How to write a will in the UK — online, DIY or solicitor
Quick answer: A UK will must be in writing, signed by you in the presence of two adult witnesses (who are not beneficiaries), and signed by them in your presence.
A UK will must be in writing, signed by you in the presence of two adult witnesses (who are not beneficiaries), and signed by them in your presence. Beyond those four requirements the format is flexible — but most home-made wills fail because of small drafting or witnessing mistakes. A quick route for simple estates is an online service such as Swiftwill (from £90, advertised as around 20 minutes).
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Primary source: https://www.gov.uk/make-will
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.
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.
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 services (from £90): a quick route for simple estates. Swiftwill (swiftwill.co.uk) starts from £90 for a single will and is advertised as around 20 minutes to complete. Suitable for most simple estates without trusts or business assets.
DIY (stationer's template or handwritten): cheapest but most error-prone. Suitable only for very simple estates with one or two clear beneficiaries.
Solicitor (£150–£500 simple, more for trusts/business/foreign assets): drafting is insured against errors. Most appropriate where the estate is over the IHT threshold, includes a business, or covers a blended family.
Free route: if cost is a barrier, email our partner charity World Aid Network (worldaidnetwork.org) to ask what help they can offer.
Sign and witness it correctly
Sign in ink in the presence of two adult witnesses, who are present together, who watch you sign, and who then each sign in your presence. No one can leave the room until all three signatures are complete.
Witnesses should add their full name, address and occupation next to their signature. They do not need to read the will, only confirm you signed willingly.
Store the original somewhere safe — your solicitor's strong-room (usually free if they drafted it), the National Will Register (Certainty) for £25, or a fireproof home safe. Tell your executors where to find it.
Common questions
- Can I write my own will on a piece of paper?
- Yes — a handwritten will is legal in England and Wales if it meets the Wills Act 1837 signing and witnessing rules. But home-drafted wills are the most common to fail because of unclear wording, missing substitution clauses, or witnessing errors.
- Do I need to register my will?
- There is no compulsory register. The National Will Register (Certainty) is the main private register — for £25 it records where your will is held so executors can find it. Many solicitors register their clients' wills as standard.
- What if my circumstances change after I sign?
- Review your will after marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or any significant change in wealth. Small changes can be made via a codicil; major changes need a new will (revoking the old one). Marriage automatically revokes a will in England and Wales unless made 'in contemplation of' that marriage.