Do You Need a Solicitor to Write a Will?
No. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor to write a will in England and Wales. The Wills Act 1837 — the law that governs will validity — specifies how a will must be signed and witnessed, but says nothing about who must draft it.
A will drafted by an online service, a will-writing professional, or even by yourself is equally valid in the eyes of the law, provided it is correctly signed and witnessed.
The only legal requirements for a valid will are: you must be 18 or over and of sound mind, you must sign the will in the presence of two independent witnesses, and both witnesses must also sign. No solicitor required.
Your Options for Writing a Will Without a Solicitor
1. Online will writing service (recommended)
An online service like ClearLegacy guides you through a structured questionnaire, capturing all the information needed for a professionally drafted will. This is the safest non-solicitor option because the questionnaire is designed to cover everything a will needs — you cannot accidentally leave out critical clauses.
- Cost: from £69 (single will) or £99 (mirror wills for couples)
- Time: approximately 15 minutes to complete
- Delivery: professionally drafted will emailed within 24 hours
- Risk: low — the guided process prevents common drafting errors
2. DIY will kit
Will kits are available from stationery shops and online retailers for £10–£30. They provide a template that you fill in by hand. While cheap, they carry significant risk: there is no guidance on legal phrasing, no safeguards against ambiguity, and no one reviewing your answers for completeness.
- Cost: £10–£30
- Risk: moderate to high — common issues include ambiguous language, missing residuary clauses, and incorrect witnessing
3. Writing your will from scratch
It is technically possible to write your own will on a blank piece of paper. However, this carries the highest risk. Without knowledge of standard will clauses, it is easy to create ambiguity, omit essential provisions, or use language that could be challenged.
- Cost: free
- Risk: high — most contested wills involve home-drafted documents
Step-by-Step: Writing Your Will Online
If you choose an online service like ClearLegacy, the process is straightforward:
- Answer the questionnaire — provide your personal details, name your beneficiaries, appoint executors, and specify guardians for any children under 18. The guided questions ensure you cover everything.
- Choose specific gifts — leave particular items or sums of money to named individuals if you wish. Specify what happens to the remainder of your estate.
- Add funeral wishes — optionally include burial or cremation preferences.
- Review and pay — check your answers, pay the fixed fee (£69 single / £99 mirror), and submit.
- Receive your will — your professionally drafted will arrives by email within 24 hours as a PDF.
- Print, sign, and witness — print the will, sign it in front of two independent witnesses (who must not be beneficiaries or married to beneficiaries), and have both witnesses sign.
- Store safely — keep the original in a secure location. Tell your executors where to find it.
What to Include in Your Will
Whether you use an online service or draft your own will, it should cover:
- Beneficiaries — who inherits your assets
- Executors — who manages the administration of your estate
- Guardians — who looks after your children if both parents die
- Specific gifts — particular items or sums for named individuals
- Residuary estate — what happens to everything not covered by specific gifts
- Funeral wishes — optional but useful for your family
Common Mistakes When Writing a Will Without a Solicitor
These are the errors that most often cause problems — and exactly why a guided online service is safer than going it alone:
- Forgetting the residuary clause — if you only make specific gifts, anything not mentioned passes under intestacy rules. A will must include a clause covering "everything else."
- Using witnesses who are beneficiaries — if a witness (or their spouse) is named in the will, their gift is void. Witnesses must be independent.
- Not signing correctly — the testator must sign in the presence of both witnesses at the same time. The witnesses must then sign. All signatures must be on the will itself.
- Ambiguous language — phrases like "my jewellery to my daughters" can cause disputes if not precisely defined. Professional drafting uses clear, unambiguous language.
- Not revoking previous wills — a new will should include a revocation clause to avoid confusion with any earlier documents.
Online Will vs Solicitor: Comparison
| ClearLegacy (Online) | High Street Solicitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | £69 (single) · £99 (mirror) | £300–£1,000 |
| Time to complete | 15 minutes | 1–2 hours + follow-up |
| Delivery | Within 24 hours | 1–3 weeks |
| Legal validity | Wills Act 1837 compliant | Wills Act 1837 compliant |
| Appointments needed | None | 1–2 office visits |
| Amendments | 1 free included | Charged per update |
Write Your Will Without a Solicitor — From £69
15 minutes. Fixed fee. Wills Act 1837 compliant. Delivered within 24 hours.
Start My Will — £69 →Writing wills as a couple? Mirror Wills — £99 for both →
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I write a will without a solicitor in the UK?
Yes. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor. An online will service like ClearLegacy produces a professionally drafted, legally valid will from £69.
Is a will written without a solicitor legally binding?
Yes, provided it is correctly signed and witnessed. The Wills Act 1837 does not require solicitor involvement — only proper execution (signing and witnessing).
What if I make a mistake in my will?
ClearLegacy includes one free amendment. If your circumstances change or you spot an error, you can update your will at no additional cost.
When should I use a solicitor instead?
Consider a solicitor if your estate involves business assets, property in multiple countries, or complex trust arrangements. For straightforward estates — a home, savings, named beneficiaries — an online service covers everything you need.