In the UK, the cost of making a Will ranges from free (if you write it yourself) to over £1,000. The price is influenced by who writes it, the depth of services provided to you and how complex your wishes are.
The following aims to help you make an informed decision on the best route for you.
Why spend money on writing a Will?
Your Will sets out how your estate (your money, property and personal possessions after debts are repaid) should be distributed after your death.
The reasons to write a Will include:
- to name who acts as guardian of your children should you and the other parent die before your young child turns 18;
- to control who receives an inheritance, particularly where you have children from earlier relationships, or you have remarried; and
- to protect certain assets from being transferred out of a family in circumstances where a beneficiary has poor health, divorces or becomes bankrupt.
Contrary to what you might expect, avoidance paying inheritance tax is not a particularly good reason for most people. The majority of estates pay no inheritance tax, and because most people's estate value is tied up in the family home, even for estates that are liable for taxation, there are relatively few options for minimising it through your Will.
Costs by type of Will
Every Will is unique to the person making it. There is no 'typical' Will.
However, so that clients can understand costs, Will writers tend to classify Wills as into three products:
- simple Wills: basic documents for uncomplicated estates;
- complex Wills: those that create one or more trust funds; and
- mirror Wills: nearly identical Wills created by couples.
Pricing strategies
Wills have been around for a long time.
When paper was expensive and most people couldn't write, solicitors charged by the word. Its a reason why legal documents are often verbose. To write 'Last Will and testament' allowed the solicitor to charge twice the price for 'last Will', even though 'testament' is simply the French word for 'Will' (dating back to when the official language of England was French) and adds no clarity to the phrase.
When literacy levels rose and paper costs dropped, solicitors started charging on a basis on time.
The problem has always been that the writing element doesn't take much time. For a professional, even a complex Will might only take a couple of hours to set down on paper, especially now, given that most writers now use legal document assembly software to help them.
The skill (and value to the client) lies in understanding the risks that the client (or their beneficiaries) face and structuring the Will so that they are minimised.
Wills became divided between 'simple' or 'basic' ones where risks were minimal and the service was mainly writing the words, and 'complex' ones that included risk assessments and estate planning and mechanisms such as trust funds. Over time, 'simple' and 'complex' have come to be synonyms for 'without a trust fund' and 'with a trust fund', even though often, simple Wills do create simple trust funds.
The most expensive services are often charged by solicitors. That isn't because being a qualified solicitor makes you better at writing a Will, but rather because firms of solicitors have pass on the additional costs of regulation (which, to be fair, do offer some protection for clients).
There are also some free options for writing a Will.
Simple Wills and their costs
A simple Will is a straightforward document for individuals with uncomplicated estates and wishes. It typically includes basic asset distribution instructions to immediate family members.
It is likely to nominate guardians, and may include the most basic instructions for managing any trust fund that arises by law.
Basic Wills tend to be lower cost and have a quicker preparation time than complex Wills.
Cost range for simple Wills
Simple Wills usually cost between £70 and £400 in the UK. Factors influencing this range include the service provider's experience, location, whether they operate online or offline, and any additional review, attestation (signing) or storage services included.
For example, if you were to create a simple Will leaving all your assets to your spouse, with your children as secondary beneficiaries, you might expect to pay around £200 for a solicitor-drafted Will. This could include an attestation service (where you go into the solicitor's office to sign it and their staff act as witnesses). A Simple Will written by a specialist Will writer might cost around £150.
At the other end of the market are free and low cost Will templates, such as those we offer. Some are in electronic format, other paper 'forms'. Net Lawman offers review services at lower prices to give you the same quality of document that a solicitor would write, but at a lower cost because you have done some of the editing work.
Complex Wills and associated costs
Complex Wills describe those that distribute larger estates - ones that are liable for inheritance tax, where there are multiple properties, business assets, overseas properties - and ones that create trusts, and have specific beneficiary conditions. Business owners, individuals with international assets, or those in blended families often require this type of Will.
Complex Wills often involve more detailed planning, potentially including inheritance tax considerations and the creation of trusts.
Cost range for complex Wills
A complex Will written by a solicitor usually costs between £500 and £1000, but can cost more, depending on the level of complexity.
A Will writer is likely to charge 20 percent less.
