The Short Answer
Yes — you can make a will online in the UK, and the resulting document carries exactly the same legal weight as one written by a solicitor. The Wills Act 1837 places no restriction on how a will is drafted. A guided online questionnaire, a typed Word document, or a handwritten page are all legally equivalent if they meet the signing and witnessing rules.
The Legal Basis — Wills Act 1837
For a will to be valid in England and Wales it must satisfy a short list of requirements. None of them mention solicitors:
- The will must be in writing
- You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity
- You must sign the will, or direct someone to sign on your behalf in your presence
- Two adult witnesses must be present at the same time when you sign
- Those witnesses must then sign in your presence
- Witnesses cannot be beneficiaries or married to a beneficiary
Meet those, and the will is valid — whatever route was used to draft it.
Probate registries do not check who drafted a will. They check whether the document complies with the Wills Act 1837. A correctly executed online will and a correctly executed solicitor will are admitted to probate identically.
How an Online Will Service Works
- You complete a guided questionnaire in plain English — assets, executors, beneficiaries, gifts, guardians for any children, funeral wishes. Around 15–25 minutes.
- The service drafts your will using the correct legal wording and reviews it for compliance.
- You receive a print-ready PDF within 24 hours.
- You print, sign and witness the document in front of two adults who are not beneficiaries. That signed copy is your legal will.
Who Can Make a Will Online?
You can use an online will service if:
- You are 18 or over (the only exception is members of the armed forces on active service)
- You have mental capacity — you understand what a will is, what your estate consists of, and who might reasonably expect to benefit
- You are not under undue influence from anyone else
- Your estate falls within the standard scope: a home, savings, pensions, family beneficiaries, perhaps some specific gifts
- You are domiciled in England or Wales (Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate rules)
Limitations of Online Wills
An online service is not the right choice for every situation. Consider a specialist solicitor if:
- You want to set up a discretionary or life-interest trust
- You have business assets requiring succession planning
- You hold property abroad in jurisdictions with forced-heirship rules
- Your estate is large enough that inheritance tax planning drives the structure
- You expect the will to be contested — estranged family, second marriages with stepchildren you want to ring-fence assets for
- You have any concerns about your mental capacity being challenged after death
Can I Sign a Will Electronically?
No. This is the one thing you cannot do online. The Wills Act 1837 still requires a wet signature on a physical printed will, witnessed in person by two adults present at the same time.
Temporary remote-witnessing rules introduced during the pandemic have now been replaced. The current law requires the testator and both witnesses to be physically present in the same room.
So an "online will" really means an online-drafted will: the document is produced electronically, but the signing step is on paper, in person.
Online Will vs Solicitor — Same Legal Standing
| Online will | Solicitor will | |
|---|---|---|
| Governed by | Wills Act 1837 | Wills Act 1837 |
| Admissible at probate | Yes | Yes |
| Typical cost (single) | £69 | £300–£500 |
| Time to complete | Under 30 minutes | 1–3 weeks |
| Best for | Most UK estates | Trusts, business assets, contested estates |
Yes, You Can — Make Your Will Online From £69
Under 30 minutes. Legally valid in England & Wales. Delivered within 24 hours.
Start My Will — £69 →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a will online in the UK?
Yes. Anyone aged 18 or over with mental capacity can make a legally valid will online in England and Wales. See how to make a will online.
Is an online will legally binding?
Yes. An online will is legally binding once correctly signed and witnessed. The legal force comes from the signing and witnessing under the Wills Act 1837, not from the route used to draft the document. See what makes a will legally valid.
Can I sign my will electronically?
No. The Wills Act 1837 still requires a wet signature on a physical printed will, witnessed in person by two adults present at the same time. The drafting can be online, but the signing must be on paper.
Who cannot make a will online?
You cannot make a valid will if you are under 18, lack mental capacity, or are being unduly influenced. An online service is also not right for complex trusts, business succession, or significant overseas assets.
Are online wills accepted by probate registries?
Yes. Probate registries assess whether the will complies with the Wills Act 1837 — they do not consider how the document was drafted. A correctly signed online will is admitted to probate in exactly the same way as a solicitor will.