# How to write a will in the UK — online, DIY or solicitor > Family & care · Last updated 22 July 2026 Canonical HTML: https://moneyguide.org.uk/family-life/how-to-write-a-will-uk/ Markdown mirror: https://moneyguide.org.uk/family-life/how-to-write-a-will-uk.md ## Quick answer A will is fully legal in England and Wales if it is in writing and you [sign a will](https://swiftwill.co.uk/how-to-sign-a-will/) in the presence of two adult witnesses who then sign in your presence — how the draft was created does not matter. For a simple estate, [make a will online](https://swiftwill.co.uk/) from around £35, then print and witness it yourself. Will writing is not a reserved legal activity under the Legal Services Act 2007 — for a straightforward estate you do not need a solicitor. What matters is clear drafting plus correct signing under the Wills Act 1837. Most home-made wills fail on small witnessing or residue mistakes. If you are mid name-change, finish that first (see our deed poll guide) so the will matches your ID. ## Key facts - Validity = writing + correct signing with two witnesses present together (Wills Act 1837 s9) — an [online will is legal](https://swiftwill.co.uk/is-an-online-will-legal/) if executed properly - A beneficiary (or their spouse/civil partner) must not witness — if they do, their gift fails under s15 but the will stays valid - [SwiftWill](https://swiftwill.co.uk/) is £35 single / £55 [mirror wills](https://swiftwill.co.uk/mirror-wills/) for England and Wales: instant PDF, witnessing card, free lifetime updates, IPW member with £2m PI — not a law firm - Use a solicitor for IHT planning, trusts, business or foreign assets, blended-family protection, excluding a dependant, or a likely dispute - Marriage automatically revokes an existing will in England and Wales unless made 'in contemplation of' that specific marriage ## Decide who gets what — the structure List the people and charities you want to benefit (the beneficiaries), the specific items or sums (legacies), and who should get the rest (the residue). Almost every will dispute comes from a vague residue clause or a forgotten substitution. Always name a backup ('substitution') in case a beneficiary dies before you — typically 'their children in equal shares per stirpes'. Without this, the gift may fall into residue or into intestacy. Appoint guardians for any children under 18. Without a named guardian, the court decides — often with no idea of your wishes. A complete simple will also usually covers funeral wishes, pets and digital assets. Checklist answer: [what should I include in a will?](/answers/what-should-i-include-in-a-will-uk/). ## Value your estate first Before you answer any questionnaire, list assets (home, savings, investments, vehicles, valuables, overseas property) and debts (mortgage, loans, cards). Knowing the shape of the estate helps you decide residue shares and whether Inheritance Tax or a solicitor is relevant. GOV.UK’s make-a-will guidance is the official starting point: https://www.gov.uk/make-will. For a simple England and Wales estate you can then [make a will online](https://swiftwill.co.uk/) with SwiftWill from around £35. ## Choose your executors Executors apply for probate and administer the estate. Pick people who are organised, comfortable with paperwork and likely to outlive you — typically 1–4 people, often a mix of family and a professional. Name substitutes if your first choice cannot act. Fuller guide: [what is an executor?](/family-life/what-is-an-executor-of-a-will-uk/). Banks and solicitors can act as professional executors, but their fees come out of the estate and are usually charged at 1–5% of gross value, or by hourly rate. You can name them as a backup only. Executors can also be beneficiaries — there's no conflict in UK law. Many simple wills name the surviving spouse as sole executor and main beneficiary. ## Pick a route: online, DIY, solicitor, or charity scheme Online document tools suit simple England and Wales estates without trusts or business assets. [SwiftWill](https://swiftwill.co.uk/) charges £35 once for a single will or £55 for [mirror wills](https://swiftwill.co.uk/mirror-wills/) (two matching wills for a couple), with instant PDF delivery, a signing card and free lifetime updates — you still print and re-sign after every change. SwiftWill is document-preparation software, not a law firm — compare [is an online will legal](https://swiftwill.co.uk/is-an-online-will-legal/). Pros