These prices reflect the additional time, tax and succession planning and advice. Complex Wills require a deeper level of service.
Setting up trusts for children or protecting company ownership are examples of provisions that might increase the price. The overall cost varies depending on your specific needs and the complexity of your affairs.
Mirror Wills for couples
Mirror Wills are nearly identical Wills created by couples, usually leaving everything to the surviving partner and then to agreed beneficiaries. They're appropriate for married couples or those in civil partnerships with similar wishes.
This option can be cost-effective for couples with aligned estate planning goals because the work involved to mirror a Will is much less than writing it from scratch.
Cost range for complex Wills
Mirror Wills usually range from £300 to £500 for the pair, making them more economical than creating two separate ones. Generally, the second Will tends to be a fraction of the price of the first.
However, while cheaper, they may not always be the best option for all couples, particularly those with children from previous relationships or significant separate assets.
That is because if the family circumstances are different, your requirements are likely to be different.
For example, if you and your spouse have been married for 30 years with two children together, mirror Wills leaving everything to each other, then to your children, might be appropriate.
However, if you're in a second marriage with children from previous relationships, separate Wills might better reflect your individual wishes and protect the interests of all family members.
What are the different Will writing options and their prices?
Will writing options include DIY Will kits, online Will services, and solicitor-drafted Wills.
Consider both the price of the service and the complexity of your estate when selecting a method. Note that all of these methods allow you to make a legally binding Will - the difference is in service level.
DIY Will kits
DIY Will 'kits' are pre-printed forms for self-completion, costing £10 to £30. They offer low cost, privacy, and quick completion. However, most paper DIY kits can't address complex situations.
You can also download template versions for your own Will from sites such as ours.
Some downloadable templates, such as our own, can be used for quite complex wishes. Paper versions tend to be weaker if you need to address inheritance tax planning or the complexities involved in distributing assets among multiple beneficiaries.
Online Will services
Online Will writing services are websites that guide users through the Will creation process. They cost £80 to £150. These services offer convenience, affordability, and often include review by legal professionals. However, they provide limited personalisation and may oversimplify complex estates.
If you're married with young children and want to leave everything to your spouse, then to your children, an online service might work well. But if you have overseas properties or want to set up trusts for your loved ones, you might need more specialised advice. Online services can be a good middle ground for those with straightforward financial affairs but who want more guidance than a DIY kit offers.
Solicitor-drafted Wills
Using a solicitor (or a Will writer) provides personalised advice for more complex situations. Solicitors can offer valuable insights from experience for inheritance tax planning and handling complicated family situations. Their expertise is particularly valuable for business owners, those with international assets and those with complex family issues.
Solicitor-drafted Wills cost around £200 to £600 for simple single Will and £500 to over £1,000 for a complex Will. This price usually includes initial consultations, drafting, and potential storage services. While more expensive, solicitor-drafted Wills offer the highest level of assurance and customisation.
Solicitors and Will writers may offer a reduction in price if you appoint them as executor. That is because the cost of administration services (probate) that they will be able to charge is far higher than the price reduction for the Will. Its not necessarily a bad deal - just something to be aware of.
You may also be able to obtain a solicitor-drafted Will through the Free Wills Month charitable promotion. Not all solicitors take part though, and you'll be asked to make a donation to one or more participating charities in place of paying the solicitor. Another consideration is that most solicitors will only write a very simple Will for free.
Frequently asked questions about Will costs
What's the difference in cost between joint and individual Wills?
Joint Wills (or mutual Wills), covering two people in a single document, typically cost £300 to £500. Individual Wills are cheaper. While joint Wills may seem more economical, individual ones offer greater flexibility.
For married couples or those in a civil partnership with similar wishes, separate mirror Wills might be preferable despite the potentially higher combined cost.
Are there hidden costs in Will writing services?
Will writing services may involve additional fees beyond the initial cost. These can include storage fees, update charges, or executor services.
For example, some solicitors charge annual fees for Will storage, which can range from £30 to £100 per year.
Update charges for making amendments to your Will might cost between £50 and £100, depending on the complexity of the changes.
To avoid unexpected expenses, ask about potential hidden costs before engaging any service provider.
Ask about:
- document storage;
- future updates or amendments;
- executor services if the firm acts as an executor; and
- any additional legal advice related to your estate planning.