Writing a will is one of the most important financial decisions you will ever make, yet millions of UK adults do not have one. Dying without a will (intestacy) means your estate is distributed according to statutory rules that may not reflect your wishes, and it creates additional complexity and cost for your loved ones. The good news is that writing a will need not be expensive. Options range from free DIY kits to solicitor-drafted documents costing GBP500 or more. Understanding what you need, and what you should pay for it, is the first step to getting this important task done.
DIY Will Writing Options
Free and low-cost DIY will writing is available from several sources. The government-funded Tell Us Once service provides guidance but not a will. Citizens Advice and some local solicitors offer free basic will clinics for simple estates. Online will kits from Co-op Legal Services, Guardian Legal, and Which? Legal cost GBP15-50 and provide a structured template for straightforward estates. These are appropriate if: your estate is simple (cash, property, straightforward investments); you have no complex family circumstances; you want to leave everything to a spouse or civil partner; and there are no trust arrangements required. DIY wills are NOT appropriate if: your estate is complex; you have children from previous relationships; you own property abroad; or you have business interests. Errors in a DIY will can invalidate it or create ambiguity that leads to costly legal disputes.
- Free DIY kits: appropriate for very simple estates only
- Online will kits: GBP15-50, suitable for straightforward situations
- Always have a solicitor check a DIY will for complex situations
Professional Will Writing Services
Professional will writing services offer a middle ground between DIY kits and solicitors. Will writing companies and legal clinics offer wills drafted by trained will writers, typically costing GBP100-250 for a simple single will or GBP200-400 for a pair of mirror wills. These services are appropriate for most straightforward estates and are more comprehensive than DIY kits. Look for services where the will writer is a member of the Society of Will Writers or the Institute of Professional Will Writers, which sets professional standards. Be aware that some will writing companies use hard-sell tactics to upsell additional products like trust funds or funeral plans - get quotes upfront and understand exactly what you are paying for. Charity will services (such as those offered by some cancer charities) offer free wills in exchange for legacy donations.
When to Use a Solicitor
A solicitor is recommended for complex estates or situations. You should use a solicitor if: your estate is large (approaching the inheritance tax threshold of GBP325,000); you own property abroad; you have children from previous relationships; you need to set up trusts; your circumstances are complicated by business ownership or multiple investments; you want to disinherit someone who would normally have a claim; or you have concerns about the validity of a previous will. Solicitor fees for will writing typically range from GBP150 to GBP500 depending on complexity. Many solicitors offer a fixed-fee will writing service. The Law Society's Find a Solicitor service helps you find a solicitor specialising in wills and estate planning. The small additional cost of a solicitor-drafted will is negligible compared to the potential cost of errors in a DIY will.
- will writing
- probate
- estate planning
- legal
- inheritance