Can You Make a Will Without a Solicitor? Yes.
There is no legal requirement to involve a solicitor when making a will in England and Wales. The Wills Act 1837 sets out what makes a will valid, and the rules are the same whoever drafts the document.
Estimates from the probate registry suggest that around 30–40% of UK wills entering probate were drafted without a solicitor — either DIY or through a will writing service. The vast majority of those wills are admitted to probate without issue.
The Legal Requirements (Wills Act 1837)
Whatever route you take, the will must:
- Be in writing (typed or handwritten)
- Be made by someone aged 18 or over with mental capacity
- Be signed by you — or by someone in your presence on your behalf
- Be witnessed by two adults present at the same time
- Have those witnesses sign in your presence
- Be witnessed by people who are not beneficiaries (and not married to a beneficiary)
Get those right and the will is legally valid — solicitor or no solicitor.
Two Routes Without a Solicitor
| DIY template | Online will service | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Print-and-fill form, no guidance | Guided questionnaire + drafted document |
| Typical cost | £10–£30 | £69–£199 |
| Failure rate at probate | High — most invalid wills are DIY | Low — guided + reviewed |
| Coverage of standard clauses | You have to remember everything | Prompted for every required clause |
| Signing instructions | Brief, often missed | Detailed step-by-step |
| Suitable for | Almost no one | Most UK estates |
The Risks of a Pure DIY Will
Free or low-cost printable will templates exist in supermarkets, banks and consumer sites. They are also the largest single source of invalid wills at probate. The most common failures:
- Missing residuary clause — the part of the estate left over after specific gifts then falls under intestacy rules and can pass to people you never intended
- Beneficiaries acting as witnesses — voids the gift to that beneficiary, who then takes nothing
- Only one witness, or witnesses not present at the same time
- Ambiguous wording — "to the kids", "to the cancer charity", "my house" without specifying which one
- Failing to revoke earlier wills — leaving two competing documents
- Improper signing — initialling instead of signing, signing in the wrong place
Each of these can void the gift, void a clause, or void the entire will. The "saving" of £40–£60 versus an online service evaporates the moment the will is challenged or rejected.
The probate registry sees the same DIY mistakes year after year. A guided online service prompts you for every required clause and won't let you skip the bits that matter.
How Online Will Services Compare to Solicitors
| Online will (ClearLegacy) | High street solicitor | |
|---|---|---|
| Single will price | £69 fixed | £300–£500 |
| Mirror wills (couple) | £99 fixed | £500–£1,000 |
| Time to complete | Under 30 minutes | 1–3 weeks (2 appointments) |
| When you can do it | 24/7 | Office hours only |
| Legal validity | Same — Wills Act 1837 | Same — Wills Act 1837 |
| Bespoke trust drafting | No | Yes |
| Best for | Most UK estates | Trusts, business succession, contested estates |
When You Genuinely Need a Solicitor
Online services and DIY are not the right choice in every situation. Use a specialist solicitor if you:
- Want to set up a discretionary or life-interest trust — for example to ring-fence assets for stepchildren after the surviving spouse remarries
- Are planning business succession for a company you control or have a significant stake in
- Hold significant property abroad, especially in jurisdictions with forced-heirship rules
- Expect your will to be contested — estranged family, long-term carers, second marriages with complex dynamics
- Are using your will as part of an inheritance tax planning strategy
- Have concerns about your own mental capacity being challenged after death — getting a solicitor and a doctor's opinion ("the golden rule") helps head off later challenges
What to Do After Signing — Without a Solicitor
- Store the original safely — a fireproof box at home, with your executor, or with a low-cost storage service
- Tell your executor where the will is. A perfectly drafted will helps no one if no one can find it
- Review it after major life events — marriage (which automatically revokes the will), divorce, new children, buying property, large inheritance
- Update by writing a new will, not by amending the old one — small changes are usually cleaner as a whole new will than as a codicil
No Solicitor Needed — Make Your Will From £69
Guided online questionnaire. Compliance reviewed. Delivered within 24 hours.
Start My Will — £69 →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a will without a solicitor in the UK?
Yes. There is no legal requirement to use a solicitor in England and Wales. Validity is set by the Wills Act 1837, which says nothing about who must draft the document.
Is a will written without a solicitor legally valid?
Yes, provided it meets the Wills Act 1837 requirements. An online will or even one handwritten at the kitchen table is legally valid once correctly signed and witnessed.
What are the risks of writing my own will?
The main risks of pure DIY are improper witnessing, beneficiaries acting as witnesses, missing residuary clauses, ambiguous wording, and incorrect signing. A guided online service prompts you for every required clause.
When do I actually need a solicitor for a will?
For trusts, business succession, significant overseas assets, anticipated will challenges, or inheritance tax planning that drives the structure. For most UK adults a solicitor is not necessary.
How much does it cost to make a will without a solicitor?
DIY templates cost £10–£30 (high failure rate). Online services cost £69–£199. ClearLegacy charges £69 (single) and £99 (mirror) — see cost of making a will.