of a good online route: one-off fee, speed, guided questions. Cons vs a solicitor: no bespoke tax or trust drafting, and you must get witnessing right yourself. Prefer a one-off fee over subscriptions for updates. For a market price comparison see [how much a will costs](https://swiftwill.co.uk/will-cost/) and our cost-of page. Solicitor-reviewed online platforms often start nearer £90; high-street solicitors typically £150–£500 for simple work. DIY templates are cheapest but most error-prone. Charity campaigns (Free Wills Month, Will Aid) suit people who want a solicitor appointment for a suggested donation. Skip online-only tools if you need IHT planning, trusts, foreign property or blended-family protection — [when to use a solicitor](/answers/when-should-i-use-a-solicitor-for-a-will/) and [do you need a solicitor for a will](https://swiftwill.co.uk/do-i-need-a-solicitor-for-a-will/). ## Charity gifts and funeral wishes If you leave money to charity, write the full registered name, address and charity number so the gift cannot fail. You can leave a fixed sum or a share of residue — see [leaving money to charity in a will](/answers/can-i-leave-money-to-charity-in-my-will/). Funeral wishes in a will are guidance for executors, not a binding contract. Pre-paid funeral plans are separate products — keep wishes clear and tell your family where the will is. ## Sign and witness it correctly Print the will, gather two independent adults (18+) in one room, sign in front of both, then each witness signs in your presence and adds name, address and occupation. No one leaves until all three signatures are done. Electronic signatures and video witnessing are not valid for a standard England and Wales will. Witnesses should not be beneficiaries or married to a beneficiary. Neighbours, colleagues and friends are ideal — they do not need to read the will. Step-by-step: [how to sign a will](https://swiftwill.co.uk/how-to-sign-a-will/) and [who can witness a will](https://swiftwill.co.uk/who-can-witness-a-will/). Store the wet-ink original safely and tell your executors where it is. A will nobody can find is treated as revoked. You can also deposit a will with HMCTS — see GOV.UK make-a-will for storage options. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is an online will as valid as a solicitor’s will? Yes — the legal test is identical. Validity comes from writing and correct witnessing, not letterhead. See [is an online will legal](https://swiftwill.co.uk/is-an-online-will-legal/). Complex estates still need tailored solicitor advice. ### Can I write my own will on a piece of paper? Yes if it meets the Wills Act signing rules — but home-drafted wills fail most often on wording and witnessing. [Make a will online](https://swiftwill.co.uk/) with a guided questionnaire is usually safer than a blank sheet for anything beyond the simplest estate. ### What are mirror wills? Two separate, matching wills — usually each partner leaves everything to the other, then to the same ultimate beneficiaries. They are not binding on the survivor. [Mirror wills](https://swiftwill.co.uk/mirror-wills/) through SwiftWill cost £55 for both with free lifetime updates. ### What if my circumstances change after I sign? Review after marriage, divorce, a new child, a name change or a big change in wealth. Prefer a fresh will that revokes the old one over messy handwritten edits. With free lifetime updates you can [remake the will](https://swiftwill.co.uk/) and re-sign. Divorce answer: [does divorce cancel my will?](/answers/does-divorce-cancel-my-will-uk/). ### When do I need a solicitor? Trusts, foreign or business assets, blended-family conflict, or excluding a dependant — see [when to use a solicitor for a will](/answers/when-should-i-use-a-solicitor-for-a-will/). ## Primary source https://www.gov.uk/make-will ## Related - [Will witnessing rules (UK)](https://moneyguide.org.uk/family-life/will-witnessing-rules-uk/) - [Wills & intestacy](https://moneyguide.org.uk/family-life/wills-and-intestacy/) - [What is an executor?](https://moneyguide.org.uk/family-life/what-is-an-executor-of-a-will-uk/) - [Mirror wills vs mutual wills](https://moneyguide.org.uk/family-life/mirror-wills-vs-mutual-wills/) - [Free and charity will schemes](https://moneyguide.org.uk/family-life/free-and-charity-will-schemes-uk/) - [Cost of a will (UK)](https://moneyguide.org.uk/cost-of/a-will-uk/) --- Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.