Will Writing Costs in the UK — At a Glance
| Option | Single will | Mirror wills (couple) | Time to complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY template | £10–£30 | £20–£50 | Variable, no guidance |
| Charity will scheme (Will Aid / Free Wills Month) | Suggested £100 donation | Suggested £180 donation | Limited slots, by appointment |
| Online will writing service (ClearLegacy) | £69 fixed | £99 fixed | 30 min + 24 hr delivery |
| Other online services | £90–£199 | £150–£299 | 30–60 minutes |
| Traditional will writer | £150–£300 | £250–£500 | 1–2 weeks |
| High street solicitor | £300–£500 | £500–£1,000 | 1–3 weeks |
| Specialist solicitor (trusts, business) | £500–£2,000+ | £1,000–£3,000+ | 2–6 weeks |
What Affects the Cost of a Will?
1. The delivery model
The single biggest driver of price is how the service is delivered. A £500 solicitor will and a £69 online will produce the same legal document for a typical UK estate — the price difference covers face-to-face appointments, office overheads and the time a solicitor spends typing your details into a system.
2. The complexity of your estate
A standard estate (a home, savings, pensions, family beneficiaries) is well served by an online service. Things that justify paying more include:
- Discretionary or life-interest trusts
- Business succession planning
- Property abroad in multiple jurisdictions
- Inheritance tax planning where structure matters
- Expected challenges to the will
3. Add-ons and ongoing fees
Watch for ongoing fees that double or triple the lifetime cost of a will:
- Storage fees — £20–£40 per year to keep the original at the will writer's office
- Amendment fees — £50–£200 per change after delivery
- Subscription wills — annual fees that "include" rewrites you may never need
- Trust corporation fees — bundled-in services that can take a percentage of your estate
The headline price isn't the full cost. A £69 fixed-fee online will is genuinely £69 forever. A "free" supermarket will written today might cost £30 a year to store and £150 to amend.
Is It Worth Paying for a Will?
Yes — for almost everyone. Without a will your estate passes under intestacy rules, which:
- Give an unmarried partner nothing, no matter how long you have lived together
- Force assets to pass to blood relatives in a fixed legal order
- Mean the courts decide who looks after children under 18
- Often produce results the deceased would not have chosen
For £69 you avoid all of that. The cost of getting it wrong is measured in tens of thousands of pounds and broken family relationships — the cost of getting it right is less than a tank of fuel.
Free Wills — Are They Any Good?
Charity will schemes
Two well-known schemes pair you with a participating solicitor:
- Will Aid (every November) — single will for a suggested £100 donation, mirror pair for £180
- Free Wills Month (March and October) — free for over-55s, in exchange for considering a charity legacy
Quality is good — they are written by qualified solicitors. The catch is availability: slots fill within days, you have to attend in person, and the scheme excludes complex estates.
Free DIY templates
Free will templates exist from supermarkets, banks and consumer sites. They are technically free but are by far the most common source of invalid wills at probate. Common failures include missing residuary clauses, beneficiaries acting as witnesses (which voids the gift), and incorrect signing.
How to Save Money Without Cutting Corners
- Use an online will writing service for a straightforward estate — £69 single, £99 mirror at ClearLegacy
- Buy as a couple if you both need wills — mirror wills are cheaper than two singles bought separately
- Avoid storage fees — keep the original at home in a fireproof box, or with your executor
- Skip add-on trusts you do not need — discretionary trusts are oversold and rarely necessary for ordinary estates
- Don't pay solicitor rates for solicitor convenience — pay them for genuine specialist advice you need
Make Your Will From £69 — All In
Fixed fee. No storage charges. No subscription. Delivered within 24 hours.
Start My Will — £69 →Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to make a will in the UK in 2026?
Costs range from £10 for a DIY template, £69–£199 online, £300–£500 at a high street solicitor, £500–£1,000 for couples' mirror wills at a solicitor, and £500–£2,000+ for specialist work. See our cheap will UK guide for the lowest legally safe options.
Why do solicitor wills cost more?
Solicitor pricing covers face-to-face appointments, regulated professional advice, drafting time, and overheads. For a straightforward UK estate the finished document is the same as one drafted by an online service.
Is it worth paying for a will?
Yes. Without a will your estate is distributed under intestacy rules, which can leave unmarried partners with nothing. A £69 online will protects your beneficiaries for less than the cost of a tank of fuel.
Are free wills any good?
Charity schemes (Will Aid, Free Wills Month) offer solicitor-drafted wills in exchange for a donation — good quality but limited availability. Free DIY templates are error-prone and the most common source of invalid wills at probate.
How can I save money on writing a will?
Use a fixed-fee online will writing service, share a mirror-wills package as a couple, and avoid services that bundle a low headline price with annual storage or amendment fees.