Looking for a will that doesn’t wipe out your savings? Good news: a legally-binding UK will can cost anything from absolutely nothing to around £150, provided you pick the right provider. We’ve road-tested 15 of the most affordable services—online forms, charity schemes and fixed-fee solicitors—to show exactly what you get for the money and where the hidden catches lurk.
Over the next few minutes you’ll see how each option scores on legal robustness, price transparency, convenience and extras such as free updates or secure storage. Whether you want a fifteen-minute online questionnaire or a face-to-face chat with a local solicitor, the comparison below will help you lock in who inherits, who cares for your children and even how you’d like your funeral handled, all without paying over the odds. Let’s jump straight into the numbers and the data behind them.
1. Farewill
If you search any “best will writing service UK” round-up, Farewill almost always lands near the top, and for good reason—it’s quick, modern and still reasonably priced. The whole process lives in your browser: answer a guided questionnaire, print, sign and you’re done.
Overview & stand-out features
Farewill’s slick interface walks you through about 30 multiple-choice and free-text questions. The wording is based on a solicitor-approved template and the help tooltips are written in plain English, so you rarely need outside advice. Live chat runs 9 am–7 pm, seven days a week, handy when you’re stuck on “residuary estate” at 6 pm on a Sunday. Once finished, you can bolt on probate or even prepaid cremation products from the same dashboard.
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | Up-front fee | Ongoing updates |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £90 | Free first year, then £10 / yr |
| Mirror wills | £140 | Free first year, then £10 / yr |
No VAT surprises—the prices you see are what you pay.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Fast: most users finish in 15 minutes
- Highly rated (4.9 on Trustpilot, 18k+ reviews)
- Every clause checked by Farewill’s in-house legal team
Cons
- Annual subscription for edits after year one
- Entirely online—no phone or office appointments
Who it suits best
Digitally confident individuals or couples who want a professionally checked will without trekking to a solicitor’s office. The optional probate and funeral extras also make it a neat one-stop shop for longer-term planning.
Need-to-know small print
You must print the PDF and sign it in ink with two independent adult witnesses—Farewill doesn’t mail a hard copy. Scots law demands an extra “self-proving” signature on every page, so follow the on-screen Scottish guide carefully or your will could be challenged later.
2. Co-op Legal Services
Co-op isn’t just known for groceries and funerals; its legal arm is one of the few national law firms offering fixed-fee wills without hourly billing anxiety. You can complete the questionnaire online, book a phone appointment, or pop into selected Co-op branches for a traditional sit-down meeting. All documents are drafted or checked by solicitors regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and then stored free of charge in Co-op’s fire-resistant facility for as long as you want—no annual storage invoice turning up later.
Overview & stand-out features
- Choice of online, telephone, video or face-to-face drafting
- Regulated solicitors and legal executives on every case
- Free physical storage and free digital copy
- Optional home visits for mobility issues (extra £120+)
Pricing snapshot
| Service route | Single will | Mirror wills | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | £150 | £245 | Drafting + storage |
| Phone / Branch | from £225 | from £325 | Solicitor advice+storage |
Prices are inclusive of VAT and correct at September 2025.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Regulated legal advice for a transparent, published fee
- Free lifetime storage saves £20–£40 per year versus rivals
- Can bundle Lasting Power of Attorney or probate at discount rates
Cons
- Dearer than pure online tools
- Appointments during office hours can mean diary juggling
- No completely free update option—new instructions cost £25+
Who it suits best
Anyone who wants the reassurance of a solicitor but dislikes open-ended fees. It’s also useful for estates with modest complexity—step-children, small business shares or a buy-to-let—where quick phone guidance is invaluable.
Need-to-know small print
- If you nominate Co-op as professional executor they’ll charge a percentage of the estate, usually 2–4 % plus VAT.
- Scottish customers currently redirected to partner firms; pricing may differ.
- Be clear whether quoted figures include discretionary trusts or guardianship clauses—complex additions can shift you to a higher fee band.
