Civil Service has forgotten it serves the public, not woke hobby horses. We are fighting back

Like all Conservatives, I want the public to pay less tax . And so all tax receipts collected must be used efficiently, in a way that benefits the taxpayer and improves public services.

Given the crucial role it plays in delivering that, we need to stop the back door politicisation of the Civil Service , which diverts time and resources away from that focus on the public. We have too often seen them distracted by fashionable hobby horses, especially when it comes to issues like equality and diversity.

That is what I will be addressing in a speech in Westminster tomorrow; to ensure we take a common sense approach to how government operates. Particularly how we approach ‘ Equality, Diversity and Inclusion ’ (EDI) to ensure what takes place benefits the public and does not become a pointless job creation scheme for the politically correct.

The public sector is diverse. House of Commons research shows over a quarter of the staff across the NHS in England are from minority ethnic backgrounds. We know too that while ability is spread across the country, that has not always been the case when it comes to opportunity. That’s why we’ve already moved over 18,000 roles out of London, including to new offices across the UK. Diversity in the civil service should never just be measured in terms of race and sex; it should also be about background and differences of opinion – and, above all, merit.

However, some managers instead spend millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money on advice from so-called equality professionals. Where is the common sense in that? Is this really what we should be spending people’s hard-earned taxes on?

It’s a major concern of mine because this work takes up a huge amount of staff time. Indeed, we have some employees in the public sector whose only role is to ensure that departments are meeting diversity targets . Time and money which should be spent on the core purpose of the public sector – delivering for the public – is being wasted on woke hobby horses. Most of these kinds of EDI programmes – especially when delivered by private companies or campaigning organisations – are not transparent, and their benefits unproven. If we can’t prove their worth, then they don’t pass the public interest test. So I’m determined to stop it.

It’s also a major concern for the Chancellor, which is why he previously announced a review on public sector spending on EDI schemes throughout the public sector. This was unprecedented in government: an audit of how many staff are actively working on EDI and asking Departments to account for how this work supports our priorities.

As such, I will announce that, following this review, new guidance will cease all external EDI spending across the Civil Service unless it is specifically signed off and cleared by Ministers. There will be no more spending on campaign organisations or unproven programmes delivered by external ‘experts’. In the future, we will have accountability and transparency, focusing on delivering opportunity for all, not political ideology .

Second, I will be meeting with the top outliers of external EDI spend across our Arms-Length Bodies asking them to account for this spending and how it is actually supporting their service to their customers: the public.

In future there will be no more dedicated (or standalone) EDI jobs in the Civil Service outside of HR. No more staff dedicating 100% of their time to EDI work. All EDI roles within the Civil Service will be consolidated into their department’s HR teams, and Ministers and their Permanent Secretaries will ensure that these teams are focused on their statutory obligations around EDI – the things we are legally required to do which have a proven benefit, not unproven diversity work which has no basis in law.

I’m pleased that we are getting a grip on this EDI spending, because the public sector serves the public, not itself. 

Esther McVey serves in the Cabinet

• Civil service,
• Inequality,
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Just Stop Oil protesters in their 80s target Magna Carta

The women used a hammer and chisel to try to break the glass case protecting the historic charter, which was the first document to put into writing the principle that the King and his government were not above the law.

Saturday 11 May 2024 16:09, UK

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Two climate activists in their 80s have targeted the Magna Carta at the British Library.

Reverend Dr Sue Parfitt, 82, and Judy Bruce, an 85-year-old retired biology teacher, entered the library and tried to smash the glass case protecting the historic document using a lump hammer and chisel.

The pair, from the Just Stop Oil protest group, then held up a sign which stated: "The government is breaking the law".

They could be also be heard asking: "Is the government above the law?"

The Metropolitan Police said two people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and are currently in custody.

The British Library in London holds two of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta, with the others being held at Lincoln and Salisbury Cathedrals.

It was issued in June 1215 and was the first document to put into writing the principle that the King and his government were not above the law.

Rev Parfitt said: "The Magna Carta is rightly revered, being of great importance to our history, to our freedoms and to our laws.

"But there will be no freedom, no lawfulness, no rights, if we allow climate breakdown to become the catastrophe that is now threatened."

In a statement, the British Library confirmed two people had "attacked the toughened glass case" containing the landmark charter in its treasures gallery.

"The library's security team intervened to prevent further damage to the case, which was minimal," it said.

"The police were notified and the Magna Carta itself remains undamaged.

"The treasures gallery is temporarily closed until further notice."

Read more on Sky News: Plane skids off runway injuring at least 10 people Bread recalled after 'rat remains' found in loaves

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The latest protest comes after the High Court ruled the government acted unlawfully by approving a plan to cut carbon emissions.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero argued the UK could be "hugely proud" of its record on climate change and the case was largely about process, with no criticism in the judgment of its detailed plans.

Related Topics

• Just Stop Oil
• climate change