More than 31 million UK adults have no will, according to Canada Life research. Dying without one — dying intestate — means the law decides how your estate is distributed, not you. Your unmarried partner may receive nothing. Your children may inherit at 18 regardless of readiness. Online will services have made writing a legally valid will faster and more affordable than ever, with prices starting from £29.99 for straightforward estates.
Key facts — April 2026A will must be signed in the presence of two independent witnesses who also sign — without this it is not legally validWitnesses (and their spouses or civil partners) cannot be beneficiaries — their inheritance is voidOnline will services: from £29.99 for a simple single willSolicitor-drafted wills: typically £150–£400 for a single willYou must be 18 or over with mental capacity at the time of signingMarriage or civil partnership automatically revokes an existing will — update it immediately afterDivorce does not revoke a will — ex-spouse is treated as having predeceased you for gift purposes only
Online will vs solicitor — which do you need?
| Situation | Online will suitable? | Solicitor recommended? |
|---|---|---|
| Married/civil partner, children, standard assets | Yes | Optional |
| Unmarried cohabiting partner | Yes — but must be explicit | Worth considering |
| Blended family / stepchildren | Depends on complexity | Recommended |
| Estate above £500,000 (IHT planning needed) | Not ideal | Yes |
| Business ownership / farm (BPR/APR planning) | No | Yes — especially post-April 2026 IHT changes |
| Foreign property | No | Yes — separate will may be needed per jurisdiction |
| Disabled beneficiary / trust needed | No | Yes |
Legal requirements — what makes a will valid in England and Wales
- You must be 18 or over (different rules apply for serving armed forces personnel)
- You must have mental capacity — you must understand what a will is, what you own, who has a claim, and the effect of the will
- The will must be in writing — handwritten or typed
- You must sign the will in the presence of two witnesses who are both present at the same time
- Both witnesses must sign in your presence, immediately after you sign
- Witnesses must be independent — they cannot be beneficiaries, nor can their spouses or civil partners be beneficiaries. If they are, that gift is void (the rest of the will stands)
Video witnessing (permitted during Covid) has ended. Physical witnessing by two people in the same room is again required.
What to include in your will — complete checklist
- Executors (1–4): Person(s) responsible for administering your estate. Can be a beneficiary. Name a substitute in case the first choice cannot act.
- Guardians for minor children: Name who you want to care for children under 18. Without this, a court decides.
- Your assets: Residuary estate, specific gifts, cash legacies, property. Be specific — vague wording causes disputes.
- Beneficiaries: Full legal names and relationships. Include a substitute in case your first choice predeceases you.
- Funeral wishes: Not legally binding but guides executors.
- Digital assets: Cryptocurrency, social media, password manager access — specify what should happen.
What online will services cost in 2026
| Service type | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Online single will (DIY) | £29.99–£80 | Simple estate, no complex assets |
| Online mirror wills (couple) | £50–£150 | Couples with straightforward estates |
| Solicitor single will | £150–£400 | Complex estates, IHT planning, business assets |
| Solicitor mirror wills | £250–£600 | Couples with complex assets or IHT considerations |
Make a Will Online is a regulated UK service that guides you through the process step by step, ensuring your will meets the legal requirements for England and Wales.
Common mistakes that invalidate a will or cause disputes
- Witnesses who are beneficiaries: Their inheritance is void; the rest of the will stands.
- Not updating after marriage: Marriage automatically revokes a will in England and Wales.
- Not updating after divorce: Divorce does not revoke a will — ex-spouse treated as having predeceased you for gift purposes only.
- No substitute beneficiary: If your sole beneficiary predeceases you, that gift lapses.
- Vague wording: "My jewellery to my daughters equally" causes disputes. Be specific.
- Not storing it safely: A will that cannot be found cannot be proved.
What happens if you die without a will — intestacy rules
| Who survives you | Who inherits under intestacy |
|---|---|
| Married/civil partner only (no children) | Spouse/civil partner inherits everything |
| Married/civil partner + children | Spouse gets all personal items + first £322,000 + half the remainder. Children share the other half. |
| Unmarried partner + children | Children inherit everything. Unmarried partner gets nothing. |
| Children only (no spouse) | Children share equally |
The intestacy threshold for spouses (£322,000 in 2026) has not kept pace with property values. In many parts of England, a property alone exceeds this — meaning children automatically inherit a share of the family home even if the surviving spouse is still living in it.
IHT and wills — why the April 2026 changes make this urgent
The IHT changes from 6 April 2026 — BPR/APR capped at £2.5m, AIM shares at 50% relief, pensions entering IHT from 2027 — mean estates previously fully sheltered may now have a significant IHT liability. An out-of-date will may not account for this. For IHT planning beyond a straightforward will, a regulated IFA or specialist solicitor is needed. Firms in the Kaeltripton Financial Index include IFA advisers with estate planning expertise.
Related Guides
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Will requirements differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Always verify your will is legally valid.
Frequently asked questions
Is an online will legally valid in the UK?
Yes, provided it is signed and witnessed correctly. A will drafted online is as legally valid as one drafted by a solicitor, provided both witnesses sign in your physical presence and neither is a beneficiary. The risk with DIY wills is errors in execution or drafting, not the platform.
How much does it cost to make a will online in the UK?
Online will services start from around £29.99 for a single will and £50–£150 for mirror wills for a couple. Solicitor-drafted wills typically cost £150–£400 for a single will.
Can I write my own will without a solicitor?
Yes — there is no legal requirement to use a solicitor. The legal requirements are about how the will is signed and witnessed, not who drafted it. For complex estates — business assets, foreign property, IHT planning, trusts — professional advice is strongly recommended.