3. Which? Wills
Which? has been dissecting consumer products for decades, so it’s no surprise the organisation has turned its magnifying glass on wills. Its online will writing service sits somewhere between a budget form-filler and a traditional solicitor visit: you complete the questions yourself, but the wording and logic have been built by a regulated legal team and kept deliberately jargon-free. If you hit a snag you can ring or email for help, though most users report finishing in under half an hour.
Overview & stand-out features
- Intuitive step-by-step interview with plain-English explanations
- “Legal and Compliance” team reviews every template change before it goes live
- Optional telephone call-back from a qualified adviser if you’re unsure about any clause
- Secure digital vault stores your signed PDF and the witnesses’ details for easy retrieval
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | Up-front fee | Ongoing updates & storage |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £99 | £30 per year (edits + cloud storage) |
| Mirror wills | £149 | £30 per year (covers both wills) |
Prices include VAT and were verified September 2025.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Trusted consumer brand with no-nonsense guidance
- Interface flags potential mistakes (e.g., under-18 executor) in real time
- Telephone support from UK-based staff, not a chat-bot
Cons
- Annual subscription adds up if you rarely edit your will
- No in-person appointments; self-printing required
- Letter of wishes, funeral plan wording and overseas property clauses cost extra
Who it suits best
First-time will-makers who want the reassurance of a big-name watchdog without paying a full solicitor fee. It’s also a neat fit if you’re researching multiple financial products and like all your comparisons under one roof.
Need-to-know small print
Which? Wills is suitable only for assets located in England, Wales and Northern Ireland; Scottish residents are redirected to a partner law firm. Make sure you download, print and sign the document within 28 days—after that the link expires and you’ll need to request a fresh copy. Two independent adult witnesses still apply; video witnessing remains legal in England & Wales until at least January 2026.
4. Make a Will Online
If you’re hunting for the sweet spot between solicitor-checked peace of mind and supermarket-priced fees, Make a Will Online is tough to beat. Launched back in 2008, it’s one of the longest-running pure-play will websites and claims more than 80,000 documents drafted. The USP? Every will is reviewed by a practising solicitor before it reaches your inbox, yet the service still undercuts many rivals by half.
Overview & stand-out features
- Guided questionnaire takes roughly 10–15 minutes
- A qualified solicitor double-checks the finished draft within 3 working days
- Free “print and sign” PDF plus optional postal copy (£9.99)
- ISO-27001 servers and two-factor account login for security nerds
- Automatic charity notification if you choose to leave a gift
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | Fee (one-off) | Updates after sign-off |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £40 | £10 per year or £24 for 3 years |
| Mirror wills | £65 | Same options cover both wills |
VAT is included; no card surcharge.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Solicitor review included in the headline price
- Transparent, low fees with no pressure to buy storage
- Instant access—ideal for last-minute travel or surgery prep
Cons
- Live customer support limited to office hours (email + phone)
- You print and arrange witnesses yourself—no hybrid signing kits
- Complex tax or trust advice costs extra (£45 phone consult)
Who it suits best
Budget-conscious users who still want a professional eyeball on the wording. It’s also handy for expats with UK assets, as the interview specifically asks about overseas residency.
Need-to-know small print
The solicitor review is a sense-check, not personalised tax planning, so high-value estates should still seek bespoke advice. Scottish clients must have every page signed by a witness plus an independent “self-proving” certificate, downloadable from the dashboard. Finally, remember the golden rule for any will writing service UK wide: store the signed original somewhere safe that your executors can actually access.
5. LegalWills.co.uk
LegalWills.co.uk has been around for two decades and still flies a little under the radar, yet it’s easily one of the most flexible low-cost providers on our list. Instead of a rigid form, you answer an “interview-style” series of questions that branch off depending on your earlier choices, so the finished wording feels tailored rather than shoe-horned. A big differentiator is the optional Digital Vault that stores passwords, farewell letters and even a video message, then releases them to your executors when you die—a neat solution to the “What about my Netflix account?” problem most will writing service UK platforms ignore.
