TL;DR
Online will services let you draft and execute a legally valid will from home, typically for PS20 to PS150. They are suitable for straightforward estates but may not cope with complex family situations, overseas assets or business interests. Any will must comply with the Wills Act 1837: signed by the testator in the presence of two independent adult witnesses who also sign. Mirror wills for couples are widely supported.
Last reviewed: 10 May 2026
What Is an Online Will Service?
An online will service is a digital platform that guides you through a questionnaire and produces a will document tailored to your answers. Some services are provided directly by solicitors and so benefit from professional indemnity insurance and SRA regulation. Others are provided by technology companies that are not law firms - these should be checked carefully to understand whether any regulated legal advice is included.
A will must comply with section 9 of the Wills Act 1837 to be valid in England and Wales: it must be in writing, signed by the testator (or directed by them), and the signature must be made or acknowledged in the presence of two or more witnesses present at the same time, who must also sign in the testator's presence. Online services produce the document - the signing ceremony must take place in person, in the correct sequence.
Scotland operates under a separate legal system. Scottish wills are governed by the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 and require only one witness. Northern Ireland follows similar rules to England and Wales.
Types of Online Will Service Available in 2026
| Type | Typical cost | Legal oversight |
|---|---|---|
| DIY will template | PS0 - PS30 | None |
| Guided online questionnaire (non-SRA) | PS20 - PS80 | None or limited |
| Online service with solicitor review | PS80 - PS200 | SRA-regulated solicitor |
| Online solicitor (video consultation) | PS150 - PS400 | SRA-regulated solicitor |
| Traditional high street solicitor | PS150 - PS500+ | SRA-regulated solicitor |
What to Check Before Using an Online Will Service
Before entering personal and financial details into any will platform, confirm the following:
- Regulatory status: Is the provider authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) or the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx)? Check the SRA register at sra.org.uk/consumers/register. Unregulated will-writers are not prohibited but have no mandatory professional indemnity insurance requirements.
- Storage and safekeeping: Where will the signed original be stored? Some services offer a secure storage vault. Others email a PDF - which you must print, sign and store yourself. Originals should be kept in a fireproof location; many solicitors store wills free of charge.
- Updating: Can the will be updated easily if circumstances change? Some platforms allow free amendments within a period; others charge for each revision.
- Complexity flags: Good platforms will identify when your situation exceeds their scope and recommend specialist advice. Triggers include: property abroad, business ownership, trusts for disabled beneficiaries, disinheriting a close family member, or complex blended families.
Costs and What Is Typically Included in 2026
| Service element | Typically included? |
|---|---|
| Single will | Yes (core product) |
| Mirror wills for couple | Often at a bundled price |
| Appointment of guardians for minor children | Usually yes |
| Specific legacies (cash gifts, personal items) | Usually yes |
| Testamentary trust provisions | Sometimes (check scope) |
| Storage of the signed original | Sometimes at extra cost |
| Future amendments | Varies by platform |
| Solicitor review | Only in premium tiers |
MoneyHelper provides impartial guidance on will options at moneyhelper.org.uk. Citizens Advice also offers free guidance on what a will must contain and how to find low-cost services via citizensadvice.org.uk.
Common Scenarios and Edge Cases
Blended families: Where one or both partners have children from a previous relationship, a standard mirror will leaving everything to the surviving spouse can inadvertently disadvantage stepchildren if the survivor remarries or changes their will later. Protective provisions such as a life interest trust (also called an immediate post-death interest trust) may be appropriate. This typically requires a solicitor.
Cohabiting couples: Unmarried partners have no automatic inheritance rights under English law. A will is the only way to ensure your partner inherits, and even then the estate may face a larger IHT exposure because the spouse exemption does not apply. This scenario is suitable for an online service where the estate is straightforward but the IHT implications may require separate financial advice.
Changing a will after marriage: Under section 18 of the Wills Act 1837, marriage automatically revokes a will made before the marriage unless the will expressly states it was made in contemplation of that marriage. Couples who marry and do not update their wills are treated as having died intestate as to any earlier will.
