How Much Does Making a Will Cost in the UK?

Making a will is one of the most important financial steps you can take, yet many people put it off because they assume it will be expensive or complicated. The truth is that the cost varies enormously depending on how you go about it, ranging from around £30 for a basic DIY kit to £1,000 or more if your estate is large and tangled.

This guide breaks down every route you can take in 2026, including online services, will writing specialists, solicitors, and free schemes, so you can choose the option that fits your situation and your budget without overpaying.

What Are the Main Ways to Make a Will?

There is no single correct way to make a will in the UK. The right route depends on how straightforward your estate is, how confident you are with legal documents, and how much you want to spend. The four main options are DIY will kits, online will writing services, specialist will writers, and solicitors. Each has a different price point and a different level of protection.

• DIY will kits: The cheapest option. You fill in a template yourself and sign it in front of witnesses. Fine for very simple estates but leaves no room for expert guidance.
• Online will writing services: You answer questions online and the service generates a legally worded will. Some include a review by a qualified person. Good middle ground for uncomplicated situations.
• Will writing specialists: Qualified but not necessarily solicitors. They often visit your home and can handle moderately complex estates at lower cost than a solicitor.
• Solicitors: The most expensive route but gives you full legal protection and professional indemnity. Essential for complex estates, business interests, overseas assets or family disputes.

Will Writing Cost Breakdown by Method

The table below covers the typical cost ranges you will encounter in 2026 across the UK. Prices in London and the South East tend to sit toward the upper end of these ranges, while solicitors in the North and Midlands are often more competitive.

Mirror wills are two separate wills that reflect each other, typically leaving everything to the surviving partner and then to named beneficiaries. They are almost always cheaper per person than two individual wills because the legal work is largely duplicated.

What Affects the Cost of a Will?

Several factors push the price up beyond the basic rate. Understanding these will help you get an accurate quote rather than a nasty surprise when you receive the bill.

• Number of beneficiaries: More beneficiaries means more clauses to draft and potential for complication, which most solicitors will charge more to handle.
• Trusts: If you want to set up a trust within your will, for example to protect assets for children from a previous relationship, expect to add £200 to £600 to the base cost.
• Business interests: Wills involving shares in private companies or partnerships require specific business relief planning and can significantly increase fees.
• Foreign property: Owning property abroad means your solicitor may need to liaise with overseas lawyers, adding cost and complexity.
• Lasting Power of Attorney: Many solicitors bundle LPA preparation with will writing. Adding a property and financial LPA and a health and welfare LPA can add £200 to £600 per person to the total.
• Home visits: Some will writers charge a travel supplement of £20 to £75 if they come to your home rather than you visiting their office.
• Storage: Solicitors may charge £10 to £30 per year to store your original will securely, though some include this in the initial fee.

Free and Low Cost Will Writing Options

If cost is a barrier, there are legitimate ways to get a will written for free or at a significant discount. These schemes are genuine and well established, not second rate alternatives.

• Will Aid: Every November, participating solicitors write basic wills in exchange for a suggested donation to charity. The suggested amount is £100 for a single will and £180 for mirror wills, but there is no obligation to pay. This is a proper solicitor written will, not a template.
• Free Wills Month: Runs in March and October. Solicitors across the UK offer free basic wills to people aged 55 and over, again in exchange for considering a charitable legacy. No obligation to leave anything to charity.
• Some charities: Organisations including the National Trust and Cancer Research UK offer free will writing services through partner solicitors if you are considering leaving them a gift. You are under no pressure to do so.
• Some banks: Certain bank accounts and financial products include a free basic will writing service as a perk. Check your current account benefits before paying.

Online Will Writing Services: What Do You Actually Get?

Online will services have improved considerably and a number of well established providers operate in the UK market. Most work by guiding you through a questionnaire and generating a legally worded document you then print and sign in front of two witnesses.

The main risk with the cheapest online options is that an incorrectly witnessed or worded will can be ruled invalid by the courts, leaving your estate to be distributed under intestacy rules instead of your wishes. If you use an online service, make sure it is run by or reviewed by someone regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.

Should You Use a Solicitor or a Will Writing Specialist?

Will writing is not a regulated profession in the same way as law. Anyone can legally call themselves a will writer without any qualifications. That said, many specialist will writers are members of the Society of Will Writers or the Institute of Professional Will Writers, which impose codes of conduct and require members to hold professional indemnity insurance.

A solicitor regulated by the SRA offers the strongest legal protection. If they make an error, you can claim against their indemnity insurance and complain to the Legal Ombudsman. For a straightforward estate, the cost difference between a specialist will writer and a solicitor is often modest, perhaps £50 to £100, making the added protection worth considering. For anything involving trusts, contested family situations or significant assets, a solicitor is the sensible choice.

Regional Price Differences Across the UK

Where you live in the UK has a real effect on what solicitors charge. London and the South East consistently command the highest fees, while the North of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland tend to be more affordable. Scotland also operates under a different legal system, Scots law, so wills must conform to different rules and Scottish solicitors handle this as a matter of course.

• London and South East: Single will from a solicitor typically £200 to £400, mirror wills £350 to £600.
• Midlands and East of England: Single will £150 to £280, mirror wills £250 to £450.
• North of England: Single will £120 to £250, mirror wills £200 to £400.
• Wales: Single will £120 to £250, mirror wills £180 to £380.
• Scotland: Single will £150 to £300, mirror wills £220 to £450. Scottish succession law differs so only use a Scottish qualified solicitor.
• Northern Ireland: Single will £150 to £280, mirror wills £220 to £420.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For

The headline quote is rarely the total cost. Before you sign up with any provider, ask specifically about each of the following extras so you can compare quotes on a like for like basis.

• VAT: Solicitor fees are subject to 20% VAT. Always check whether the quoted price is inclusive or exclusive of VAT. A £200 quote exclusive of VAT becomes £240.
• Updating your will: Life changes mean wills often need updating after marriage, divorce, new children or significant asset changes. Some services charge £50 to £150 per amendment (called a codicil) while others include one free update in the first year.
• Probate services: Some solicitors quote a low will writing fee in the expectation of handling probate later, where they charge a percentage of the estate. Probate fees typically run from 1% to 2% of the estate value. This is a separate service but worth understanding upfront.
• Document storage: Physical storage of the original will costs roughly £10 to £30 per year with most solicitors. Some online providers charge a one off fee of £30 to £60 for secure digital storage.