Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Reviewed Online Will | DIY Will Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | £69–£100 | £5–£30 |
| Specialist review | Included | None |
| Guided questions | Step-by-step | Written instructions only |
| Error checking | Before release | None — you self-check |
| Format | Digital PDF, ready to print & sign | Paper form — handwrite or type |
| Turnaround | 24 hours (ClearLegacy) | Immediate (but unreviewed) |
| Legal validity | Wills Act 1837 | Wills Act 1837 (if done correctly) |
| Suitable for complex estates | Standard estates | Very simple estates only |
Online will prices based on major UK reviewed providers (June 2026). DIY kit prices based on typical retail ranges.
ClearLegacy — £69 single / £99 mirror
Specialist-reviewed, Wills Act 1837 compliant, delivered within 24 hours.
Start Your Will — £69
What is a DIY will kit?
A DIY will kit is a paper form — sometimes a booklet — sold in stationery shops, bookshops or online for £5–£30. It typically includes a blank or partially pre-printed will template, written instructions on how to fill it in, and guidance on signing and witnessing.
The kit gives you the framework. You provide the content — executor names, beneficiary details, specific gifts, the residuary clause — and you're responsible for getting all of it right. There is no review, no specialist check, and no one to flag mistakes before you sign.
What is a reviewed online will?
A reviewed online will service (like ClearLegacy, Farewill, or others) takes you through a structured online questionnaire — plain-English questions about your family, assets, executors and wishes. The system generates a properly formatted will from your answers, and a qualified specialist reviews it before release.
ClearLegacy charges £69 for a single will and £99 for mirror wills. The review checks executor appointments, residuary clauses, substitution provisions and witnessing instructions. The finished will is delivered as a signable PDF within 24 hours.
The real risk with DIY will kits
The problem with a DIY will kit isn't legality — it's execution. A DIY will is perfectly legal if it meets the Wills Act 1837 requirements. The risk is that mistakes in a will don't show up until after death, when they can't be fixed. By then, the cost of resolving ambiguity, contesting an invalid clause, or applying for rectification far exceeds the £40–£60 you saved on a reviewed will.
The 6 most common DIY will mistakes
- Beneficiary witnesses the will. Under section 15 of the Wills Act 1837, if a beneficiary (or their spouse/civil partner) acts as a witness, their gift is voided — the rest of the will stands, but they inherit nothing.
- Unclear residuary clause. The residuary clause distributes "everything else" after specific gifts. A vague or missing residuary clause can trigger a partial intestacy — some assets pass under intestacy rules, not your wishes.
- No substitution provisions. If your named beneficiary dies before you and there's no substitute named, their share falls into the residuary estate or intestacy. A reviewed will checks for this automatically.
- Failing to revoke previous wills. A new will should contain a revocation clause ("I revoke all former wills"). Without it, a previous will may still partially apply, creating contradictions.
- Ambiguous language. "I leave my house to my children" — does that include stepchildren? What if you sell the house and buy another? What if the house is jointly owned? Precise drafting prevents disputes.
- Incorrect executor appointment. Naming a sole executor who is also the sole beneficiary, or naming someone who is legally unable to act (a minor, someone lacking capacity), creates problems that surface only at probate.
A reviewed online will checks for all six of these before you sign. A DIY kit cannot.
When a DIY will kit makes sense
This is a fair comparison — DIY kits have a place:
- You have a very simple estate — one beneficiary, one executor, no property, no dependants
- You have legal knowledge and can draft confidently without guidance
- You need something immediately — a kit from a local shop is available now (though an online will can be completed the same day too)
- You're on an extremely tight budget and £69 is genuinely not affordable
For everyone else — which is the vast majority of UK adults — the small extra cost of a reviewed online will buys error prevention that a DIY kit cannot provide.
