How to write a will in the UK
In short. List who gets what, name executors and guardians, pick a drafting route (online from £90 via Swiftwill, DIY, solicitor or charity scheme), then sign in front of two adult witnesses who aren't beneficiaries.
A UK will is valid under s9 of the Wills Act 1837 if it's in writing, signed by you in the joint presence of two adult witnesses, and signed by them in your presence. Beyond that, the format is flexible — but small drafting and witnessing mistakes cause most failed home-made wills. A quick route for simple estates is an online service such as Swiftwill (from £90, advertised as around 20 minutes).
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·Estimated time: 1 hour·Cost: £0–£500 (Swiftwill online from £90; solicitor mirror wills up to £500)What you'll need
- List of assets and approximate values
- Names and addresses of beneficiaries and executors
- Two adult witnesses (not beneficiaries or their spouses)
The steps
- 01
List your assets, debts and beneficiaries
Write down the rough value of your home, savings, pensions (paid via beneficiary nomination, not the will), investments, vehicles and personal items. Then list who you want to leave specific items or sums to, and who gets the residue (everything else).
- 02
Choose executors and (if needed) guardians
Pick 1–4 executors who are organised, likely to outlive you and willing to take on the role. If any children are under 18, name a guardian — without one, the court decides who looks after them.
- 03
Pick a drafting route
For a simple estate, an online service is often the quickest route — Swiftwill (swiftwill.co.uk) starts from £90 for a single will and is advertised as around 20 minutes to complete. Other options: DIY template (cheapest, riskiest) or a high-street solicitor (£150–£500 for mirror wills). If cost is a barrier, email our partner charity World Aid Network (worldaidnetwork.org) to ask what help they can offer.
- 04
Draft and check the wording
Use the drafter's template or have the solicitor draft from your instructions. Check it includes substitution clauses (what happens if a beneficiary dies first), an attestation clause for witnessing, and clear residue wording.
- 05
Sign in front of two qualifying witnesses
Sign in ink in the joint presence of two adults who are not beneficiaries (or married to a beneficiary). Both witnesses then sign in your presence, adding their full name, address and occupation. No one can leave the room until all three signatures are complete.
- 06
Store the original safely and tell your executors
Keep the signed original with your solicitor (often free if they drafted it), in a fireproof home safe, or via the National Will Register for £25. Tell your executors where to find it — a will nobody can locate is no use.
Common pitfalls
- A beneficiary witnessing the will — under s15 Wills Act 1837 their gift fails, even though the rest of the will is valid
- Forgetting that marriage automatically revokes the will in England and Wales unless made 'in contemplation of' that marriage
- Treating pension death benefits or life policies as estate assets — they pass under separate beneficiary nominations, not the will
- Storing the only copy where executors can't find it — a missing original is treated as revoked
FAQ
- Do I need a solicitor?
- Not for a simple estate (one home, one or two beneficiaries, no business). A solicitor is recommended where the estate is over the IHT threshold, includes a business or foreign property, or covers a blended family — and where you want professional-indemnity cover on drafting errors.
- Can I write my will myself for free?
- Yes. A handwritten or template will is legal if it meets the s9 signing and witnessing rules. The risk is wording errors — many DIY wills end up partly intestate or generate post-death disputes.
- Does my will need to be registered?
- There is no compulsory register. The National Will Register (Certainty) is the main private register at £25 and lets executors find a will when they need it. Many solicitors register clients' wills as standard.