Overview & stand-out features
- Dynamic questionnaire adjusts in real time
- Digital Vault with beneficiary release codes
- Cloud storage for funeral wishes, asset lists and photos
- Free re-printing any time you misplace the PDF
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | One-off fee | Optional extras |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £39.95 | Lifetime edits £19.95 |
| Mirror wills | £59.95 | Solicitor review £69 |
| Digital Vault | £0 first year, then £10/yr or £29.95 lifetime |
Pros & cons
Pros
- Cheapest lifetime update option we’ve seen (£19.95)
- Covers digital assets and social media legacies out of the box
- You control exactly when (or if) extras like storage renew
Cons
- Solicitor review is an add-on, not included
- Interface looks dated on mobile; no live chat
Who it suits best
Tech-comfortable users who want a will that can evolve over decades without drip-feed subscriptions, plus anyone keen to sort their digital footprint alongside traditional assets.
Need-to-know small print
If you want a qualified lawyer to eyeball the draft you must tick “Solicitor Review” during checkout (£69). The service emails feedback within two working days. As ever, print and sign with two witnesses (three in Scotland: one witness plus the optional self-proving certificate) and store the hard copy somewhere your executors can reach—LegalWills will remind them where via its release system.
6. ActiveWills
ActiveWills brands itself as the “flash-sale” specialist of the will writing scene, frequently pushing out voucher codes that slash its headline price by two-thirds or more. Behind the marketing, it’s a straightforward online questionnaire that takes roughly ten minutes and spits out a ready-to-print PDF. Lifetime edits are bundled into the initial fee, so once you’ve paid you can tweak guardians, executors or legacies as many times as you wish without seeing another invoice—handy if your circumstances change often.
Overview & stand-out features
- Regular discount codes (Black Friday, bank holidays, MoneySavingExpert alerts)
- Unlimited future edits included in every package
- Optional physical printing and postal delivery (£10)
- Choice to add discounted Lasting Power of Attorney or living will during checkout
- Data stored on UK servers with two-factor login
Pricing snapshot
| Package | RRP | Typical promo price | Updates | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single will | £90 | £29–£39 | Unlimited | 1st year free, then £10/yr |
| Mirror wills | £120 | £49–£59 | Unlimited | Same as above |
Prices include VAT; verified September 2025.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Eye-catching promos make it one of the cheapest solicitor-grade templates online
- Lifetime edits baked in—no creeping subscription
- Add-on LPAs up to 40 % cheaper than many rivals
Cons
- No solicitor review unless you pay an extra £70
- Upsells for storage, postal copy and funeral plans can inflate the basket
- Customer support limited to email and weekday phone lines
Who it suits best
Savvy deal-hunters who keep an eye on discount codes and are happy to self-print. The unlimited edits feature also appeals to young families expecting plenty of life changes.
Need-to-know small print
Check the promo’s expiry date—once it lapses you’ll pay full RRP. Free first-year storage auto-renews at £10 unless cancelled, so set a reminder. And remember: like any will writing service UK wide, the document only becomes legal once printed and signed in ink before two independent witnesses (plus the optional self-proving step for Scots).
7. ProperWills
ProperWills is a niche yet fast-growing player that puts digital assets front and centre. While most providers barely mention your online footprint, this platform bakes in clauses for everything from Bitcoin cold wallets to Instagram accounts. The interface is similar to other browser-based tools, but the crypto-specific prompts make it a stand-out option for tech-savvy estates looking beyond bricks and mortar.
Overview & stand-out features
ProperWills walks you through a ten-minute questionnaire that specifically asks about cryptocurrency holdings, NFTs, domain names and cloud storage. It also lets you name a separate “digital executor” to handle online accounts—a role many traditional templates ignore. All users get unlimited, free edits for life, so you can update wallet addresses or social handles without new fees. Customer support runs via email and an 0121 phone line weekdays 9 am–5 pm.
