The 7 Steps to Writing a Will
- List everything you own and roughly what it is worth
- Decide who should inherit what
- Choose one or two executors to administer your estate
- Name guardians for any children under 18
- Draft the will — online, with a solicitor, or by hand
- Sign it in the presence of two independent adult witnesses
- Store the original somewhere safe and tell your executors where it is
The whole process takes about 15 minutes if you use a guided online service. With a solicitor, expect one to three weeks of appointments and a fee of £300–£1,000.
Before you start: the law that governs wills in England and Wales is the Wills Act 1837. To be valid, your will must be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two adults at the same time. Get any of those wrong and the will fails.
Step 1: List Your Assets and Liabilities
Write down everything you own. Most people are surprised by the total once they add it all up. Include:
- Property — your home, any second homes, buy-to-let, holiday property abroad
- Bank and savings accounts, ISAs, premium bonds
- Pensions and life insurance policies (note: most pensions pass via nominations, not the will)
- Investments, shares, cryptocurrency
- Vehicles, jewellery, art, collectibles
- Business interests or shareholdings
- Digital assets — domain names, online accounts, photo libraries
Then list any debts: mortgage, loans, credit cards. The estate is what remains after debts and inheritance tax are paid.
Step 2: Decide Who Inherits
This is the heart of the will. You can leave assets in three ways:
- Specific gifts — "I leave my engagement ring to my daughter Emma."
- Pecuniary gifts — fixed cash sums, e.g. "£5,000 to my brother."
- Residuary gifts — everything else, usually the largest part. e.g. "The remainder of my estate to be split equally between my three children."
You can also set up trusts within your will, leave money to charity (gifts to UK charities are exempt from inheritance tax), or include a substitute beneficiary in case the first one dies before you.
If you are unmarried
Unmarried partners do not inherit automatically under UK law. If you want your partner to receive anything, your will must say so explicitly. This is the single biggest reason unmarried couples need a will.
Step 3: Choose Your Executors
An executor is the person who carries out the instructions in your will after you die. Their job includes valuing the estate, paying any inheritance tax, applying for probate, settling debts, and distributing what is left to your beneficiaries.
You can name up to four executors but most people pick one or two. Common choices:
- A spouse or partner
- Adult children
- A trusted sibling or friend
- A professional executor (a solicitor or trust corporation) — sensible for complex estates, but they will charge fees
Your executor can also be a beneficiary — most are. Make sure to tell them they have been appointed and where the will is stored.
Step 4: Name Guardians for Children Under 18
If you have children under 18, your will is the only place to legally appoint guardians. Without this, the courts decide who looks after your children if both parents die — and they may not pick the person you would have chosen.
Discuss it with the proposed guardians first. Make sure they are willing and financially able. You can also leave instructions in a Letter of Wishes about how you would like your children to be raised — schools, religion, contact with extended family.
Step 5: Draft the Will
You have three realistic options.
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online will service | £69 single · £99 mirror | 15 minutes | Most straightforward UK estates |
| High street solicitor | £300–£1,000 | 1–3 weeks | Complex estates, business assets, trusts |
| DIY will kit or template | £10–£30 | Variable | The very simplest cases — high error rate |
An online service like ClearLegacy uses a guided questionnaire. You answer questions in plain English, and the system produces a professionally drafted document that meets the legal requirements of the Wills Act 1837.
Step 6: Sign and Witness the Will
This is where most DIY wills fail. To be legally valid:
- You sign the will at the end, in ink
- Two adults must be physically present and watch you sign
- Those two adults then sign the will themselves, with you watching
- All three of you must be in the room at the same time
Critical: a witness cannot be a beneficiary, and cannot be married to or in a civil partnership with a beneficiary. If they are, the gift to that beneficiary is void — the will itself is still valid, but the named person gets nothing. Use neighbours, colleagues or friends who are not in the will.
Step 7: Store the Will Safely
The original signed will is the only document that counts. Photocopies are not accepted by probate. Common storage options:
- A fireproof safe at home — free, but vulnerable to loss or damage
- With your solicitor — usually free if they drafted it
- The Probate Service in London — £20 one-off fee, very secure
- A bank safe deposit box — possible but executors may struggle to access it quickly
Whichever you choose, tell your executors where the will is. A will no one can find is the same as no will at all.
How Much Does It Cost to Write a Will?
| Service | Cost | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| ClearLegacy single will | £69 | 24 hours |
| ClearLegacy mirror wills (couples) | £99 | 24 hours |
| High street solicitor (single will) | £300–£500 | 1–3 weeks |
| High street solicitor (couples) | £500–£1,000 | 1–3 weeks |
For a typical UK estate — a home, savings, pensions and a few specific gifts — there is no quality difference. The will produced by a guided online service is drafted to the same legal standard.
Write Your Will Today — From £69
15 minutes online. Fixed fee. Legally valid in England & Wales. Delivered within 24 hours.
Start My Will — £69 →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a will in the UK?
List your assets, decide who you want to inherit them, choose one or two executors, name guardians for any children under 18, then sign your will in the presence of two adult witnesses who are not beneficiaries. A guided online service handles the drafting and walks you through each step in about 15 minutes.
Can I write a will myself without a solicitor?
Yes. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor in England and Wales. A handwritten or DIY will is valid as long as it is properly signed and witnessed. The risk is in the drafting — ambiguous wording, missing residuary clauses, or witness errors are the most common reasons DIY wills fail. A guided online service avoids these traps.
What makes a will legally valid in the UK?
Under the Wills Act 1837, a will must be in writing, signed by you, and witnessed by two adults present at the same time. The witnesses cannot be beneficiaries or married to a beneficiary. You must be 18 or over and have the mental capacity to understand what you are doing.
How long does it take to write a will?
About 15 minutes with a guided online service. Solicitors typically take one to three weeks of appointments. ClearLegacy delivers the finished will within 24 hours of submission.
Do I need to update my will after writing it?
Yes — review every three to five years, or sooner after any major life event: marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, buying property, or a significant change in finances. Marriage automatically revokes any earlier will unless it was specifically made in contemplation of that marriage.