Quick Answer Are online wills legal in the UK? Online will writing has grown significantly in the UK. Services like Make a Will Online guide you through the process and — uniquely — have every will reviewed by a qualified solicitor before issue. The result is a legally binding document at a fraction of solicitor rates. Updated April 2026 Advertisement Are Online Wills as Valid as Solicitor Wills?Yes. English law does not require a will to be prepared by a solicitor. The Wills Act 1837 sets out the requirements for a valid will, and these apply regardless of how the will was drafted:
Comparison: Online Will vs Solicitor Will vs DIY✅ Make a solicitor-checked will in minutes from £39.99. Start at Make a Will Online → What Makes Make a Will Online Different?Most online will services rely on the customer to get the document right. Make a Will Online is the only UK online will service that includes a full solicitor review at every price point — starting from £39.99. This means your will is checked by a qualified solicitor for errors, ambiguity, and legal validity before it is issued. View Make a Will Online → When Should You Use a Solicitor Instead?
Bottom line: Online wills are fully legal in the UK. The risk comes from execution errors (wrong witnesses) or poorly drafted clauses — which is why a solicitor-checked online will service gives the best of both worlds: speed, price, and legal assurance. Advertisement Frequently Asked QuestionsAre online wills legal in the UK? Yes. An online will is fully legally valid in England and Wales if it is signed in the presence of two independent witnesses who also sign simultaneously. The method of preparation does not affect legal validity. Is an online will as good as a solicitor will? For straightforward estates, yes. The content and execution requirements are identical. The main advantage of a solicitor is professional oversight — which some online services (like Make a Will Online) now include in their price. What makes an online will invalid? An online will becomes invalid if it is not signed correctly, if a beneficiary witnesses it (their gift is void), if the witnesses are not present simultaneously, or if the testator lacked mental capacity at the time of signing. Can I write my own will UK? Yes. A self-written will is legal provided it meets the Wills Act 1837 requirements: written, signed by the testator in front of two independent witnesses who sign simultaneously. However, poorly worded homemade wills frequently cause disputes and ambiguity. What is the cheapest legal will in the UK? Solicitor-checked online wills start from £39.99 at Make a Will Online — significantly cheaper than a high-street solicitor (£150–£300) while still including professional review. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contains affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. |
Are Online Wills Legal in the UK? 2026 Guide
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