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | One-off fee (inc. VAT) | Updates | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single will | £39.95 | Lifetime free | Self-store PDF |
| Mirror wills | £69.95 | Lifetime free | Self-store PDF |
Optional printed copy: £12 incl. postage.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Explicit cryptocurrency and digital legacy sections
- Unlimited lifetime edits included
- Reasonable upfront price
Cons
- No solicitor check by default—adds £75 if required
- Phone support limited to office hours
- You arrange your own secure storage
Who it suits best
Millennials and Gen Z with crypto, online businesses or sizeable social media presences who want those assets managed properly but don’t fancy paying solicitor rates.
Need-to-know small print
ProperWills never stores private keys; you must leave access instructions separately (ideally in an encrypted password manager). As with any will writing service UK readers choose, the document only becomes legal once printed and witnessed by two independent adults (plus the self-proving step for Scotland). Store the signed original somewhere your digital executor can easily access.
8. Beyond
Beyond started life as a price-comparison site for funerals and probate, then added an online will builder so you can sort everything from legacy gifts to coffin costs in a single login. That joined-up approach is its big selling point: finish your will, click across to compare local funeral directors or fixed-fee probate quotes, and store the lot in one cloud account. The drafting tool itself is clean and jargon-free, with optional live video support if you prefer a human guide rather than a chatbot.
Overview & stand-out features
- Ten-minute step-by-step interview plus plain-English help pop-ups
- Free digital storage and sharing with executors
- Built-in marketplace for probate, funeral plans and direct cremations
- Live video or phone walkthrough (£20 surcharge) for extra reassurance
- Encrypted UK servers and two-factor authentication
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | Up-front fee | Updates | Extras included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single will | £90 | First year free, then £10/yr | Cloud storage |
| Mirror wills | £135 | Same as above | Cloud storage |
No VAT surprises; figures verified September 2025.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Optional live video session useful for nervous first-timers
- One dashboard to line up wills, probate and funeral costs
- Transparent, published fees with no hidden printing charges
Cons
- Annual update fee after year one
- Brand less well-known than Co-op or Which?
- No solicitor review unless you pay an extra £70
Who it suits best
People who like to keep all end-of-life admin in one place—ideal if you’re comparing cremation prices or want a quick probate quote alongside your will.
Need-to-know small print
Video witnessing remains legal only in England and Wales under temporary legislation; Beyond recommends traditional in-person witnessing where possible. Remember that, like any will writing service UK consumers choose, your will is not legally valid until printed, signed in ink and witnessed by two independent adults (plus the self-proving step for Scottish users).
9. Bequeathed
Free and solicitor-checked sounds too good to be true, yet Bequeathed has managed it by flipping the commercial model on its head. The not-for-profit platform partners with more than 150 UK law firms; they draft a straightforward will at no cost, hoping you’ll either (a) leave a small legacy to one of Bequeathed’s 70+ charity partners or (b) pay for extra legal work if your affairs turn out to be tricky. For many readers that adds up to the most wallet-friendly will writing service UK residents can access year-round—no promo codes or one-month windows in sight.
Overview & stand-out features
- Start with a 15-minute online questionnaire, then book a 30-minute phone, video or in-office meeting with a qualified solicitor
- The solicitor checks, tweaks and approves your draft before emailing the final PDF
- Option to upgrade on the spot if you need trusts, foreign property clauses or tax planning
- National network means you can usually find a firm within 10 miles
Pricing snapshot
| Service tier | Cost (inc. VAT) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Standard will | £0 | Solicitor advice + draft, print-at-home PDF |
| Estate considered “complex” | £120 flat fee | Bespoke clauses + follow-up call |
Pros & cons
Pros
- Genuine solicitor involvement at zero cost
- No pressure to donate—charity gift is encouraged, not mandatory
- Appointments by phone or video if you can’t travel
Cons
- Slots can book up fast in busy periods
- Upgrade fee kicks in for step-children, business assets or overseas property
- You organise your own printing and storage
Who it suits best
Altruistic users with fairly simple estates who still want the reassurance of a regulated solicitor but don’t fancy paying £100+. Ideal for anyone keen to support a favourite charity in their legacy planning.
