The cost of a Will in the UK varies a lot depending on where the Last Will is written.
Considering all available options, the average cost of drafting a Will typically ranges from £150 to £500 for a straightforward Will. DIY options are the most affordable, while solicitor services provide the highest level of assurance and expertise, particularly suited for complex estates.
However, the good news is that there are now numerous cost-effective alternatives that exist, which do not require going down the traditional and potentially expensive route of hiring a lawyer. You can get a tailored Last will for £99
We will find out how much it costs to write a Will in the UK.
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The Cost of a Will in the UK
Ultimately, the cost of a Will can vary depending on several factors, including the complexity of your financial situation, the nature of your assets, and whether you want or need professional assistance.
When it comes to thinking about how much a Will is in the UK, here are some general guidelines to consider.
Solicitor | Will-Writing Kit | Will Writing Service | Free Will Template | Aatos Online Service | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | £1,000+ | from £10 | £19.99-£240 | £0 | £99 |
Will done right away | 🚫 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Free legal help | 🚫/✅ | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | ✅ |
Storage | 🚫/✅ | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | ✅ |
Customised Will | ✅ | 🚫 | ✅/🚫 | 🚫 | ✅ |
Possibility to update | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | ✅ |
The information in the table was reviewed on October 31, 2024.
💡 The Price of Making a Will has increased by 14% between 2015 to 2020 (Legal Service Board, 2020) and since that more cost-efficient alternatives have emerged.
The Cost of Making a Will with a Solicitor
Hiring a Solicitor for Will drafting is a common choice when someone has a large estate or a complex financial situation. This is because lawyers have the expertise to write a legally binding Will and to guide you through the entire process quite easily.
However, the most common reason for the average person failing to have a Will in the UK is the sheer cost involved in hiring a Solicitor to draft a Will.
The cost of making a will with a solicitor can vary. Ultimately, each law firm will set their own fees, with the fees for basic Will drafting services generally ranging from upwards of £150 to £300 or possibly more per hour.
What exactly is making a will cost? Drafting a basic Will usually takes a Solicitor several hours to complete, so you can easily spend more than £1,000 on even the most simple Will!
For more complex Wills or additional services, such as tax planning, the fees can be much higher. Often the bill can end up being thousands of pounds. So, it's important to get a clear quote from the Solicitor before proceeding with this option.
When it comes to how much is a Will in the UK, hiring a Solicitor is undoubtedly the most expensive option.
💡 According to the study of Legal Services Board, only a little over half of legal firms display their prices on their website.
Can I Write My Own Will without a Solicitor?
Yes, you can write your own Will without the need for a solicitor. With Aatos, you can create a legally binding will in just 10 minutes from the comfort of your home.
Developed by expert solicitors, Aatos provides a seamless and easy-to-use platform that guides you through the process. Once completed, your Will is ready to download instantly. This service ensures that you can handle your estate planning efficiently without the hassle of meeting a solicitor in person.
Try Aatos today and secure your wishes effortlessly!
How Much is a Will with a Template or DIY Will-Writing Kit?
Firstly, let us briefly explain what a Will Template or DIY Will-writing Kit is in case you are unfamiliar. Essentially, Will Writing Kits usually contain a template Will for you to complete yourself rather than having to hire a lawyer to draft one for you.
When it comes to Will Writing Kits, they usually do not contain any support or guidance but tend to be a template that you need to edit yourself and fill in all your details. This is easier said than done if you are not legally trained!
💡 According to recent figures, around 40,000 families a year have a prolonged probate (Guardian 2015) process due to ineffective DIY Wills. Up to 10% of the value of your estate can end up being spent on additional fees due to creating an invalid Will.
How Much Making a Will Costs with a Will Writing Kit?
These DIY Will Writing Kits can be found in many UK stationery shops (such as WHSmith) and can also be downloaded from various websites, with average prices starting at £19.99 per Will.
The cheapest kind of DIY Will Writing Kits that you will find in the UK are Post Office Will Kits, which are available from some local post offices. The price of a Post Office Will Kit starts at around £9.99, depending on where you are based. Do note that the most up to date price can of course be found at the Post Office itself, with prices varying across the UK.
The problem with these Will-writing Kits, including DIY and Post Office Will Kits, is that there are rules that Wills need to follow in order to be legally valid in the UK. Although Will-writing Kits can go some way towards providing a basic framework to help you create your Will, they are often poorly drafted and are not always effective.
Since there is no opportunity to ask for support when it comes to DIY and Post Office Will Kits, these templates should be used with extreme caution and only in very straightforward situations.
Also, bear in mind that the ability to personalise your wishes is limited when you use DIY Will-writing Kits.
When thinking about how much is a Will, although DIY Will Writing Kits (specifically Post Office Will Kits) are the cheapest option… as the saying goes, you get what you pay for!
💡 Storing your Will properly is crucial to ensure your wishes are honored. It should be kept in a location where your heirs can easily find it. Read more: Finding a Will in the UK.
Will Writing Services: Price of Making a Will Varies
Will writing services can vary significantly in their offerings. While some may only facilitate the creation of a simple will by inputting information into predefined boxes, they might lack customer service or charge extra for it.
Additionally, these services may not offer digital storage for the finalised document and often do not provide personalised documents tailored to individual needs and circumstances.
The cost of many will writing services typically ranges between £19.99 and £100.
It's important to be aware that when considering will writing services, you should carefully check what is included in the price. This includes factors such as legal assistance, customer service availability, document storage options, and the type of will being offered.
💡 The use of online legal services has increased in the recent years. Especially, younger people (aged under 45 years old) prefer to write their Last Will online.
Read more: Online Wills – Differences between Online Templates and Online Services
Cost of a Will at Aatos One of the Cheapest
If you are looking for more guidance without having to hire your own personal Solicitor then you can use Aatos! We make legally valid Wills easy and affordable.
The cost of making a Will in Aatos is very affordable. For £99, you'll get a tailored Last Will and all the important legal documents. The price includes home delivery, unlimited revisions as well as on-going legal support.
Aatos Customer Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When there are no complexities regarding heirs, making a Will can be quite straightforward. I strongly recommend that everyone arranges their Will and Lasting Power of Attorney, as you never know what the future holds. Technically, the service functioned well, allowing documents to be downloaded after they were created. Additionally, the option to purchase services with a one-off payment or as part of an annual package is a bonus.
– Kay
Our team of expert lawyers have drawn up UK Wills that you can personalise to meet your needs. All you need to do is answer straightforward questions on our legal platform and we create a personalised Will for you that fully reflects your wishes.
⚠️ Don’t forget to review and update your Will every year to account for changes in circumstances, such as new assets, marriages, divorces, or the birth of children. This can easily be done with Aatos – we take care of the paperwork for you, all you need to do is update your details!
With Aatos, your Last Will is always up-to-date and stored in My Aatos account.
Try for free!