How Much Does a Will Cost in the UK?

Will writing costs in the UK

Making a will does not need to be expensive. For the majority of people with straightforward estates, the cost of a professionally drafted single will starts at around £150 and rarely exceeds £350. That single fee can prevent years of legal expense, family disputes and uncertainty.

Costs vary depending on who prepares the will, the complexity of your wishes, and whether you need a trust structure. The three main routes are: using a solicitor, using a specialist will writer, or using an online will-writing tool.

Solicitor vs will writer costs

Many people assume that solicitors are the only professionals who can write a legally valid will. This is not correct. In England and Wales, will writing is not a legally regulated activity, which means anyone can technically offer the service. Reputable will writers operate under professional membership bodies, including the Society of Will Writers and the Institute of Professional Will Writers.

Solicitors typically charge more than specialist will writers for standard will drafting. This is partly because solicitors carry higher overheads and broader professional indemnity cover, and partly because will writing is often not their primary specialism. For complex estates involving business interests, international assets or disputed matters, a solicitor's broader legal expertise may be necessary.

For most families — those with a home, savings, personal possessions and straightforward wishes — a specialist will writer offers the same quality of document at a lower price, and often with a more personal, focused service.

At Legacy Lines, all will writing is carried out through our professional will writing service in Kent, with transparent pricing and a thorough consultation process. See our pricing page for current fees.

Online wills vs professional wills

Online will-writing platforms have grown significantly in recent years. The appeal is obvious: a basic will can be produced in under an hour for as little as £20. For a young single person with minimal assets and no children, an online will may be adequate.

However, online tools have real limitations. They rely entirely on the user answering questions correctly and understanding what they mean. There is no professional reviewing whether the answers reflect the user's actual wishes or fit their circumstances. Errors in how beneficiaries are described, ambiguous gift language, or failing to consider what happens if a beneficiary dies before the testator can all cause serious problems.

Online wills also typically provide no guidance on inheritance tax, trust planning, property ownership structures or the implications of different executor choices. For most families, these matters are precisely where professional input adds the most value.

The cheapest will is not always the one with the lowest upfront cost. Contested or unclear wills regularly result in legal bills far exceeding what a professional will would have cost.

Mirror will pricing

A mirror will is a pair of wills written for two people — usually a married couple or civil partners — that reflect each other's wishes. Typically, each leaves everything to the other, with the same substitute beneficiaries (usually children or grandchildren) if the other has already died.

Mirror wills are almost always cheaper than two separate wills because much of the drafting is shared. Typical costs for professionally drafted mirror wills range from £250 to £600, depending on complexity and who prepares them.

It is worth noting that mirror wills, while convenient, are not legally binding on the survivor. Once one partner dies, the survivor is free to change their will entirely. For couples who want stronger protection — for example, to ensure children from a previous relationship inherit — a trust structure within the will provides better security. See our article on estate planning for blended families for more detail.

Trust wills pricing

A trust will creates a legal trust structure within the will itself. Common examples include a protective property trust (which preserves a share of the family home for children while allowing a surviving spouse to continue living there), a discretionary trust (which gives trustees flexibility over how and when assets are distributed), and a flexible life interest trust (which can adapt to changing circumstances after the first death).

Trust wills cost more because they require more detailed drafting, careful consideration of tax implications, and clear guidance to the trustees who will administer them. A single trust will typically starts from around £400, with mirror trust wills ranging from £600 to £1,200 or more depending on complexity.

The additional cost is usually very well justified. Properly structured trust wills can protect the family home from care fee assessments, preserve assets for children from a previous relationship, and give executors flexibility to manage assets in a way that minimises tax. The financial benefit over time typically far exceeds the cost of the will itself.

Why professional wills matter

A will is one of the most important legal documents you will ever sign. Unlike many documents, its consequences only become apparent when you are no longer here to correct mistakes. This makes professional guidance particularly valuable.

A professional will writer or solicitor will ask questions you may not have thought to ask yourself. They will identify circumstances — property ownership structure, pension nominations, life insurance policies, business interests — that could affect your estate and your family's security. They will draft language that is legally precise and unlikely to be challenged or misinterpreted.

They will also ensure the will is executed correctly. A will that is not properly signed and witnessed is invalid. This is more common than most people realise, particularly with DIY or online wills completed without guidance.

• Clear identification of beneficiaries and assets
• Properly appointed executors who understand their responsibilities
• Correct execution to ensure the will is legally valid
• Guidance on trust structures if appropriate
• Advice on inheritance tax and how to mitigate it
• Recommendations on reviewing the will as circumstances change

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