What makes a will invalid in the UK?
A will is invalid if: not signed in the presence of two witnesses; witnesses did not sign in the presence of the testator; witnesses (or their spouses/civil partners) are beneficiaries; the testator lacked mental capacity; or the will was made under duress. Marriage after the will was made also automatically revokes it.
Do I need to update my will after the April 2026 IHT changes?
If your estate includes business assets qualifying for BPR, farmland qualifying for APR, AIM shares, or a significant pension pot, yes. An estate plan written before 2026 may not account for the new IHT liabilities correctly.
Sources and verification
- Wills Act 1837 — legal requirements for valid wills in England and Wales
- Canada Life — 31 million UK adults without a will
- gov.uk — intestacy rules England and Wales; £322,000 spouse threshold (2026)
- gov.uk — IHT thresholds and freezes (Finance Act 2026)
- Law Society — will execution requirements guidance
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Make a Will Online from £29.99 →
| 🔄 Updated April 2026 This guide has been updated with the latest April 2026 rates, rules and provider information. |
UK Will Writing Provider Rankings — April 2026
| Provider | Price range | Solicitor review | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Make A Will Online | From £60 | Yes, SRA-regulated | Best value overall |
| Farewill (Which? partner) | £100-150 | Yes, qualified drafters | Brand reassurance, Trustpilot-rated |
| Co-op Legal Services | £150-200 | Yes, solicitors | Telephone support, trusted brand |
| Which? Wills | £89-99 | Yes | Which? members get discount |
| Self Wills Ltd (DIY kit) | £29-49 | No (DIY) | Very simple estates, low budget |
| High-street solicitor | £300-600+ | Full | Complex estates, family trusts, IHT planning |
For 80 percent of UK adults with straightforward estates (single property, one spouse or partner, children, standard inheritance), Make A Will Online delivers the best balance of price and quality at £60 for a single will or £90 for couples. Their SRA-regulated solicitor review catches the issues that pure-DIY services miss, at a fraction of high-street solicitor cost.
For anyone with a blended family, overseas assets, business interests, trusts, or an estate approaching the IHT threshold, a full high-street solicitor remains the right choice. The £300-600 cost is a rounding error on a £500,000+ estate, and the quality of the specific-to-you advice is materially higher than online services can provide.
The 2027 Pension IHT Change: How It Affects Your Will
From 6 April 2027, most unused pension pots become part of the taxable estate for Inheritance Tax purposes under the Finance Act 2026. This has significant implications for how wills should be drafted in 2026 and beyond, particularly for households with substantial pension wealth.
Under the old rules (pre-April 2027), the default strategy was often: spend down ISAs and general savings first, preserve pension pots for last or for inheritance. That strategy now produces the worst tax outcome. Pension pots entering the IHT net face 40 percent IHT plus potential income tax for beneficiaries (combined effective rate up to 64 percent). Wills drafted before April 2027 that assume the old strategy need review.
New drafting considerations include: (1) Clear beneficiary nominations on pension schemes (not in the will itself — pension nominations override wills), (2) Coordinated use of surplus income gifting exemption to distribute wealth before death, (3) Life insurance written in trust to provide IHT liquidity for beneficiaries, (4) Review of residence nil-rate band planning where the estate approaches £1 million. For anyone with combined pension and other wealth above £650,000 per person, specialist advice on coordinating pension and will strategy is strongly recommended before April 2027.
Common Will Writing Mistakes UK Adults Make
The single most expensive mistake is not writing a will at all. Nearly 60 percent of UK adults do not have a valid will according to the 2025 Law Society survey. Intestacy rules (for people who die without a will) rarely match what people actually want — unmarried partners inherit nothing automatically, step-children inherit nothing, and for blended families the outcomes can be dramatically different from the deceased's intentions.
The second most common mistake is having a will but not updating it after major life events. Marriage automatically revokes any previous will unless it was made in contemplation of that specific marriage. Divorce does not revoke a will but does treat the ex-spouse as if they had died before you (unhelpful if you want them to inherit as the children's guardian). Births, deaths of beneficiaries, and major financial changes all warrant will review. The Law Society recommends reviewing every 5 years and after any major life event.
The third mistake is appointing executors without confirming they will act. Naming a friend as executor without asking them means that when the time comes, they may refuse — causing delays and legal complexity for your family. Always confirm executors before naming them, and name a substitute in case your primary choice cannot act.
Making A Will Online: The Process
Make A Will Online offers the most streamlined online will process in the UK in 2026. The full process takes approximately 30-45 minutes and costs from £60 for single wills or £90 for couples (mirror wills). The service is SRA-regulated with solicitor review of every will before finalisation.
The process: (1) Complete a guided online questionnaire covering your personal circumstances, family, assets, beneficiaries, and executors. (2) The system generates a draft will tailored to your answers. (3) A qualified solicitor reviews and comments on the draft, suggesting modifications where needed. (4) You make any revisions and finalise the will. (5) You print, sign in the presence of two witnesses, and the will becomes legally valid.
What's included: professional drafting, solicitor review, unlimited revisions during the drafting period, printable final document, instructions for proper signing and witnessing, and free storage of the will copy. What's not included: ongoing free updates (changes after the initial period require paid amendments), complex trust structures (which require a specialist solicitor), or estates likely to face IHT disputes (which also warrant specialist advice).
★ Editor’s Pick Make A Will Online — Best Value for 2026SRA-regulated solicitor review. From £60 single will. 30-45 minutes online.
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