Need-to-know small print
You must download, print and sign your will within 28 days of approval, using two independent adult witnesses (plus the “self-proving” certification step for Scotland). If you miss the window you’ll need a fresh appointment. Bequeathed does not store the signed original, so file it somewhere your executors can actually access.
10. Will Aid
Every November, thousands of solicitors across the country park their usual fees and take part in Will Aid, the annual charity campaign that lets you sort a professionally drafted will while raising money for nine UK charities. Slots are limited and the scheme only runs for one month, but if you can plan ahead it delivers one of the cheapest ways to get a high-street solicitor in the room without the normal three-figure bill.
Overview & stand-out features
Will Aid works on a “suggested donation” model. You book an appointment with a participating firm, they produce a basic will, and instead of paying the lawyer you give a voluntary donation to Will Aid (the money is split between charities such as the British Red Cross and Age UK). The service covers straightforward estates; if you need trusts, foreign property clauses or complicated tax planning the solicitor will quote an extra fixed fee before doing any chargeable work.
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | Suggested donation | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £100 | Face-to-face (or video/phone) meeting, draft, one set of amendments |
| Mirror wills | £180 | As above, covers both partners |
Donations qualify for Gift Aid where applicable.
Pros & cons
Pros
- In-person, regulated solicitor service
- Supports nine well-known charities
- No VAT or hidden admin charges
Cons
- Runs only in November; slots fill fast
- Complex clauses may incur extra costs
- You must arrange printing and secure storage
Who it suits best
Anyone happy to diary-plan a few months in advance and keen to combine will writing with charitable giving. It’s especially good for couples who would otherwise pay £250+ for a mirror will in a normal high-street setting.
Need-to-know small print
- Book early—many firms open their November diaries in September and are fully booked by mid-October.
- The “suggested” donation is optional, but remember the solicitor is waiving a commercial fee; pay what you can.
- As with any will writing service UK residents choose, the will only becomes legally binding once you sign it in ink before two independent adult witnesses (plus the Scottish self-proving step). Don’t leave signing until December when the solicitor’s free capacity may have ended.
11. Free Wills Month
Twice a year—March and October—Free Wills Month teams up with high-street solicitors so anyone aged 55 or over can get a completely free basic will. The concept is simple: participating charities bankroll the solicitor’s time in the hope you might leave them a legacy, but you’re under no legal or moral obligation to do so. Slots are released on the first working day of the month and disappear fast, so it pays to be ready at 9 am.
Overview & stand-out features
- Face-to-face (or phone/video) meeting with a fully regulated solicitor
- Available in most larger towns and cities across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland
- Covers straightforward wills—guardians, simple legacies, funeral wishes
- No fee or donation required, though leaving a charity gift is encouraged
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | Cost | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Single will (55+) | £0 | Solicitor draft + one set of minor amendments |
| Mirror wills (both 55+) | £0 | As above for each partner |
Complex trusts, tax planning or foreign property attract the firm’s standard fixed fees.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Genuine solicitor service at zero cost
- No stealth subscriptions or storage upsells
- Feel-good option if you plan to support a charity anyway
Cons
- Age restriction: at least one testator must be 55+
- Limited postcode coverage; rural areas may need to travel
- Appointment diaries fill within days
Who it suits best
Retirees and near-retirees who missed Will Aid or prefer a spring/autumn window. Great for couples on fixed incomes wanting a professional will without raiding savings.
Need-to-know small print
Bring photo ID and proof of age to your appointment. Printing and witnessing are usually handled by the firm, but ask in advance. As ever with any will writing service UK citizens choose, the document isn’t valid until signed before two independent adults (plus the Scottish self-proving step north of the border). Act quickly—once slots are gone, you’ll wait six months for the next round.
