Writing a Will is one of the most important things you can do to protect your family and make sure your wishes are carried out. But before you get started, it’s natural to ask: how much does a Will cost?
The honest answer is that it depends. Costs vary based on the route you choose and how complex your estate is. This guide walks you through the main options, from DIY approaches and online services to solicitor-drafted Wills, so you can choose with confidence.
If you’re still thinking about whether you need a Will at all, our guide Why Do I Need a Will? is a helpful starting point.
How much does it cost to make a Will in the UK?
The cost of making a Will in the UK varies significantly depending on how you go about it. As a general guide:
- Solicitor-drafted Wills: typically from around £150 to £500 for most situations, rising for complex estates
- Online will writing services: generally between £20 and £150
- DIY will kits: from around £10 to £30, or potentially free if you write one by hand
These figures are broad starting points. Prices can fall outside these ranges depending on your circumstances, and what you pay should reflect the level of advice and protection you actually need.
How much does it cost to make a Will with a solicitor?
Solicitor fees for Will writing depend on the type of Will and the complexity of your situation. A “standard” Will is suitable for most people with a straightforward estate, and the cost of a standard single Will at Devonalds is £175 plus VAT.
The main types of Will you’ll come across include:
- Single Will: a Will made by one person
- Mirror Wills: a pair of near-identical Wills made by two people, usually couples, and typically more cost-effective than two separate single Wills
- Property protection Will: a Will that includes a property protection trust, which is a legal arrangement designed to ring-fence your share of the family home for your chosen beneficiaries
- Living Will: also known as an advance decision or advance directive, this is a separate document from the Will that governs how your estate is distributed, and it records your wishes about medical treatment in the event you lose capacity
Complex arrangements involving trusts, business assets, foreign property or inheritance tax planning will generally attract higher fees. You can find Devonalds’ full fee breakdown on our wills pricing page.
What is the average cost of a Will in the UK?
For a straightforward single Will, the average cost with a UK solicitor falls roughly between £150 and £200. For couples making mirror Wills, the combined cost typically ranges from £200 to £400. Estates that involve trusts, business interests or multiple properties can cost considerably more.
It’s worth approaching “average” figures with some caution. They often reflect a wide range of services and may not make clear what’s actually included. A low headline price doesn’t always mean you’re getting the tailored advice your situation needs.
What affects the cost of making a Will?
A number of factors influence how much you’ll pay. The most common include:
- The size and complexity of your estate
- Whether you own property, including jointly owned property
- Business interests or partnership agreements
- Whether a trust is required, such as a property protection trust
- Blended family arrangements or a second marriage
- Foreign assets or property held overseas
- Inheritance tax planning requirements
- Whether you’re making a single Will or mirror Wills as a couple
The more tailored your Will needs to be, the more time it takes to draft correctly. Our guide What Should I Include in My Will? explains what information your solicitor will need to get it right.
How much does an online Will cost?
Online will writing services typically charge between £20 and £150. Some platforms use a subscription model, where you pay an annual fee for continued access and the ability to update your Will over time.
These services guide you through your Will using questionnaires and templates. They can work well if your estate is genuinely straightforward: no jointly owned property, no business assets, no blended family considerations, and no inheritance tax concerns.
If your circumstances are more involved, however, a template may not capture your intentions accurately. Citizens Advice notes that errors in wording and execution are among the most common reasons Wills fail. It’s worth being honest with yourself about whether your situation fits that mould before choosing this route.
Can I write my own Will for free?
Yes. In England and Wales, you can write your own Will without professional help, and it can be legally valid. DIY kits are available from around £10 to £30, or you could write one by hand at no cost at all.
To be legally valid, your Will must be:
- Written and signed by you
- Witnessed by two people who are present at the same time as you sign
- Signed by both witnesses in your presence
- Made by someone aged 18 or over with the mental capacity to understand what they’re signing
Crucially, the witnesses cannot be beneficiaries of your Will, or the spouse or civil partner of a beneficiary. If they are, the gifts to those people may fail even if the rest of the Will is valid.
As GOV.UK advises, if your Will isn’t straightforward, you should seek professional advice before going it alone.
Are cheap Wills worth it?
For someone young, with minimal assets and no dependants, a lower-cost online service may be adequate. For most adults, though, a professionally drafted Will offers protection that’s difficult to replicate with a template.
If a Will fails because it’s incorrectly executed, poorly worded or doesn’t reflect your actual wishes, the consequences can be significant. Your estate could pass under intestacy rules, the legal framework that determines who inherits when there’s no valid Will in place. You can find out more about how intestacy works on our Wills and Probate service page.
The cost of untangling a failed Will after someone has died is almost always far greater than getting it right in the first place. Our guide 5 Common Will Writing Mistakes to Avoid sets out the most frequent pitfalls to be aware of.
