How Much Does It Cost to Make a Will?

One of the most common questions people ask before making a will is: how much will it cost? The answer depends on how you go about it. In this guide we break down the different options available in the UK, what you get for your money, and why the cheapest option is not always the best value.

Our pricing

At Make a Will, we offer solicitor-checked wills at straightforward, transparent prices:

• Single will: £60
• Mirror wills (for couples): £90
• Lasting Powers of Attorney: £120 each, or £240 for both

Online wills provided by Make a Will Online.

You can get started with your will here. Every will we produce is checked by a qualified solicitor, and you can keep it current with lifetime updates, free for your first year and then a low annual subscription, so you can change your will whenever your circumstances change.

Prefer to talk everything through, or have a more complex estate? Our solicitor consultation route gives you a bespoke will drafted by a solicitor after a one-to-one conversation, from £350 + VAT (single) or £550 + VAT (mirror). See the full consultation pricing.

Traditional solicitor costs

If you visit a high-street solicitor to have your will drawn up, you can expect to pay between £150 and £500 for a simple, straightforward will. If your estate is more complex, say you own a business, have property abroad or need trusts, the cost can rise to £500 to £1,500 or even more. Some solicitors charge by the hour, which makes it difficult to predict the final bill in advance. If you feel you do need to talk your will through with a solicitor, we offer that too. Our solicitor consultation route gives you that same one-to-one advice at a fixed, published price, from £350 + VAT.

Online will services

There are many online will-writing services in the UK, with prices typically ranging from £20 to £150. However, most of these services do not include a solicitor check. That means your will is generated by software but never reviewed by a qualified legal professional. While the will may be technically valid, errors and omissions can go unnoticed, and these can cause serious problems after your death.

We are the only online will service where every will is checked by a qualified solicitor. This gives you the convenience and affordability of an online service, combined with the peace of mind that comes from professional legal review.

DIY wills

You can buy a blank will form from a stationery shop for just a few pounds, or download a template online for free. While this is the cheapest option, it is also the riskiest. Common mistakes with DIY wills include:

• Invalid witnessing. The rules about who can witness a will are strict, and getting them wrong can invalidate the entire document.
• Unclear or ambiguous wording. Legal language exists for a reason. Vague phrases can lead to disputes about what you actually meant.
• Missing important clauses. A proper will includes a revocation clause, a residuary estate clause, and other provisions that a DIY form may not prompt you to include.
• Contradictory clauses. Assets given away to one person can get caught by the wording of another clause going elsewhere. Which should take priority? In the end nobody knows what you wanted, and it is expensive, time-consuming and can be distressing for your family to resolve.
• Accidental trusts. Expressing a wish about money or property may sound straightforward, but unbeknownst to you, you may accidentally create a legally binding trust that is expensive to run and expensive even to shut down.
• Partial intestacy. Homemade wills often fail to deal with all the assets. Technically this is a partial intestacy and can be complicated, time-consuming and expensive to resolve.

The money you save on a DIY will can easily be dwarfed by the legal costs your family faces if the will turns out to be invalid or contested.

What affects the cost of a will?

Several factors can influence how much you pay:

• Complexity: A straightforward will leaving everything to your spouse is simpler (and cheaper) than one involving multiple trusts or conditions.
• Trusts: If you need to set up trusts in your will, to protect assets for young children or in a blended family, that adds complexity.
• Property abroad: Assets in other countries may need separate legal advice.
• Business assets: Business owners often need specific provisions to protect their business and partners.

If your circumstances put you firmly in the "more complex" bracket, our solicitor consultation route is built for that. It gives you bespoke drafting after a one-to-one conversation with a qualified solicitor, from £350 + VAT.

Is it worth paying for a will?

Absolutely. The cost of NOT having a will can be far greater than the cost of making one. If you die without a valid will, your estate is distributed according to intestacy rules, which may not reflect your wishes at all. Unmarried partners could be left with nothing. Family disputes can arise. And there may be inheritance tax inefficiencies that a well-drafted will could have avoided.

For the price of a meal out, you can have a professionally checked will that protects your family and gives you complete peace of mind. And if you are not completely satisfied, we offer a full money-back guarantee.

That said, for some circumstances it can be helpful to talk things through and have a bespoke will drafted for you. In that case our solicitor consultation route is there for you.

Get started

Making a will does not have to be expensive or complicated. Our guided online questionnaire takes about 15 minutes, and every will is reviewed by a solicitor before it reaches you. Start your will today from just £60.

Online wills provided by Make a Will Online.