12. National Free Wills Network
Unlike Will Aid or Free Wills Month, the National Free Wills Network runs all year, so you don’t have to wait for a specific booking window to sort your will. More than 800 independent law firms take part across the UK, meaning you can usually pick a solicitor within a short drive rather than travelling cross-county. The model is simple: a charity you already support nominates you for the scheme, you receive a voucher, and the solicitor drafts a straightforward will at no cost to you. The hope, of course, is that you’ll leave that charity a gift—but it’s not mandatory and the solicitor will never put you under pressure.
Overview & stand-out features
- Continuous availability—no need to diarise November or March
- Huge panel of SRA-regulated solicitors and chartered legal executives
- Face-to-face, phone or video appointments depending on the firm
- Voucher covers a standard single or mirror will; you pay only for extras such as discretionary trusts, complex tax planning or foreign assets
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | Cost to you | What the voucher covers |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £0 | Basic drafting + signing meeting |
| Mirror wills | £0 | Same as above for two partners |
Upgrades (trusts, LPAs, storage) are billed at the firm’s normal fixed fees.
Pros & cons
Pros
- No time-limited rush; redeem whenever you’re ready
- Freedom to choose a truly local solicitor
- Supports the charity of your choice rather than a preset list
Cons
- You must already donate to, or be contacted by, a participating charity
- Firms may upsell add-ons—you need discipline to keep it free
Who it suits best
Regular charity supporters who like the idea of walking into a bricks-and-mortar office, having witnesses provided, and leaving with a professionally drafted document—all without opening their wallet.
Need-to-know small print
The voucher expires after three months, so call the solicitor as soon as it lands. Signing and witnessing normally happen in the firm’s office, but you’ll still need two independent adults (Scottish users add the self-proving certificate). Secure storage isn’t included unless you pay extra, so decide whether to leave the original with the firm or take it home to file safely.
13. Age UK Will Writing Service
Age UK teams up with national law firm Irwin Mitchell plus a network of smaller regional practices to offer a discounted solicitor-drafted will for anyone aged 50 or over (younger clients pay the firm’s standard rate). The charity’s involvement keeps the fee low while still giving you face-to-face advice—something many purely online platforms can’t match.
Overview & stand-out features
- Regulated solicitors draft every document
- Choice of phone, video or in-office meeting; home visits available for an extra fee
- Fixed price includes free, jargon-free guide on later-life planning
- Optional extras: secure storage, Lasting Power of Attorney and funeral plans at set discounts
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | Fixed fee (incl. VAT) | Extras |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £99 | Home visit from £120 |
| Mirror wills | £169 | Storage £25/yr |
Prices verified September 2025; Scottish clients may see small regional variations.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Trusted older-person charity behind the scheme
- Lower age threshold (50+) than most charity will offers
- Real solicitor advice; ideal for modestly complex estates
Cons
- Coverage patchy in rural areas—may involve travel
- Phone lines busy at peak times; booking can take patience
- Power of Attorney, trusts and storage cost extra
Who it suits best
Seniors and near-retirees who prefer a high-street solicitor but still want a clear, below-market fixed fee. Also handy for adult children arranging wills for ageing parents who’d rather speak to a professional than stare at an online form.
Need-to-know small print
Quote the Age UK referral code when booking or you’ll be charged full retail. Printed documents are usually signed in the solicitor’s office with witnesses provided, but confirm beforehand. As with any will writing service UK residents choose, the original must be stored somewhere executors can access—bank safe-deposit boxes can be sealed on death, so think twice.
14. High-Street Solicitor Fixed-Fee Example (Solicitor Direct)
Sometimes you just want to sit across a desk from a real-life lawyer, hand over your paperwork and let them deal with the lot. Solicitor Direct is a representative example of the traditional high-street approach: fully regulated, face-to-face advice, and a clear, fixed fee that won’t balloon if the meeting runs ten minutes over. You’ll leave with a professionally printed document, correctly bound, witnessed and stored—no printer ink or paper jams required.