When a reviewed online will is the better choice
- You have property, children, or multiple beneficiaries
- You want a specialist to check your will before you sign it
- You're not confident drafting legal clauses yourself
- You want clear signing and witnessing instructions
- You want a properly formatted, printable document — not a handwritten form
- You'd rather spend £69 now than risk your family spending thousands resolving ambiguity later
When neither is enough — use a solicitor
Neither a DIY kit nor an online will is the right tool for genuinely complex estates. Use a solicitor if your situation involves:
- Discretionary trusts or life interest trusts
- Business succession with multiple shareholders
- Substantial foreign assets or non-UK domicile
- Contentious family circumstances (estranged spouses, disputed claims)
- Estates approaching the £2m threshold where the residence nil-rate band tapers
A solicitor-drafted will typically costs £150–£400+ for a single will. For more on this comparison, see our online will vs solicitor guide.
Pros and cons
DIY will kit — pros
- Cheapest option (£5–£30)
- Available immediately from shops
- No technology or internet needed
- Full control over wording
DIY will kit — cons
- No specialist review
- No error checking
- High risk of common drafting mistakes
- Only suitable for very simple estates
- Handwritten — harder to read at probate
Reviewed online will — pros
- Guided questions — no blank-page drafting
- Specialist review catches common errors
- Properly formatted, printable PDF
- Clear signing and witnessing instructions
- 24-hour turnaround (ClearLegacy)
Reviewed online will — cons
- Costs more than a DIY kit (from £69)
- Requires internet access
- Not suitable for very complex estates
The bottom line
A DIY will kit is better than no will at all. But for most people, the £40–£60 difference between a DIY kit and a reviewed online will is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy. The cost of fixing a flawed will after death — solicitor fees, court applications, family disputes — runs into thousands.
If your estate is straightforward but not trivially simple (and most aren't), a reviewed online will is the sweet spot: cheaper than a solicitor, safer than DIY, and done within 24 hours.
Sources: Wills Act 1837, s.9 and s.15 (legislation.gov.uk); Law Society guidance on will-writing; Citizens Advice — making a will; ClearLegacy pricing. All figures verified June 2026.
What happens when you choose ClearLegacy
- Answer the questionnaireAbout 15 minutes online. Plain English questions about your estate, executors and beneficiaries.
- Pay securely — £69 / £99One fixed fee via Stripe. No surcharges, no upsells, no subscription.
- Specialist reviewA qualified estate planner reviews your draft against the Wills Act 1837 — usually within hours.
- Sign & storeYou receive a signable PDF by email within 24 hours, with a one-page witnessing checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Yes — a DIY will kit can produce a legally valid will in England and Wales, provided the finished will meets the Wills Act 1837 requirements: in writing, signed by the testator in the presence of two independent witnesses who also sign. The risk is that without guidance, mistakes in drafting, witnessing or clause structure can make the will ineffective or ambiguous.
For most people, yes. A reviewed online will guides you through structured questions, checks for common errors, and produces a properly formatted document. A DIY kit gives you a blank or semi-blank form with instructions — the quality depends entirely on you. The price difference is small (£5–£30 for a kit vs £69–£100 for a reviewed online will), but the gap in error prevention is significant.
The most common DIY will mistakes are: a beneficiary or their spouse acting as witness (which voids their gift), unclear residuary clauses, missing substitution provisions, failing to revoke previous wills, incorrect executor appointments, and ambiguous language that leads to disputes. A reviewed online will checks for all of these before release.
DIY will kits typically cost £5–£30 from stationery shops, bookshops or online retailers. Some are free downloads. The cost is lower than any other will-writing method, but the kit provides no review, no error checking, and no guidance beyond basic written instructions.
Yes — will-writing is not a reserved legal activity in England and Wales, so anyone can write their own will. The Wills Act 1837 doesn't require professional involvement. The question is whether a self-drafted will accurately reflects your intentions and avoids the technical pitfalls that cause disputes after death.
Use a solicitor if your estate involves discretionary trusts, business succession, substantial foreign assets, non-UK domicile questions, or contentious family circumstances. For a standard UK estate with straightforward beneficiaries, a reviewed online will produces the same legal document at a fraction of the cost.
Skip the blank form — start with guided questions
Single Will £69. Mirror Wills £99. Reviewed by a qualified estate planner within 24 hours. No blank pages, no guesswork, no subscription.
Start My Will — £69 →