Is it cheaper to make a Will as a couple?
Mirror Wills are a pair of Wills made by two people, usually couples, that reflect each other’s wishes. A typical arrangement sees each person leaving everything to the other, with the same beneficiaries named if the other has already died.
Because much of the drafting is shared, mirror Wills are usually priced lower than two completely separate single Wills. They’re a popular option for couples with aligned wishes and straightforward estates. The cost of a standard pair of Mirror Wills at Devonalds is £225+VAT.
That said, mirror Wills aren’t always the right approach. If you’re in a second marriage, have children from a previous relationship, or you and your partner have different wishes about particular assets, separate Wills may better protect everyone involved. Our blog What is a Mirror Will? explores this in more detail.
Why use a solicitor to write your Will?
A solicitor offers more than a finished document. When you work with a qualified will writing solicitor, you benefit from:
- Regulated, tailored advice specific to your circumstances
- Careful drafting that reflects your actual wishes rather than a generic template
- Guidance on inheritance tax planning where relevant
- Secure storage of your Will once it has been signed
- A reduced risk of errors that could invalidate your Will or lead to disputes further down the line
Devonalds Solicitors has been helping families across South Wales with Wills and estate planning for over 44 years. Our solicitors take time to understand your situation and make sure your Will reflects what matters most to you.
You can view our full fee information on our wills pricing page, or get in touch with your local office to talk things through.
Frequently asked questions about Will costs
How much do mirror Wills cost?
Mirror Wills are typically priced lower than two separate single Wills because much of the drafting is shared. With a UK solicitor, costs for mirror Wills commonly range from around £200 to £400 for a couple, depending on complexity. Visit our wills pricing page for Devonalds’ specific mirror Will fees.
Do I need to pay to update my Will?
It depends on the scale of the change. A minor amendment can sometimes be made using a codicil, which is a legally binding addition or alteration to an existing Will, and tends to cost less than drafting a new Will from scratch. For more significant changes, such as a marriage, divorce, birth of a child or a major property purchase, it’s usually better to make a new Will altogether. It’s worth noting that marriage automatically revokes a Will in England and Wales, so reviewing yours after a major life change is important.
Are there any hidden costs when making a Will?
A reputable solicitor will provide a clear, upfront quote. That said, there are additional costs to be aware of beyond the initial drafting fee:
- Storage fees, if you’d like your solicitor to keep your Will securely. Devonalds do not charge a fee for storing Wills we have drafted.
- Professional executor fees, if you appoint a solicitor or other professional as executor (the person responsible for administering your estate after your death), which are usually charged from the estate rather than paid upfront
- Additional fees for complex trusts or inheritance tax advice
- Probate costs, which arise after your death and are entirely separate from the cost of writing your Will
Always ask for a full breakdown of potential costs before you proceed.
Does Free Wills Month really offer free Wills?
Yes. Free Wills Month is a genuine scheme that runs twice a year, in March and October, through a partnership between participating charities and solicitors. It offers people aged 55 and over the chance to have a straightforward single or mirror Will written or updated free of charge. Participants are invited, but not required, to consider leaving a charitable gift in their Will. Appointments operate on a first-come, first-served basis and can fill quickly.
Devonalds have a partnership with the Cancer Research UK will Writing Service, under which clients can have a standard Will or pair of Mirror Wills drafted with the costs covered by Cancer Research UK. This service is offered all year round. Clients using the scheme are encouraged to consider leaving a gift to Cancer Research UK in their Will, but are under no obligation to do so.
Is a cheap or online Will legally valid?
Yes, provided it’s correctly signed and witnessed, a Will drafted online or using a DIY kit can be legally valid in England and Wales. The risk isn’t where the Will comes from; it’s errors in the wording, ambiguous instructions or mistakes during the witnessing process. These are among the most common reasons Wills are challenged or fail entirely. If you’re considering an online service, be honest with yourself about whether your estate is genuinely straightforward before you proceed.
How much does a solicitor charge to be an executor?
Professional executor fees are separate from the cost of drafting your Will and are usually taken from your estate after you die rather than paid upfront. Fees are typically charged as a percentage of the estate’s value and/or at an hourly rate, depending on the solicitor and the complexity of the administration involved. If you’re thinking about appointing a solicitor as executor, ask them to outline their charging structure at the outset.
Speak to Devonalds about writing your Will
Whether you’re making a Will for the first time or reviewing one you already have, our Wills and Probate team is here to help. We offer clear, practical guidance and straightforward fixed fees, so you know exactly what to expect from the outset.
View our full fee breakdown on the wills pricing page, or contact your local Devonalds office:
Call us on 01443 779050 or use our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.