How to Write a Will Online in the UK (England & Wales)
Writing a will is one of those tasks that sits on the to-do list for years, quietly gathering dust. It feels heavy, expensive, and complicated, so we push it aside. The truth is that making a legally valid will in 2026 no longer requires a stuffy solicitor's office, a hefty bill, or hours of your time. You can now complete the whole thing from your sofa and have your affairs in order before your next cup of tea goes cold. This guide walks you through exactly how the process works, what makes a will legally binding in England and Wales, and why ClearLegacy offers a straightforward path from just £69, with no solicitor needed and the whole thing done in under 15 minutes. Please note that this article provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If your estate is complex, you should speak to a qualified solicitor.
Why You Need a Will in 2026 (And What Happens Without One)
If you die without a valid will, you die intestate. That single word hands control of your estate over to the Rules of Intestacy, a government formula that decides who gets what. The formula is rigid and often produces results you would never have chosen. Your spouse or civil partner inherits the first £322,000 of your estate plus half of anything above that, with the rest going to your children. If you have no children, your spouse inherits everything. If you have no spouse, your assets cascade down a predetermined list of relatives.
The real sting hits unmarried couples. Cohabiting partners have no automatic right to inherit anything under intestacy rules, regardless of how long you have lived together or whether you own a home jointly. Your partner could face financial devastation while your estate passes to a distant relative you barely knew. Blended families face similar risks: children from a previous relationship may receive nothing if intestacy rules favour your current spouse. Naming guardians for children under 18 is another critical step that only a will can accomplish. Without one, the courts decide who raises your children, and their choice may not align with your wishes.
Can You Really Write a Will Online? (Legality in England & Wales)
The short answer is yes. Online wills are fully legally valid in England and Wales, provided they satisfy the requirements set out in the Wills Act 1837. There is a persistent myth that only a solicitor can produce a valid will. For straightforward estates, that is simply not true.
The Wills Act 1837 sets three core requirements. First, the will must be in writing. Second, it must be signed by the person making the will, known as the testator, in the physical presence of two witnesses. Third, both witnesses must sign the will in the testator's presence. These rules have not changed. A witness watching you sign over Zoom does not count — both witnesses must be in the same room as you, watching you put pen to paper, and you must watch them do the same. Online will platforms handle the drafting and structure; you handle the final signing and witnessing at your kitchen table. Get that part right, and your online will carries the same legal weight as one drafted by a high-street solicitor.
How to Write a Will Online: A Step-by-Step Process
Step 1 – Gather Your Information
Pull together the full names and addresses of your executors (the people who will carry out your wishes), your beneficiaries (who will receive your assets), and, if you have children under 18, your chosen guardians. Make a rough inventory of your assets: property, savings, investments, pensions, life insurance, and valued personal belongings. This preparation takes ten minutes and makes the online process far smoother.
Step 2 – Choose Your Online Will Provider
The UK market offers several routes. Free charity services cover simple wills and invite a donation. Solicitor-checked services charge around £60–£90 and include a review. Direct online platforms like ClearLegacy give you a legally valid will from £69, with no solicitor needed, and the questionnaire takes under 15 minutes. For most people with straightforward estates, a direct online service provides everything required at the best value point in the market.
Step 3 – Answer the Questionnaire
The platform walks you through plain-English questions — no legal jargon. It covers your marital status, children, property and assets, who your executors are, and who receives what. You can name backup executors, leave gifts to charity, split your estate between a spouse and children from a previous relationship, or leave a specific item to a friend. The software translates your answers into a properly structured will behind the scenes.
Step 4 – Print, Sign, and Witness
This step turns your document into a legally binding will, so follow it carefully. Print on A4. Do not staple the pages. Sign in ink at the bottom of the last page. Two independent witnesses must both be physically present, watch you sign, and then sign themselves in your presence, printing their names and addresses. A witness cannot be a beneficiary or the spouse of a beneficiary — if they are, any gift to that person becomes void. Do not use a digital or typed signature, and do not alter the will after signing; changes require a formal codicil or a new will.
When Should You See a Solicitor Instead?
Online wills are not right for every estate. Seek professional advice if you share property with an unmarried partner, have a dependant who cannot care for themselves (such as a disabled child) and need trust arrangements, own property overseas, run a business or hold complex assets, or have genuine concerns that someone might challenge your will. If none of these apply, an online will is a perfectly safe and legally sound choice.
What Makes a Will Legally Valid? (Avoiding Common Mistakes)
Beyond signing and witnessing, you must have testamentary capacity — being of sound mind, understanding that you are making a will, knowing the extent of your assets, and who might expect to benefit. Common mistakes: stapling pages after signing, using a digital or typed signature, or asking a beneficiary (or their spouse) to witness the document, which voids their inheritance. Once signed, store the will carefully; a torn, defaced or altered will may be deemed invalid. To make changes, create a formal codicil or a new will that explicitly revokes previous versions.
Where to Store Your Will (And How to Keep It Safe)
A will is only useful if your executors can find it. Options include a fireproof home safe, storage with a solicitor or bank, or the Probate Registry in Newcastle, which stores wills for a flat fee of £20. Whatever you choose, tell your executors where it is held — a perfectly written will that nobody can find is no use at all.
How Much Does an Online Will Cost in the UK? (2026 Pricing)
Costs range from £0 (charity services) to £150–£500+ for a full-service solicitor. Solicitor-checked online services sit around £60–£90. ClearLegacy is £69 for a legally valid will with no solicitor involvement, completed in under 15 minutes. For the majority of people with straightforward estates, the £69 option delivers everything legally required — a document meeting all the requirements of the Wills Act 1837, structured correctly and ready to sign — at the best value point available in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Wills
Can I change my will after I've written it online?
Yes, at any time. The simplest method is a new will that includes a clause revoking all previous wills. Alternatively, add a codicil — a separate document amending specific clauses, signed and witnessed with the same formalities. For substantial changes, a new will is usually better.
Do I need to register my will with the government?
No. There is no central government register for wills in England and Wales; registration is optional. Private services such as Certainty (the National Will Register) let you record the will's location, and the Probate Registry accepts wills for storage, but neither is compulsory. The responsibility for keeping it safe and telling executors where to find it rests with you.
What happens if I get married or divorced after writing my will?
Marriage automatically revokes an existing will unless it was explicitly made in contemplation of that marriage — so if you marry and don't write a new will, you die intestate. Divorce does not revoke a will, but it removes the former spouse as executor and beneficiary, as if they had died on the date the marriage ended. Writing a new will after divorce is strongly recommended.
Can I leave money to my pet?
Under UK law pets are property, so you cannot leave money directly to an animal. Instead, leave a sum to a trusted person with a request to care for your pet, or set up a pet trust that places a legal obligation on the trustee to use the funds for your pet's benefit.
Start your will online today
ClearLegacy offers a legally valid will for England and Wales from £69, with no solicitor required and the whole questionnaire done in under 15 minutes — years of peace of mind in less time than an episode of your favourite programme.
Write your will — from £69This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. For complex estates, please consult a qualified solicitor.