Overview & stand-out features
- One-to-one meeting in a local office (video or home visit on request)
- SRA-regulated solicitors draft and explain every clause
- Complimentary secure storage in a fire-resistant vault
- Free reminder service if legislation changes that could affect your will
Pricing snapshot
| Document type | Fee (incl. VAT) | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Single will | £120 – £180 | Drafting, 30-min consult, storage |
| Mirror wills | £200 – £300 | As above for two partners |
Trusts, tax planning or overseas property clauses attract a pre-quoted supplement.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Regulated, bespoke legal advice—ideal for blended families or business assets
- In-office witnessing avoids signature slip-ups
- Storage and free periodic reviews save future admin
Cons
- You must travel (or pay extra for a home visit)
- Higher headline price than most online tools
- Appointments limited to weekday office hours
Who it suits best
Clients with anything beyond a straightforward “leave it all to my spouse” estate: second marriages, foreign holiday homes, shareholdings or a family company. Also reassuring for those who distrust purely digital will writing service UK platforms.
Need-to-know small print
Confirm whether the quote includes VAT and any courier fees for sealed copies. If you appoint the firm as professional executor they’ll charge 2–4 % of the estate—decline if a family member can do the job. Finally, double-check that any discretionary trust or guardianship clause you need is covered by the fixed fee; otherwise costs can escalate quickly.
15. DIY Will Kits (WHSmith, Amazon packs)
Sometimes the cheapest “provider” isn’t a provider at all but a piece of paper you fill out at the kitchen table. High-street stationers and Amazon marketplace sellers stock do-it-yourself will kits that include a template, a short guide, and little else. Prices are rock-bottom and the kits are on the shelf right now—no log-ins, appointments or ID checks required—so they remain a popular fallback when money or time is tight.
Overview & stand-out features
- Pre-printed template with blank spaces for names, gifts and executors
- One or two-page instruction leaflet covering witnessing rules
- Instant availability in WHSmith, Ryman, many post offices and online retailers
- No personal data leaves your home—everything stays offline
Pricing snapshot
| Product | Typical cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| WHSmith “Last Will & Testament” pack | £19.99 | 4-page form + guidance booklet |
| Amazon generic kit | £15–£25 | PDF download or posted form |
VAT is included; prices checked September 2025.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Lowest upfront cost of all will writing options
- Immediate—useful before surgery or travel
- Total privacy: no third-party data handling
Cons
- No legal advice or error-checking
- High rejection rate when courts spot ambiguous wording
- Printing, storage and updates are entirely your problem
Who it suits best
Single people or married couples with a straight “everything to my spouse, else equally to my children” estate and zero foreign assets. If you understand the rules and are confident following them, a kit can do the job for pennies.
Need-to-know small print
The form only becomes a valid will once signed in ink before two independent adult witnesses (three steps in Scotland: witness plus “self-proving” certificate). Any mistakes—wrong wording, beneficiary as witness, unstapled pages—could void the will, so read the guidance twice. Store the signed original somewhere obvious to your executors; a locked bank safe-deposit box can be sealed on death, delaying probate. For anything more than the simplest scenario, consider a regulated will writing service UK readers can trust over a bargain-bin template.
Final takeaway & next steps
A solid will needn’t cost the earth. As our comparison shows, you can snag a legally-binding document for anything from £0 with a charity scheme to roughly £150 for a solicitor-checked online package. Free or DIY options are tempting, but the safest middle ground for most people is a fixed-fee will writing service UK consumers can access online yet still have vetted by a qualified lawyer.
Procrastination is the only real expensive mistake. Sorting your will today locks in:
- who inherits (and who doesn’t)
- guardianship for children or pets
- clear instructions on life support, organ donation and even funeral wishes such as a simple direct cremation
If you like the idea of keeping funeral costs low for your family, add a note in your will directing them to a dignified, unattended send-off with Go Direct Cremations. Five minutes of admin now spares your loved ones weeks of stress—and could save them thousands of pounds down the line.