Gifts that fail (ademption and lapse): If you leave a specific item in your will and that item no longer exists at the time of your death (sold, destroyed), the gift fails by ademption. If a beneficiary dies before you, the gift lapses unless it falls within the survivorship provisions of section 33 of the Wills Act 1837 (issue of the deceased beneficiary). Online wills typically include standard survivorship clauses but may not cover all scenarios.
Time Limits and What Happens After Signing
| Stage | Action |
|---|---|
| After completing questionnaire | Print document (do not sign yet) |
| Signing ceremony | Sign in presence of two witnesses, both must sign immediately after |
| Storage | Retain original in secure location; inform executor of its whereabouts |
| Review trigger events | Marriage, divorce, new child, significant change in assets |
| Making changes | Codicil (minor changes) or new will (significant changes) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Witnesses who are also beneficiaries: Under the Wills Act 1837, a beneficiary who witnesses the will loses their entitlement (the attestation does not void the will, but the gift to the witness is void). Witnesses must be independent adults with no interest in the estate.
- Forgetting to update after life changes: Marriage revokes a will. Divorce does not revoke the will but treats the former spouse as having died on the date of the divorce decree for all gifts and appointments in the will.
- Signing in the wrong order: The testator must sign, or acknowledge their signature, before the witnesses sign. All three must be present when any signature is made.
- Handwritten amendments: Any alteration made after signing is presumed to have been made after execution and is invalid unless re-executed as a codicil with fresh witnesses.
Disclaimer: Kaeltripton.com is an independent editorial publisher, not authorised or regulated by the FCA. Content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal or tax advice. Always consult a qualified solicitor, financial adviser or tax professional before making decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online wills legally valid in the UK?
Yes, provided the will complies with the Wills Act 1837. The document must be in writing, signed by the testator, and the signature made or acknowledged in the presence of two independent adult witnesses who are both present at the same time and also sign the will. The online service produces the document; compliance with these formalities requires a physical signing ceremony. A will that meets these requirements is legally valid regardless of whether it was drafted online or by a solicitor.
How much does an online will cost in 2026?
Costs range from free (some charities offer free will-writing services, particularly in Free Wills Month or Will Aid campaigns) to around PS200 for a solicitor-reviewed online will. The most common online will services charge PS20 to PS100 for a single will, with mirror wills for couples often available at a bundled price. Storage of the signed original is sometimes included, sometimes charged as an add-on. Solicitor-reviewed options are at the higher end of the range.
What should an online will service NOT be used for?
Online will services have scope limitations. They are generally not suitable for estates involving: property or financial assets in overseas jurisdictions, active business ownership requiring business property planning, discretionary trusts for disabled or vulnerable beneficiaries, significant charitable legacies requiring conditions, or highly contentious family situations where the will is likely to be challenged. In these cases, a specialist private client solicitor regulated by the SRA is more appropriate.
Can I change my will after signing it?
Yes. Minor additions can be made by a codicil - a separate document executed with the same formalities as the original will. For substantial changes, a new will is cleaner and avoids ambiguity. The new will should include a revocation clause expressly revoking all previous wills. Online platforms typically allow you to create a new will or codicil within their system. Important life events such as marriage, birth of a child, or significant changes in assets are standard triggers for review.
What is Free Wills Month and how does it work?
Free Wills Month is a UK campaign that runs annually, typically in October (for over-55s) and March (for over-55s, extended to all ages). Participating solicitors offer to write or update a simple will free of charge, in exchange for the client considering leaving a gift to one of the campaign's partner charities. There is no obligation to donate. The scheme is managed by a coalition of charities and covers straightforward wills only. Details and participating solicitors are published at freewillsmonth.org.uk.
How We Verified This Information
Information on will validity requirements was verified against section 9 of the Wills Act 1837 at legislation.gov.uk. Cost ranges reflect publicly available pricing from services operating in the UK market as of May 2026 and MoneyHelper's guidance on making a will. Solicitor regulatory requirements were confirmed via the SRA's published register requirements.
