How much does it cost to make a will UK?

A simple will from a solicitor costs £150-£300 for a single will; £200-£400 for mirror wills (a couple with similar provisions). More complex wills — trusts, business assets, property abroad — cost £500-£1,000+. Free options: Free Wills Month (October and March — professional solicitor writes free simple wills for over-55s). Online services from £90-£150 (Which? Wills, Farewill). DIY template: £0-£50 but risk of errors.

Who needs to make a will in the UK?

Everyone over 18 with any assets, but particularly: unmarried cohabiting couples (partners have ZERO automatic right to inherit under intestacy — this is the most overlooked risk); parents of children under 18 (your will appoints guardians — without it, a court decides); those with a mortgage or significant debts; anyone with specific wishes about their assets; and those concerned about inheritance tax. 56% of UK adults have no will (Co-op Legal Services).

What happens if you die without a will UK?

The Rules of Intestacy apply — a fixed legal formula. Key consequences: unmarried partners receive NOTHING regardless of how long together (biggest shock in practice); children from a previous relationship may receive less; your assets go by legal formula not your wishes; funeral wishes cannot be legally recorded. In England and Wales if married with children: spouse gets all personal property + first £322,000 + half the remainder; children share the other half.

Is a DIY will legally valid UK?

Yes, if: written; signed by you in the presence of two witnesses; both witnesses sign in your presence simultaneously. Common errors that invalidate wills: beneficiaries acting as witnesses; witnesses not present simultaneously; missing signature; wrong dating. An invalid will means intestacy rules apply as if no will existed. For anything beyond simple, use a solicitor or online service.

How to Make a Will UK 2026: Solicitor £150-£300, Free Wills Month, DIY Guide

How to Make a Will UK 2026: Step-by-Step Guide & Costs

Chandraketu Tripathi

Finance Editor, Kaeltripton

Published 4 Apr 2026

Last reviewed 4 May 2026

✓ Fact-checked

56% of UK adults have no will. Unmarried partners inherit nothing under intestacy. Making a will costs from £0 (Free Wills Month) to £300 at a solicitor. Here is the complete step-by-step guide for 2026. Updated April 2026

How to Make a Will UK — Step by Step

Step	What to Do	Key Note
1. List your assets	Property, savings, investments, car, valuables, pension nominations	Pensions usually pass OUTSIDE your will — check death benefit nominations separately
2. Choose beneficiaries	Name everyone you want to inherit and what they receive	Be specific — vague wording causes disputes
3. Appoint an executor	Person who administers your estate after death	Tell them in advance — it's a significant responsibility
4. Name guardians	If you have children under 18, name their guardian	Critical — without a will, a court decides
5. Add specific bequests	Items for specific people (jewellery, art, sentimental items)	Can be in a separate letter of wishes alongside the will
6. Draft the will	Solicitor; online service; or DIY	Choose based on complexity
7. Sign correctly	Sign in front of two witnesses simultaneously	Witnesses must NOT be beneficiaries or married to beneficiaries
8. Store safely	Tell your executor where it is	Consider National Will Register (Certainty) to ensure it can be found

Will Costs UK 2026

Route	Cost	Best For	Risk
Solicitor (simple will)	£150-£300 single; £200-£400 mirror	Most situations; peace of mind	Lowest
Solicitor (complex)	£500-£1,000+	Trusts; business; blended families	Lowest
Free Wills Month (Oct + March)	Free — age 55+	Over-55s; simple estates	Low — professional solicitor
Which? Wills / Farewill online	£90-£150	Straightforward estates; tech-comfortable	Low — paralegal reviewed
DIY template	£0-£50	Very simple; careful form-fillers	Higher — error risk

Intestacy Rules — What Happens Without a Will in England & Wales

Situation	Who Inherits Under Intestacy
Married with children	Spouse: personal property + £322,000 + half remainder. Children: other half
Married no children	Spouse inherits everything
Unmarried partner — no children	Partner gets NOTHING. Parents; siblings; more distant relatives inherit
Unmarried partner — with children	Partner gets NOTHING. Children inherit everything from deceased parent
Single no children	Parents; then siblings; then more distant relatives. Friends and charities: nothing

The most critical case: unmarried cohabiting couples. Regardless of how long together, a partner has NO automatic right to inherit under intestacy in England and Wales. This is the most commonly overlooked estate planning risk.

Free Wills Month — How It Works

Free Wills Month runs in October and March each year. A coalition of charities (Age UK, Cancer Research UK, RNIB, British Heart Foundation and others) partners with solicitors across England, Wales and Scotland. People aged 55 and over can have a simple will written free by a participating solicitor. You are invited but not obligated to leave a legacy gift to one of the charities. The will is professionally drafted and as legally valid as a paid will. Book at freewillsmonth.org.uk or willaid.org.uk during October or March — popular, so book early.

Digital Assets — Do Not Forget These

In 2026, digital assets are increasingly important: cryptocurrency (provide access instructions separately — not private keys in the will itself as wills become public on probate); online savings and investment platforms; PayPal/Wise balances; loyalty points; domain names and websites; social media accounts. Executors cannot access digital accounts without passwords — consider leaving a Password Manager access instruction with a trusted person alongside your will.

KAELTRIPTON VERDICT

Making a will costs £150-£300 at a solicitor or free during Free Wills Month (October/March, age 55+). Without one, the intestacy rules apply: unmarried partners receive nothing; children's guardians are chosen by a court; your assets follow a fixed legal formula. 56% of UK adults have no will. The most overlooked risk: cohabiting partners with zero automatic inheritance rights. Make yours now.

56% Have No Will — Unmarried Partners Inherit NOTHING — Free in October/March (55+)

Q: How much does a will cost UK 2026?

A: Solicitor: £150-£300 (simple). Mirror wills: £200-£400. Free Wills Month (Oct/March, 55+): free. Online (Which? Wills/Farewill): £90-£150. DIY: £0-£50.

Q: What happens without a will UK?

A: Intestacy rules apply. Unmarried partners inherit NOTHING. Estate distributed by fixed legal formula. Children's guardians decided by court.

Q: Is a DIY will legal UK?

A: Yes if signed by you and witnessed by two non-beneficiaries simultaneously in your presence. Error risk is significant — solicitor or online service recommended for anything beyond simple.

Q: Who needs a will most urgently?

A: Unmarried cohabiting couples (zero inheritance rights without will); parents of young children; those with significant assets; anyone wanting to leave something to charity.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or legal advice. Always consult an FCA-regulated adviser before taking out insurance or legal products. Figures verified April 2026.